RSS 1.0Trauma and Orthopaedics
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Improving Patient Care and Streamlining Follow-Up: Compliance With National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for Pediatric Distal Radius Buckle Fractures.INTRODUCTION: Torus fractures, also known as buckle fractures, are among the most common types of fractures seen in children who present to the emergency department (ED). These injuries usually occur when a child falls onto an outstretched hand, resulting in the compression and buckling of the dorsal cortex of the radius while the volar cortex remains intact. These fractures generally have a good prognosis and heal well with simple immobilization with a low risk of complications. However, current treatment practices often involve using a rigid cast and scheduling multiple follow-up clinic visits, which increases the hospital's financial strain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an initial audit that reviewed the practice in our unit between August and October 2017 at Queen's Hospital, Burton Upon Trent, United Kingdom. It included all children below the age of 16 who had radiograph images confirming distal radius buckle fractures and have been referred to the fracture clinic. Patient demographics, clinic visits, treating doctor grade/specialty, radiographs, initial and final treatment outcomes, and cast application were collected. After the initial audit, compliance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines was promoted through the education of healthcare providers. A second audit was performed within 12 months to reassess the compliance. RESULTS: This study looked at the management of pediatric distal radius buckle fractures in a cohort of 152 patients, of which 65 and 87 children were included in audit cycles I and II, respectively. In the ED, splint usage increased from 0% in the first cycle (all children initially treated in a back slab) to 20% following new recommendations. In the fracture clinic, there was a notable improvement in the use of splints over full plaster casts between the first and second cycles. Initially, in the first cycle, only 5% of patients were treated in a splint, with 95% receiving full plaster casts. Following recommendations, splint use increased significantly in the second cycle, rising to 53%, while cast use decreased to 47%. In the first audit, only 7.7% (five patients) were discharged at the first visit, compared to 44.8% (39 patients) in the second audit. In the first audit, 86.2% (56 patients) required a second visit, whereas in the second audit, this decreased to 55.2% (48 patients). Four individuals received a cast owing to splint size difficulties or patient preferences. CONCLUSION: Despite the improvement seen regarding compliance with NICE guidelines, work is still needed to further enhance compliance. Staff education and optimizing splint availability will be a priority to reduce the burden on fracture clinic resources by unnecessary follow-up appointments.
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Does long-term surveillance of primary linked total elbow arthroplasty identify failing implants requiring revision?BACKGROUND: Scoping review has identified a lack of evidence guiding long-term follow-up of elbow arthroplasty. We report the effectiveness of primary linked total elbow arthroplasty surveillance in identifying failing implants requiring revision. METHODS: A prospective database recording consecutive primary linked total elbow arthroplasty and subsequent surveillance in an elbow unit was analysed. Arthroplasties performed between 01.10.2013 and 31.07.2022 were included, with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Surveillance involves specialist physiotherapist review 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 years postoperatively. Patient-initiated review could occur between time points. Outcome measures include a number of surveillance reviews offered and attended; and the proportion that identified a failing implant requiring revision. RESULTS: Ninety-seven primary linked total elbow arthroplasties with minimum 1-year follow-up were performed (76 Discovery, 14 Nexel, 7 Coonrad/Morrey). Sixteen patients died prior to 31.07.2023, and three implants required revision <1 year postoperatively. 290 of 328 offered surveillance appointments were attended (88.4%). Five implants required revision ≥1 year post-operatively, with revision requirements identified by surveillance in all cases. Three failures occurred at 5 years postoperatively, and two failures occurred at 8 years postoperatively. Overall, 1.7% attended surveillance appointments identified a failing implant requiring revision. DISCUSSION: This is the first series reporting the effectiveness of primary linked total elbow arthroplasty surveillance in identifying implants requiring revision.
