International orthopaedics
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In order to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver agreement of the Frykman and AO classifications and their variations between assessors with different levels of experience, three hand specialists, a fellow and two senior residents classified radiographs of 200 fractures of the distal radius in anteroposterior and lateral views. Reproducibility was assessed by the use of the proportion of agreement and kappa coefficient between pairs of observers. The Frykman classification showed moderate interobserver reproducibility (kappa = 0.43) and good intraobserver reproducibility (kappa = 0.61). ⋯ The younger group obtained higher intraobserver agreement than the senior. Possible causes for the low reproducibility of both classifications are discussed together with a review of the literature. We do not recommend the Frykman or AO classifications for clinical application because of their questionable reproducibility.
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Circular external fixation using the Ilizarov apparatus combined with compression-distraction techniques was used to treat 11 patients with infected non-union and segmental bone loss of the tibia. The series comprised 8 males and 3 females, with an average age of 27 years (range 17-51 years). ⋯ The functional results were excellent in 5, good in 3, fair in 2 and poor in one patient. No additional procedures were used in any of the patients.