Injury
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
An early analysis of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plates for the surgical stabilization of rib fractures: A pilot study.
Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) is a viable treatment option for rib fracture patients. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plates have become available for SSRF. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the use of PEEK plates for SSRF. ⋯ PEEK plates for SSRF are safe and effective, allowing for adequate rib fracture healing and are associated with positive patient reported outcomes.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of complex lateral tibial plateau fractures involving the central segments of the lateral tibial plateau. It was hypothesized that an extended lateral approach by using the lateral epicondyle osteotomy improves the rate of malreduction and yields to good and excellent clinical results at a mid-term follow-up. ⋯ The extended lateral approach with lateral epicondyle osteotomy demonstrated excellent radiological alignment and favorable mid-term clinical outcomes. An overall low complication rate was recorded. Notably, long-term revisions due to lateral instability were absent, indicating the safety and efficacy of lateral epicondyle osteotomy as an operative technique.
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Review
Conceptualising the quality experience for independent medical examinations: A narrative review.
An independent medical examination is a unique healthcare assessment conducted by an expert health professional with the aim of providing impartial advice to key stakeholders in workers' compensation schemes regarding a worker's injury or illness. A range of dedicated guidelines provide for best practice at local and national levels, but concerns exist regarding the quality of these encounters for all involved. ⋯ Although some quality principles were evident in existing independent medical examination practices described in the literature, unlike the acute and community healthcare sectors, the notion of quality was not universally applied in this context. To promote evidence-based practice, foster positive cultural shifts, and enhance experiences of injured workers and independent medical examiners, formally embedding a comprehensive quality experience in independent medical examination programs is recommended.
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The initial interfragmentary motion (IFM) at a fracture site determines the mode of fracture healing. Understanding the impact of orthopaedic interventions on the fracture environment is essential to advancing our knowledge of fracture healing. The purpose of this scoping review is to analyze the orthopaedic literature to assess our understanding of the effects of early axial IFM on fracture healing outcomes. ⋯ The definitive range of axial IFM conducive to a favorable healing environment remains elusive. However, preliminary evidence suggests an association between small-to-moderate (mean 0.41, SD 0.32; range: 0.03- 1.0 mm) initial axial IFM for stimulating successful fracture healing. This review found that the cumulative evidence present in the literature is insufficient to determine a definite correlation between the early axial IFM and outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Healthcare professionals beliefs and priorities for the rehabilitation of patients after ankle fracture surgery: A qualitative study.
The study aims to understand healthcare professionals' (HCPs) beliefs and practices in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients after ankle fracture surgery, with the goal of informing new rehabilitation interventions based on these insights. ⋯ Findings underscore the mismatch between patient expectations and HCP guidance, emphasising the need for consensus on rehabilitation protocols. The study advocates for tailored rehabilitation pathways that address individual patient recovery trajectories, reduce dependency on HCPs, and encourage patient self-management.