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Feasibility of embedding orthopaedic clinical trials into national registries: a pilot quality improvement study for the UK Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry (UK-NAHR).The integration of 'Registry-based Randomised Control Trials' (RRCT) into national registries has the potential to catalyse prospective research, enhancing the evidence base for practice. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of embedding a trial within the UK Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry. This was a national observational, multi-centre study. Six pilot sites within the UK were provided with additional support for data collection. We compared the ability of these pilot sites to collect data with the ability of centres where no additional support was provided. We collected information on patient compliance, efficacy and adverse events of drugs routinely used after hip preserving surgery. The primary outcome measure was compliance with data collection in these centres at 30 and 90 days after surgery. Our intention was to assess the feasibility of, and factors influencing, the capturing data for interventional registry trials in the future. Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry during the study period (114 within pilot centres and 114 in non-pilot centres). Pilot centres had a mean follow-up compliance of 79% (30 days) and 69.4% (90 days) in contrast to 55% (30 days) and 47% (90 days) in the non-pilot centres (P = 0.009/P = 0.0058). The study revealed that supplementary administrative support resulted in improved compliance. However, deficient administration systems negatively impacted follow-up, and surgeon motivation emerged as a crucial determinant in ensuring robust follow-up. The lessons learned from this feasibility trial could be useful for any national registry embedding prospective, registry-based trials.
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What Are the Most Clinically Effective Nonoperative Interventions for Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis? An Up-to-date Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.BACKGROUND: Thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC-1 OA) is a common and debilitating condition, particularly among older adults and women. With the aging population, the prevalence of CMC-1 OA is expected to rise, emphasizing the need to find effective nonoperative strategies. So far, for determining the most effective nonoperative interventions in CMC-1 OA, two network meta-analyses (NMAs) have been published. However, these NMAs were limited to specific intervention types: one comparing multiple splints and the other comparing different intraarticular injections. Therefore, an NMA that compared all nonoperative intervention types is urgently needed. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: This study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of available nonoperative interventions (both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic) for CMC-1 OA to establish which nonoperative options are more effective than control in terms of (1) pain, (2) function, and (3) grip strength. METHODS: We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) NMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD2021272247) and conducted a comprehensive search across Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL up to March 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs evaluating nonoperative interventions for symptomatic CMC-1 OA, excluding inflammatory or posttraumatic arthritis. Studies comparing ≥ 2 interventions or against a control, focusing on pain reduction, functional improvement, and grip strength, were selected. We assessed methodologic quality using the modified Coleman Methodology Score, including only studies scoring > 70. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Risk of Bias 2.0 tool, and evidence quality with Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA). Of 29 screened studies, 22 (21 RCTs and one quasi-RCT) were included, involving 1631 women and 331 men. We analyzed eight different nonoperative interventions, including splints, hand exercises, injections, and multimodal treatment (≥ 2 nonpharmacologic interventions or nonpharmacologic with a pharmacologic intervention). Six studies had a low risk of bias, eight had a high risk, and the remainder were moderate. We extracted mean and SD scores, and NMA and pairwise analyses were performed at short- (≤ 3 months) and medium-term (> 3 to ≤ 12 months) time points. Standardized mean differences were re-expressed into common units for interpretation, which were the VAS (range 0 to 10) for pain, the DASH test (range to 100) for function, and pounds for grip strength. Clinical recommendations were considered strong if the mean differences exceeded the minimum clinically important difference-1.4 points for VAS, 10 points for DASH, and 14 pounds for grip strength-and were supported by moderate or high confidence in the evidence, as assessed using CINeMA methodology. RESULTS: Our NMA (based on moderate or high confidence) showed a clinically important reduction in pain at the short-term time point for multimodal treatment and hand exercises versus control (mean difference VAS score -5.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) -7.6 to -3.0] and -5.0 [95% CI -8.5 to -1.5]). At the medium-term time point, only the rigid carpometacarpal-metacarpophalangeal (CMC-MCP) splint was superior to control (mean difference VAS score -1.9 [95% CI -3.1 to -0.6]) and demonstrated clinical importance. For function, only the rigid CMC-MCP splint demonstrated a clinically important improvement at the medium-term time point versus control (mean difference DASH score -11 [95% CI -21 to -1]). Hand exercises resulted in a clinically important improvement in short-term grip strength versus control (mean difference 21 pounds [95% CI 11 to 31]). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and NMA show that multimodal treatment and hand exercises reduce short-term pain and improve grip strength, while a rigid CMC-MCP splint enhances medium-term function. Future research should evaluate long-term efficacy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, therapeutic study.
