William M. Oliver

The University of Edinburgh | UoE · Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Aims The primary aim of this study was to develop a reliable, effective radiological score to assess the healing of humeral shaft fractures, the Radiographic Union Score for HUmeral fractures (RUSHU). The secondary aim was to assess whether the six-week RUSHU was predictive of nonunion at six months after the injury. Patients and Methods Initially...

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the current incidence and epidemiology of humeral diaphyseal fractures. The secondary aim was to explore variation in patient and injury characteristics by fracture location within the humeral diaphysis. Methods: Over ten years (2008 to 2017), all adult patients (aged ≥ 16 years) sustaining an acute fr...

Objectives: The primary aim was to assess patient-reported outcomes ≥1yr following a humeral diaphyseal fracture. The secondary aim was to compare outcomes of patients who united after initial management (operative/non-operative) with those who united after nonunion fixation (NU-ORIF). Design: Retrospective. Setting: University teaching hospit...

Aims The primary aim was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of routine operative fixation for all patients with humeral shaft fractures. The secondary aim was to estimate the health economic implications of using a Radiographic Union Score for HUmeral fractures (RUSHU) of < 8 to facilitate selective fixation for patients at risk of nonunion. Metho...

Introduction: The aim was to compare surgical and nonsurgical management for adults with humeral shaft fractures in terms of patient-reported upper limb function, health-related quality of life, radiographic outcomes, and complications. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Cochrane Central R...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following acute repair of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (thumb UCL) using a suture anchor technique. Methods: From 2011 to 2019, we retrospectively identified 40 adult patients from a single centre who had undergone an acute thumb UCL repair (≤6 we...

Aim This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of native joint aspirations for adult septic arthritis (SA), and to determine clinical factors associated with a positive diagnosis of SA. Method Retrospective review of adult patients (≥16yrs) undergoing a major joint aspiration at a single centre over a year period (2019) were identified....

Aim The aim was to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes for young adult patients undergoing fixation for an intracapsular femoral neck fracture. Method From 2008–2018, we retrospectively identified 112 consecutive patients (mean age 48yrs [20–60], 54% male). Complication details were determined from medical records and radiographs. Long-term pat...

Purpose Positive ulnar variance following a distal radius malunion can lead to ulnar-sided wrist pain, loss of grip strength, and distal radioulnar joint impingement. The primary aim of this study is to describe upper limb-specific functional outcomes following ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) for ulnar-sided wrist pain associated with malunion of...

Aims The primary aim of this study was to determine the rates of return to work (RTW) and sport (RTS) following a humeral shaft fracture. The secondary aim was to identify factors independently associated with failure to RTW or RTS. Methods From 2008 to 2017, all patients with a humeral diaphyseal fracture were retrospectively identified. Patient...

Purpose The aim of this study was to report outcomes following mini-open lower limb fasciotomy (MLLF) in active adults with chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). Methods From 2013–2018, 38 consecutive patients (mean age 31 years [16–60], 71% [n = 27/38] male) underwent MLLF. There were 21 unilateral procedures, 10 simultaneous bilateral...

Aims The aim of this study was to establish a reliable method for producing 3D reconstruction of sonographic callus. Methods A cohort of ten closed tibial shaft fractures managed with intramedullary nailing underwent ultrasound scanning at two, six, and 12 weeks post-surgery. Ultrasound capture was performed using infrared tracking technology to m...

Purpose The primary aim was to determine independent patient, injury and management-related factors associated with symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) following acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). The secondary aim was to suggest a clinical VTE risk assessment tool for patients with acute ATR. Methods From 2010-2018, 984 consecutive adults...

Objectives: To document union rate, complications and patient-reported outcomes after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), with and without bone grafting (BG), for humeral diaphyseal nonunion after failed nonoperative management. Design: Retrospective. Setting: University teaching hospital. Patients and intervention: From 2008 to 201...

The treatment of shoulder girdle injuries in the athlete is complex, with each patient requiring a bespoke management regime specific to their sporting endeavour. This chapter covers a number of different injuries that are all relevant to the sports surgeon. To allow the extreme range of movement exhibited in the shoulder girdle, five articulations...

