Browsing by Author "Walters, J"
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- ItemOpen AccessIntra-operative pneumatic tourniquet – perceptions of use and complications in the orthopaedic community of South Africa(1996) Gibson, A St Clair; Lambert, M I; Milligan, J; Merwe, W van der; Walters, J; Noakes, T DOBJECTIVES: To assess views on use, maintenance and side-effects of the pneumatic tourniquet in the South African orthopaedic community. METHODS: A census-type questionnaire study was conducted of all 475 orthopaedic surgeons registered with the Orthopaedic Association of South Africa during 1993/94. The chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance between different groups of respondents. RESULTS: Seventy-seven per cent of the questionnaires were returned. Ninety-nine per cent of respondents used a pneumatic tourniquet. Eighty-four per cent believed that the tourniquet may damage underlying tissue both as a result of applied pressure effects and ischaemic consequences. Fifty-four per cent of respondents personally checked the calibration of the pneumatic tourniquet, although 76% of respondents believe that the apparatus needs to be checked at least once per month. More respondents who did not check the tourniquet apparatus than respondents who did check it believe that applied pressure does not cause tissue damage (P < 0.001), that the operating room technician or hospital engineer should be responsible for checking equipment (P < 0.001), and that equipment did not need to be checked more than once every 6 months (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although most orthopaedic surgeons are aware of the pneumatic tourniquet's side-effects, a minority appear to be unaware of the hazards of excessive applied pressure alone or excessive applied pressure caused by use of faulty equipment. It needs to be emphasised to these surgeons that regular checking of the pneumatic tourniquet apparatus is necessary in order to prevent postoperative complications ascribed to use of the tourniquet.
- ItemOpen AccessKnee pain, swelling and stiffness after total knee replacement : a survey of South African knee surgeons(2011) Garrett, Benjamin R; Walters, JIncludes bibliographical references (leaf 60).
- ItemOpen AccessLocking plates for distal femur fractures does an increased working length improve healing?(2013) Koller, Ian M; Maqungo, S; Walters, JDistal femur locking plates have become a very popular means of internal fixation because of their ability to provide stable distal periarticular fixation. In spite of this enthusiasm however several studies have reported significant problems with healing. In the distal femur it is recognized that locking plate fixation may be too rigid if used in certain configurations that limit the essential micro movement required for biological healing. Implant failure may arise from rigid configurations that cause excessive hardware stress concentrations. In an attempt to address these problems longer plates and an increased working length have been proposed to reduce construct rigidity. The purpose of our study is to investigate whether an increased working length translates into improved healing.
- ItemOpen AccessReliability of shoulder symptom recall after one year in a retrospective application of the oxford shoulder score(2013) Held Michael; Walters, J; Roche, SIncludes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.