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Factors influencing surgical treatment of De Quervain's tendinopathy: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study.BACKGROUND: The literature surrounding how different patient, sociodemographic, and anatomical factors influence surgical treatment of De Quervain's tendinopathy (DQT) is limited. PURPOSE: We hypothesised that different patient, anatomical, or sociodemographic factors influence the management of DQT with regard to non-operative vs. surgical management. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed 155 cases of patients with DQT seen over a 10 year period. Patient-specific factors included age, gender, hand affected, dominant hand, steroid injection given and mean number of injections. Sociodemographic factors included ethnicity, employment, and deprivation, were measured using deprivation quintiles through The Index of Multiple Deprivation. Anatomical factors included the presence of subcompartmentalization, number of APL and EPB tendon slips, tendon thickening, exudative tenosynovitis, hypervascularization, and the presence of a sheath ganglion Patients were categorized into either non-operative or surgical cohort. Bivariate analysis was used to compare factors between the cohorts, and significant factors (p < 0.05) were included in the logistic regression model, used to predict factors influencing surgical management. RESULTS: Bivariate analysis detected a significant difference in the mean number of steroids given between the non-operative and surgical cohort (p = 0.001) patient factors. For sociodemographic factors, a significant difference was found between deprivation quintiles (p = 0.02). From the anatomical factors, the surgical cohort had more patients with multiple APL tendon slips (p = 0.02) and the presence of a tendon ganglion sheath ganglion (p = 0.02). For patient and sociodemographic factors, logistic regression identified that the number of steroids (per patient) and being in deprivation quintile 4 were associated with surgical treatment. For anatomical factors, multiple APL tendon slips and the presence of a tendon sheath ganglion were associated with the surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that several factors are associated with the need for surgical treatment of DQT, including the number of steroid injections received, social deprivation, and anatomical factors, such as the presence of multiple tendon slips and a tendon sheath ganglion. Our findings add to the growing body of literature exploring factors that may influence treatment pathways for patients with DQT.
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Role of Synovectomy in Rheumatoid Hand and WristSynovectomy refers to the removal of all or part of the hypertrophied soft tissue membrane on the inside of the joint capsule or around tendons. Historically, this was typically performed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions of the hand, but following the development of more advanced medical treatments, the role of synovectomy has come into question. In this article, the authors outline the biologic basis for synovectomy and then consider its present and future role in the management of joint and tendon disease, followed by what further research is needed.
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Outcomes and Management of Dislocated Hip HemiarthroplastyPurpose and aims Hip hemiarthroplasty (HHA) is a common procedure undertaken to manage intracapsular neck of femur fractures. Dislocation of HHA is one of the most dreadful complications. There is a paucity of clinical evidence to guide decision-making for managing these patients. The aim of this study was to describe the operative management and outcomes of patients with dislocated hemiarthroplasties of the hip and outline a treatment strategy for their management. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all the patients presenting to University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, UK with hip fractures between 2016-2022. We included all the patients who underwent a hemiarthroplasty for their fracture. We excluded patients who had malignancy and if clinical data was missing. Each operative intervention and subsequent dislocations were recorded. We recorded the following outcome measures: dislocation, surgical interventions, mortality, revision surgery, cognition status, residential status, and mobility. We also compare these outcomes with the patients who had HHA and did not sustain any dislocation. Results Of the 1134 patients treated with HHA during this period, 33 patients sustained dislocation. Of the 33 patients, 29 were female and 4 were male with mean ages of 87.4±7.4 and 89.25 ± 9.54, respectively. Following the first dislocation, 25 patients were treated with closed reduction, six patients had excision arthroplasty (EA), and two patients were treated non-operatively. About 21 patients went on to have second and third dislocations, none of these had EA and others had conversion to total hip replacement (THR). Nearly 80% of dislocations occurred within two months of the initial procedure. The mean mental test score was 7.91±2.01 (p=0.001) and was significantly higher in patients who underwent conversion to THR. The average ASA grade was significantly higher in patients who had closed reduction (2.93±0.25, p=0.001) and EA (3.28±0.46, p=0.002) compared to the patients who had no dislocation. Patients who underwent EA had significantly higher acute length of hospital stay 23.5±13.5 (p=0.02) and mortality (p=0.001) compared to other groups. We found no significant difference in dislocation rates where the initial procedure was carried out by registrars or consultants (p=0.567). Conclusion We concluded that the dislocation risk is higher in females and within the first two months of the index procedure. More than 80% of patients had a second dislocation following a successful closed reduction. In our cohort, 45% of patients had EA (Girdlestone procedure) and 36% had a conversion to THR. EA was associated with increased mortality rates, acute length of hospital stays, and significant change to premorbid mobility status. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is necessary following the second dislocation to prevent further morbidity associated with recurrent dislocations.