Aims Acute distal biceps tendon repair reduces fatigue-related pain and minimizes loss of supination of the forearm and strength of flexion of the elbow. We report the short- and long-term outcome following repair using fixation with a cortical button techqniue. Methods Between October 2010 and July 2018, 102 patients with a mean age of 43 years (...

Aims The primary aim of this study was to identify independent predictors associated with nonunion and delayed union of tibial diaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. The secondary aim was to assess the Radiological Union Scale for Tibial fractures (RUST) score as an early predictor of tibial fracture nonunion. Methods A consecut...

Objectives: To compare the biomechanical failure properties of the fibular intramedullary nail with locking plate and lag screw fixation in the management of unstable elderly distal fibular fractures. Methods: Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric lower limbs (six matched-pairs) were studied. A simulated OTA/AO 44-B fracture was created, then randomly a...

Aims: To evaluate if union of clavicle fractures can be predicted at six weeks post-injury by the presence of bridging callus on ultrasound. Methods: Adult patients managed nonoperatively with a displaced mid-shaft clavicle were recruited prospectively. Ultrasound evaluation of the fracture was undertaken to determine if sonographic bridging cal...

Background The primary aim was to identify patient and injury factors independently associated with humeral diaphyseal fracture nonunion after non-operative management. The secondary aim was to determine the effect of management (operative/non-operative) on nonunion. Methods From 2008-2017, 734 humeral shaft fractures (732 consecutive skeletally-m...

Aims: Patient-reported outcomes after corrective osteotomy for a symptomatic malunion of the distal radius aims the primary aim of this study was to describe patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) following corrective osteotomy for a symptomatic malunion of the distal radius. Methods: We retrospectively identified 122 adul...

Intra-articular fractures of the distal end of the tibia, more commonly referred to as pilon fractures, account for approximately 5% to 7% of all tibial fractures 1,2. Type-C fractures present a unique surgical challenge: a total articular fracture contained within a vulnerable soft-tissue envelope. Treatment options include internal fixation 3 , e...

Background: There are limited data reporting the outcome of patients with non-operatively managed medial malleolus fractures compared to those treated surgically in the presence of fibular stabilisation for unstable fractures of the ankle. Conservative management could result in fewer complications, reduced surgical time and lower cost. The purpos...

Background: There is currently a lack of agreed criteria for sonographic assessment of callus and reliability between reviewers. The primary aim of this study was to determine criteria and reviewer agreement for sonographic bridging callus (SBC) on ultrasound. The secondary aim was to analyse the use of ultrasound to detect bridging callus in a pr...

Background: Humeral shaft fractures constitute around 1% of adult fractures in the UK, with an annual incidence of approximately 13 per 100,000 population. Historically, these injuries have been primarily managed non-operatively, with operative fixation reserved for specific indications. Although some recent retrospective studies have suggested the...

Background: The Montgomery ruling has had a wide-ranging impact on the consent process and has been the subject of new guidelines by bodies, including the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSEng). This is the first study to examine the current standard of consent for surgical procedures at a national level. Method: A national collaborative research mo...

Background: We report 15-year survival, clinical, and radiographic follow-up data for the Press-Fit Condylar Sigma total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Between October 1998 and October 1999, 235 consecutive TKAs were performed in 203 patients. Patients were reviewed at a specialist nurse-led clinic before surgery and at 5, 8-10, and 15 years postop...

Aims: Risk of revision following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is higher in patients under 55 years, but little data are reported regarding non-revision outcomes. This study aims to identify predictors of dissatisfaction in these patients. Patients and methods: We prospectively assessed 177 TKAs (157 consecutive patients, 99 women, mean age 50 y...

Traumatic patellar fractures following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), in the absence of patella resurfacing, are uncommon but debilitating injuries. Open reduction and internal fixation is associated with significant complications, thus conservative management is often preferred. We report the first known publication of the fixation of a comminuted...