Systemic emboli released during total knee replacement have been implicated as a cause of peri-operative morbidity and neurological dysfunction. We undertook a prospective, double-blind, randomised study to compare the cardiac embolic load sustained during computer-assisted and conventional, intramedullary-aligned, total knee replacement, as measured by transoesophageal echocardiography. There were 26 consecutive procedures performed by a single surgeon at a single hospital. The embolic load was scored using the modified Mayo grading system for echogenic emboli. Fourteen patients undergoing computer-assisted total knee replacement had a mean embolic score of 4.89 (3 to 7) and 12 undergoing conventional total knee replacement had a mean embolic score of 6.15 (4 to 8) on release of the tourniquet. Comparison of the groups using a two-tailed t-test confirmed a highly significant difference (p = 0.004). This study demonstrates that computer-assisted knee replacement results in the release of significantly fewer systemic emboli than the conventional procedure using intramedullary alignment.

The brachial plexus is related intimately to the clavicle such that injury can occur primarily and most commonly at the time of trauma through traction or it can occur secondarily, mainly owing to hypertrophic non-union with exuberant callus formation, causing compression of the plexus. The movement-dependent rearrangement of the subclavicular space is restricted with rigid internal fixation, thereby placing inappropriate pressure on the plexus from the deep hypertrophic tissue. This case highlights another cause of brachial plexopathy of which to be aware.

No abstract