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A 7-Year Retrospective Review of Flexor Sheath InfectionsBackground: Flexor sheath infections require prompt diagnosis, and management with intravenous antibiotics and/or surgical washout followed by hand therapy. Complication rates as high as 38% have been reported. Our unit takes a relatively conservative approach to the management of flexor sheath infections and select patients are managed non-surgically via our outpatient antibiotic service where they are clinically reviewed and receive a once daily dose of intravenous antibiotics. The aim of this study is to determine if outpatient management of flexor sheath infections was associated with an increased risk of complications compared to those admitted as an inpatient. Methods: A retrospective review was carried out with all patients clinically diagnosed with flexor sheath infection who were seen at our unit between January 2014 and December 2020. Age, gender, co-morbidities, cause of infection, management and subsequent complications were recorded. Results: A total of 128 patients with flexor sheath infections were treated. And 68% were male. Mean age was 50.4 years. A trend towards fewer presentations each year with animal bites, foreign bodies and penetrating trauma as the main cause of infection was noted. And 89% (n = 114) required admission with the other 11% (n = 14) treated as an outpatient. And 77% (n = 98) underwent surgical washout. And 6% (n = 8) suffered a complication. Conclusions: While flexor sheath washout continues to be standard practice, 23% of patients were safely managed with intravenous antibiotics and 11% purely via an outpatient service. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).
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Assessing the current role of AP and Bernageau view radiographs in measurement of glenoid bone loss in patients with recurrent shoulder dislocation: correlation with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopy.BACKGROUND: Evaluation of glenoid bone loss following recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations is normally performed using cross sectional imaging. OBJECTIVES: To assess how anteroposterior (AP) and Bernageau view radiographs compare to computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy for evaluating glenoid bone loss in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed on 32 patients over two years at a tertiary orthopedic center. The loss of sclerotic glenoid rim (LSGL) on AP radiograph and the percentage relative glenoid bone loss on the Bernageau radiograph were assessed. The percentage glenoid bone loss and anterior straight line (ASL) were calculated using a best fit en face circle method using CT and MRI. Percentage glenoid bone loss was also calculated during arthroscopy in multiples of 5%. RESULTS: In our study, 90.6% (29) patients were males, while only 9.4% (3) were females. This can be attributed to the involvement of the males in outdoor activities and sports. Also, the maximum number of patients were found to belong to 21-30 years of age, with the mean age being 28.66 years. Of the 32 patients, loss of sclerotic glenoid line (LSGL) on AP radiographs correlated with glenoid bone loss on cross-sectional imaging in 27 patients. Three patients had equivocal LSGL and 2 patients with glenoid bone loss on CT did not demonstrate LSGL. The difference between the two modalities was not statistically significant (p value = 0.002). The glenoid bone loss on Bernageau view correlated with glenoid bone loss on cross sectional imaging in all but one patient. The bone loss as evaluated by radiograph Bernageau view was found to have strong correlation (correlation coefficient r = 0.948, p value < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: AP and Bernageau radiographic views for anterior shoulder dislocations demonstrate good correlation with glenoid bone loss on cross-sectional imaging. They may also be used as an adjunct to predict overall bone loss on CT and at arthroscopy.
