An orthopaedic uncertainty principle

It's not that common for orthopaedic papers to have great titles. There are exceptions though. I always like the sense of existential despair invoked by "The futility of predictive scoring of mangled lower extremities" (a good paper). Likewise, one is inevitably keen to see the X rays in "Late complications of total hip replacement from bone cement within the pelvis. A review of the literature and a case report involving dyspareunia". **

My absolute favourite though is neither peer reviewed nor 'scientific', although it's a genuinely valuable contribution to the specialty: Fergal Monsell's beautifully written "My Journey Into Uncertainty" from BJJ News in 2015, the story of his life in orthopaedics. Possibly the most humble title in any orthopaedic journal, and all surgeons need humility. Not only is it both funny and practical, it contains this gem (he's a paediatric surgeon):

I am also convinced that any operation for Perthes' Disease, DDH and slipped epiphysis is only legitimate if it does not interfere with future replacement of the hip

Terrific advice, if it means avoiding the THR in a 23 year old with a femur deformed by a 'last fling' valgising osteotomy after SUFE.





**In case you're wondering, here's the X ray. Not entirely sure where the dyspareunia came from

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