The bone & joint journal
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The bone & joint journal · Jul 2017
ReviewAn epidemic of the use, misuse and overdose of opioids and deaths due to overdose, in the United States and Canada: is Europe next?
The United States and Canada are in the midst of an epidemic of the use, misuse and overdose of opioids, and deaths related to overdose. This is the direct result of overstatement of the benefits and understatement of the risks of using opioids by advocates and pharmaceutical companies. Massive amounts of prescription opioids entered the community and were often diverted and misused. ⋯ Evidence is mounting that the best pain relief is obtained through resilience. Opioids are often prescribed when treatments to increase resilience would be more effective. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:856-64.
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The bone & joint journal · Jul 2017
ReviewWhen is a simple fracture of the lateral malleolus not so simple? how to assess stability, which ones to fix and the role of the deltoid ligament.
Stable fractures of the ankle can be safely treated non-operatively. It is also gradually being recognised that the integrity of the 'medial column' is essential for the stability of the fracture. ⋯ We provide a rationale as to how to classify SER distal fibular fractures using weight-bearing radiographs, and how this can help guide the management of these common injuries. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:851-5.
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The bone & joint journal · Jul 2017
A pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a femoral nerve block and periarticular infiltration for early pain relief following total knee arthroplasty.
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a femoral nerve block and a periarticular infiltration in the management of early post-operative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ Periarticular infiltration is a viable and safe alternative to femoral nerve block for the early post-operative relief of pain following TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:904-11.