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Assessing Patient Understanding and Satisfaction in Orthopedic Trauma and Elective Surgery AdmissionsBackground When seeking healthcare, patients often struggle to understand the information provided by healthcare professionals regarding their condition and treatment plan. Additionally, patient satisfaction with their experience can vary widely. Improved patient understanding and satisfaction are linked to better outcomes. This study aims to explore the factors influencing patient understanding to help healthcare professionals enhance these aspects. Objective This study evaluated the level of understanding and satisfaction among patients attending outpatient appointments. It also investigated factors influencing understanding by examining differences in results across various patient groups and analyzing these variations. Methods This study was conducted at Queens’ Hospital Burton, a level III trauma unit, over a three-week period in September 2023. Patients attending their orthopedic outpatient appointments were given a questionnaire, which included both bipolar 1-5 scale questions and open-ended text response questions. Results Patients generally reported high levels of understanding and satisfaction, averaging 90.34% and 96.20%, respectively. Those seen in a nurse-led clinic demonstrated significantly greater understanding of their condition compared to those seen by a physician (p = 0.0377). Additionally, trauma patients had a significantly higher level of understanding (p = 0.0167) and satisfaction (p = 0.0115). Conclusions To achieve better patient outcomes, it is crucial to optimize both patient understanding and satisfaction. Nurse-led clinics demonstrate higher levels of understanding, so identifying and incorporating the factors that contribute to this success into physician-led clinics is essential. These factors may include differences in communication methods, the resources provided, or the consultation setting. Additionally, the educational methods used with trauma patients appear more effective than those used for elective cases and should be evaluated to determine if they can enhance understanding and outcomes in other settings. Implementing evidence-based strategies for effective patient communication, such as maintaining good eye contact, avoiding medical jargon, and establishing rapport, could improve understanding and satisfaction and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.
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Charcot Neuroarthropathy of the Shoulder Caused by Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: a case report and literature reviewCharcot neuroarthropathy (CN) is a chronic degenerative disorder of bones and joints, mostly associated with diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus. CN of the upper limb is rare, with only 58 case reports identified on PubMed with the majority of cases being closely associated with syringomyelia. Very rarely, cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is associated with CN of the upper limb; with very few literature reporting this association. This case report presents a rare case of Charcot arthropathy of the shoulder caused by CSM. A 57-year-old female presented to the emergency department following trauma to the right shoulder. On clinical examination, there was evidence of tenderness, extensive swelling, and bruising with a lack of range of motion along with numbness in the right arm and legs. Through radiographic and laboratory investigations, a diagnosis of CN secondary to CSM was made. A reverse total shoulder arthroplasty was performed however, this was complicated at two weeks with an atraumatic glenoid fracture and dislocation. First-stage revision surgery was then performed to allow fracture healing pending second-stage revision surgery. This report provides insight into the very rare possibility of the association of CN of the shoulder with CSM. A review of the literature suggests reverse shoulder arthroplasty is the gold standard for cases of severe bone and soft tissue damage. When undergoing investigations for Charcot neuroarthropathy, physicians must undertake a full detailed history along with a detailed neurological examination and imaging of the cervical spine to not miss the association with CSM.
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Experiences and outcomes in shoulder replacements in a district general hospital over 19 yearsBackground: This study aimed to evaluate the changing experiences of shoulder surgeons working in a district general hospital. Methods: A consecutive series of 395 shoulders (225 male, 170 female) over a 19-year period (2000-2019) with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were analyzed. Outcome measures were length of stay, operating time, satisfaction visual analog score (VAS), pain VAS, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Constant-Murley score, range of movement, complications, and implant survival. Results: The incidence of a diagnosis of osteoarthritis as the surgical indication increased over time. The number of cases by surgeon per year increased from three cases in 2,000 to a peak of 33 in 2011. Up to seven implant manufacturers were used. The incidence of hemiarthroplasties decreased, and more numerous reverse polarity and anatomic arthroplasties were performed (P<0.001). More glenoid and humeral components were cemented and more short-stem implants were used in later years (P<0.001). Length of stay was a median of 1 day with a trend towards daytime surgery in recent years. Patients were satisfied (VAS 8/10) and OSS improved by 8 points on average throughout the observation period. Conclusions: Despite frequent introductions of new implants, patient outcome, satisfaction, and complication rates remained good. There appears to be a need for large-scale, generalizable studies to understand why technological advancements leading to changes in implants do not influence clinical outcomes. Level of evidence: III.
