Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases
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Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis · Jan 2008
ReviewOrthopaedic anesthesia - part 2. Common techniques of regional anesthesia in orthopaedics.
Anesthesia may be considered in terms of two categories: general and regional. The aim of general anesthesia is to induce analgesia, sedation, amnesia, suppression of autonomic reflexes, and relaxation of muscles. ⋯ Although neuraxial blocks comprise an important part of regional anesthesia, they are typically performed by anesthesiologists in an operative setting for major procedures of the lower extremities. The intent of this article is to familiarize the orthopaedist with techniques that have implications for emergency rooms and other ambulatory settings in which regional techniques are sometimes favored over general alternatives because they entail less risk of systemic side effects and may involve more cost-effective use of resources.
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When the aim of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to show that one treatment is superior to another, a statistical test is employed and the trial (test) is called a superiority trial (test). Often a nonsignificant superiority test is wrongly interpreted as proof of no difference between the two treatments. Proving that two treatments are equal in performance is impossible with statistical tools; at most, one can show that they are equivalent. ⋯ In this report, the three types of trials are compared, but the main focus is on the non-inferiority trial. Special attention is paid to the practical implications when setting up a non-inferiority trial. Illustrations are taken from a clinical trial in osteoarthritis and from thrombolytic research.
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Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis · Jan 2008
Does a traction-internal rotation radiograph help to better evaluate fractures of the proximal femur?
The standard radiographic series for evaluation of a suspected hip fracture in most centers includes an anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of the pelvis, as well AP and cross-table lateral views of the hip. The natural femoral neck anteversion, as well as the fracture deformity, however, may make accurate fracture classification difficult. We have noted that inexperienced physicians sometimes misclassify hip fractures based on the initial radiographic series, which may lead to errors both in surgical planning and implant choice. At our institution, we routinely obtain a physician-assisted traction-internal rotation radiograph of the affected hip in all fractures of the proximal femur. The purpose of the current study was to examine the usefulness of the traction-internal rotation radiograph for the classification of hip fractures by junior residents in our department. ⋯ The routine addition of a traction-internal rotation radiograph increased the ability to accurately classify proximal femur fractures by junior residents in our department. This has a direct impact in accurate surgical planning and implant choice.
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Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis · Jan 2008
ReviewOrthopaedic anesthesia - part 1. Commonly used anesthetic agents in orthopaedics.
Anesthesia is a broad discipline; for orthopaedic applications, the type and location of the planned orthopaedic procedure is important in the selection of the most appropriate anesthetic agent and technique. The purpose of this overview is to: 1. highlight the role of several anesthetic agents commonly used in an orthopaedic setting and 2. to familiarize the orthopaedist with those techniques of regional anesthesia that have implications for emergency rooms and other ambulatory settings. Because the subject matter is expansive in scope, it is necessary to address each of the above objectives separately, in two different articles. Part 1 describes anesthetic agents, whereas Part 2 encompasses techniques of administering regional anesthesia.
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Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis · Jan 2008
Some concerns about adverse event reporting in randomized clinical trials.
Reporting of adverse events (AEs) in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is often lacking and with limited application in the real world, as RCTs are of short duration, include small numbers of patients, and are selective for subjects lacking in comorbid conditions. It is not surprising that new and unexpected safety concerns emerge with any new drug after it has been launched and used by many more patients. ⋯ This article focuses on some of the shortcomings of AE reporting in RCTs, especially those involving tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Discussion focuses on reporting of "time-to-event" issues, use of standardized incidence ratios for comparison to normal population or disease controls, use of "patient-years" when reporting AEs, and the problem of adequate sample size and power calculations that are lacking in safety outcome data trials.