Orthopaedics Research

Short or Long Antibiotic Regimes in Orthopaedics. Adults with bone or joint infections are usually given long courses of oral antibiotics or into a vein (intravenous) following surgery. It is also safe to give antibiotics directly into the bone or joint at the time of surgery: this is called local antibiotic therapy. This study investigates whether using local antibiotic therapy would allow shorter courses of oral or intravenous antibiotics, to limit antibiotic resistance, side effects and cost. This study compares short against long courses of oral or intravenous antibiotics for adults who have been given appropriate local antibiotic therapy to treat bone or joint infection. Patients who can take part will be randomly divided into two groups within seven days of surgery. One group will stop oral or intravenous antibiotics, while the other group will continue for four weeks or more (standard treatment).

Commercial study with Smith&Nephew: The collagen-based REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant supports the body's natural healing response by inducing the growth of new tendon-like tissue to biologically augment the existing tendon and disrupt disease progression. Delivered arthroscopically through a small incision over the location of the rotator cuff tendon injury, the implant is about the size of a postage stamp and is completely resorbed within six months.                   

Patients who take part will be divided into two groups where one group receive the implant and the other group has standard surgical repair alone.

In shoulder replacement surgery, doctors remove the damaged parts of the shoulder and replace them with plastic or metal parts. 

The RAPSODI-UK study compares two types of shoulder replacement: the Total Shoulder (Anatomic) replacement and the Reverse Shoulder replacement. These are the two types of shoulder replacement that NHS doctors use most often for patients with arthritis who need a shoulder replacement. They both help to reduce pain and maintain or improve movement. However, doctors genuinely don’t know yet which one works best. The aim of the study is to find this out.

Patients will be randomly assigned into two groups to receive either an anatomic or a reverse total shoulder replacement.

This trauma study aims to investigate whether there is any difference in functional outcome for patients who have either a reverse total shoulder replacement or a shoulder hemiarthroplasty for a proximal humeral fracture. Patients are randomised and do not find out which implant they have until 1 year after surgery when they complete questionnaires and are functionally assessed.

Fractures of the humeral shaft represent three to five percent of all fractures. Two of the most common treatments for this fracture are functional bracing and surgical fixation. The studies aim is to directly compare these two methods to find out whether arm function and quality of life in patients with this fracture is better with the more conservative cast and brace treatment or with surgery. The study also compares the cost effectiveness of both approaches. The study aims to produce sound evidence to establish if the drawbacks of surgery are balanced by the improved results and acceptable costs, compared with the non-surgical treatment.