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Terminologia Anatomica, 2nd edition: perspectives from anatomy educators in the United KingdomEnglish anatomical terminology has evolved over the long history of anatomical practice, with major infuences from ancient Greek, classical Latin, Arabic, and post-classical Latin. Beginning in the nineteenth century, there have been various attempts to standardise and rationalise anatomical language, beginning in 1887, and culminating in the publication in 2019 of the second edition of the Terminologia Anatomica. This paper presents a brief historical overview of the development of anatomical terminology and usage in English, followed by a summary of the results of an anonymised survey of current practices that was sent out by email to anatomy educators at 45 medical schools in the United Kingdom. This is followed by personal refections by six senior academics and/or clinicians, reviewing their extensive experience of teaching, researching, and communicating the language of anatomy within United Kingdom medical and clinical institutions.
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From bimodal to unimodal: The transformed incidence of osteosarcoma in the United States.BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy. It has classically been described as having a bimodal incidence by age. We sought to identify whether the bimodal incidence distribution still exists for osteosarcoma using the SEER and NIS databases. METHODS: Incidence rates of primary osteosarcoma between 2000-2021 were analyzed by age at diagnosis, year of occurrence, sex, and tumor site from the SEER Research Data, 17 Registries, Nov 2023 Sub (2000-2021). The incidence of cases in 35-64 year-olds and 65 and above was compared statistically to determine if there is an increased incidence in the later ages. Incidence of tumors of the long bones of the lower limbs from the NIS discharge database 2012-2019 was also analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: Overall, 5,129 cases of osteosarcoma were reported in the SEER database. Across the 22 calendar year span, a consistent first peak appeared in the second decade of life. There was no consistent second peak in the 35+ age group. There were 86,100 discharges with long bone tumors analyzed in the NIS data which exhibited nearly identical patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that the incidence of osteosarcoma is no longer bimodally distributed but rather unimodally distributed.
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Environmentally friendly splints for limb immobilisation: a systematic reviewINTRODUCTION: Climate change is estimated to be the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, and has prompted calls to move away from processes in healthcare associated with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission. In musculoskeletal medicine, splints are widely used for limb immobilisation. These have typically been made from single-use materials such as gypsum, although in recent years purportedly environmentally friendly splints have been designed. In this systematic review, we set out to assess the clinical effectiveness of all commercially available environmentally friendly splinting materials, including Woodcast®. METHODS: The AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database), CINAHL® (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase®, Emcare® and MEDLINE® databases were searched to identify studies assessing the clinical effectiveness of biodegradable and environmentally friendly splints prior to paper review and data extraction. Formal quantitative synthesis was not possible owing to the substantial heterogeneity in the study designs and outcome measures. RESULTS: Six papers met the inclusion criteria, all investigating one particular splint material (Woodcast®). One was a case series, two were cohort studies and three were randomised controlled trials. Primary outcome measures were heterogeneous but the environmentally friendly splints were generally equivalent to traditional splint materials. Studies were mostly at a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited research assessing 'green' splints in practice although the data suggest similarity with existing materials and no substantial safety concerns. Further scrutiny of the clinical effectiveness and environmental credentials of such splints is also required.
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Validating Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (ODEP) Ratings Across 9 Orthopaedic Registries: Total Hip Implants with an ODEP Rating Perform Better Than Those without an ODEP RatingBACKGROUND: Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (ODEP) ratings of total hip (TH) and total knee (TK) implants are informative for assessing implant performance. However, the validity of ODEP ratings across multiple registries is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess, across multiple registries, whether TH and TK implants with a higher ODEP rating (i.e., an A* rating) have lower cumulative revision risks (CRRs) than those with a lower ODEP rating (i.e., an A rating) and the extent to which A* and A-rated implants would be A*-rated on the basis of the pooled registries' CRR. METHODS: Implant-specific CRRs at 3, 5, and 10 years that were reported by registries were matched to ODEP ratings on the basis of the implant name. A meta-analysis with random-effects models was utilized for pooling the CRRs. ODEP benchmark criteria were utilized to classify these pooled CRRs. RESULTS: A total of 313 TH cups (54%), 356 TH stems (58%), 218 TH cup-stem combinations (34%), and 68 TK implants (13%) with unique brand names reported by registries were matched to an ODEP rating. Given the low percentage that matched, TK implants were not further analyzed. ODEP-matched TH implants had lower CRRs than TH implants without an ODEP rating at all follow-up time points, although the difference for TH stems was not significant at 5 years. No overall differences in CRRs were found between A* and A-rated TH implants, with the exception of TH cup-stem combinations, which demonstrated a significantly lower CRR for A*A*-rated cup-stem combinations at the 3-year time point. Thirty-nine percent of A*-rated cups and 42% of A*-rated stems would receive an A* rating on the basis of the pooled registries' CRR at 3 years; however, 24% of A-rated cups and 31% of A-rated stems would also receive an A* rating, with similar findings demonstrated at longer follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: At all follow-up time points, ODEP-matched TH implants had lower CRRs than TH implants without an ODEP rating. Given that the performance of TH implants varied across countries, registries should first validate ODEP ratings with use of country-specific revision data to better guide implant selection in their country. Data source transparency and the use of revision data from multiple registries would strengthen the ODEP benchmarks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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Glenoid Fracture Fixation Using an Acu-Loc Distal Radius PlateDisplaced fractures of the glenoid require surgical fixation. This poses multiple problems, including a difficult approach and achieving adequate reduction with current implants. We provide a surgical technical tip for fixing scapula neck and glenoid rim fractures with an Acu-Loc distal radius plate (Acumed, Weyhill, UK), illustrated with two recent case reports. Here, we present two cases of a 58-year-old female and a 51-year-old male presenting to a hospital following a fall, both sustaining an isolated right glenoid intra-articular fracture evident on plain radiographs. CT scans revealed a displaced and fragmented glenoid surface. A reverse Judet posterior approach facilitated exposure to enable the reduction of the glenoid, an uncommon approach. Current plate designs provide surgeons with limited options to fix complex fractures of the scapula and were not suitable here. The lateral scapula border and inferior glenoid have a similar anatomical shape to the distal radius. An Acu-Loc locking distal radius plate with a radial styloid plate was trialled and provided a good reduction to the fragmented glenoid. A distal radius plate can be a useful option to consider in complex scapula neck and glenoid rim fractures. A better understanding of glenoid shape will facilitate the further development of orthopaedic implants. Familiarity with various surgical approaches is needed to operate on these complex fractures.
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Does long-term follow-up and monitoring of primary shoulder arthroplasty identify failing implants requiring revision?BACKGROUND: Published scoping review has identified evidence paucity related to long-term follow-up of shoulder arthroplasty. We aim to report effectiveness of elective primary shoulder arthroplasty surveillance in identifying failing implants requiring revision. METHODS: A prospective database recording shoulder arthroplasty and subsequent follow-up surveillance in a shoulder unit was analyzed. Shoulder arthroplasty was performed by 4 fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons for accepted elective indications including the use of anatomic arthroplasty in arthritic shoulders with intact rotator cuff and a reverse prosthesis being used in rotator cuff-deficient shoulders and rotator cuff-competent arthritic shoulders when deemed preferable by the treating surgeon. All shoulder arthroplasty implants used had achieved a minimum 7A Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (ODEP) rating. The included shoulder arthroplasties were performed between May 1, 2004, and December 31, 2021, with minimum 1-year follow-up. Surveillance program involves specialist physiotherapist review at 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 15 years postoperatively, including clinical examination, outcome scoring, and radiographs. Patient-initiated review occurred between time points if a patient requested assessment because of symptoms. Outcome measures include ratio of failing implants identified by surveillance and patient-initiated review, with number of surveillance reviews offered and proportion that identified a failing implant requiring revision calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1002 elective primary shoulder arthroplasty with minimum 1-year follow-up were performed (547 reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [rTSA], 234 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty [aTSA], and 221 hemiarthroplasty [HA]). A total of 238 patients died prior to December 31, 2022, resulting in 4019 surveillance appointments offered. Thirty-eight prostheses required revision ≥1 year postoperatively (6 rTSA, 9 aTSA, and 23 HA), with surveillance identifying requirement in 53% (33% rTSA, 56% aTSA, and 57% HA) and patient-initiated review in 47%. Mean years from implantation to revision was 5.2 (2.7 rTSA, 3.6 aTSA, and 6.6 HA). Revision indications included rotator cuff failure (56% aTSR and 43% HA) and glenoid erosion (57% HA). CONCLUSION: This is the first series reporting effectiveness of shoulder arthroplasty surveillance in identifying implants requiring revision. Surveillance identified more than half of implants requiring revision, although only 0.5% of appointments identified revision requirement. Surveillance enrolment may influence patient-initiated review utilization; therefore, similar studies using only patient-initiated follow-up would help inform recommendations.
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Emotion Regulation and Psychological Dependence on Pain Medication among Hospital Outpatients with Chronic Spinal Pain: The Influence of Rumination about Pain and Alexithymia.Objective: To examine the extent to which pain acceptance, pain catastrophising and alexithymia moderate associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence. Methods: Participants (106 hospital outpatients with chronic spinal pain) completed the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ) to measure psychological dependence on pain medication, and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-8 (CPAQ-8), the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), plus the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: Multiple linear regression showed that degree of psychological dependence (measured dimensionally across the range of LDQ scores) was associated with TAS subscale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) (β = 0.249, p = <0.002) and PCS subscale rumination (β = 0.193, p = 0.030), independently of pain intensity and risk behaviors for medication misuse. The effect of pain intensity was moderated by rumination, with pain intensity more strongly associated with dependence when rumination was high (interaction β = 0.192, p = 0.004). Logistic regression showed that the effect of pain intensity on severe dependence (measured categorically as LDQ score ≥ 20) was moderated by alexithymia, so that severe dependence was independently associated with the combination of intense pain and high alexithymia (interaction odds ratio = 7.26, 95% CIs = 1.63-32.42, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Rumination and alexithymia moderated the associations between pain intensity and psychological pain medication dependence, consistent with emotion regulation theory. This raises the possibility that specifically targeting rumination about pain and symptoms of alexithymia could potentially improve the effectiveness of psychological interventions for chronic pain and help people to avoid or reduce their psychological dependence on pain medication.
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Identifying clusters of objective functional impairment in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal disease using unsupervised learning.OBJECTIVES: The five-repetition sit-to-stand (5R-STS) test was designed to capture objective functional impairment (OFI), and thus provides an adjunctive dimension in patient assessment. It is conceivable that there are different subsets of patients with OFI and degenerative lumbar disease. We aim to identify clusters of objectively functionally impaired individuals based on 5R-STS and unsupervised machine learning (ML). METHODS: Data from two prospective cohort studies on patients with surgery for degenerative lumbar disease and 5R-STS times of ≥ 10.5 s-indicating presence of OFI. K-means clustering-an unsupervised ML algorithm-was applied to identify clusters of OFI. Cluster hallmarks were then identified using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. RESULTS: We included 173 patients (mean age [standard deviation]: 46.7 [12.7] years, 45% male) and identified three types of OFI. OFI Type 1 (57 pts., 32.9%), Type 2 (81 pts., 46.8%), and Type 3 (35 pts., 20.2%) exhibited mean 5R-STS test times of 14.0 (3.2), 14.5 (3.3), and 27.1 (4.4) seconds, respectively. The grades of OFI according to the validated baseline severity stratification of the 5R-STS increased significantly with each OFI type, as did extreme anxiety and depression symptoms, issues with mobility and daily activities. Types 1 and 2 are characterized by mild to moderate OFI-with female gender, lower body mass index, and less smokers as Type I hallmarks. CONCLUSIONS: Unsupervised learning techniques identified three distinct clusters of patients with OFI that may represent a more holistic clinical classification of patients with OFI than test-time stratifications alone, by accounting for individual patient characteristics.
