The Iowa orthopaedic journal
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Unplanned hospital readmission following orthopedic procedures results in significant expenditures for the Medicare population. In order to reduce expenditures, hospital readmission has become an important quality metric for Medicare patients. The purpose of the present study is to determine the incidence and risk factors for 30-day readmissions after hip fracture surgery. ⋯ The overall rate of readmission following hip fracture surgery was moderate. Surgeons should consider discharge optimization in the at risk cohorts identified here, particularly patients with multiple medical comorbidities or an elevated ASA class, and should focus on wound complications and fall risks in order to minimize readmissions. Further, quality-reporting metrics should account for the risk factors identified here, in order to prevent penalties against surgeons who take on complex patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Prospective Study Of The Use Of Ipads In Reducing Anxiety During Cast Room Procedures.
Cast room procedures can be a source of anxiety for children. Various techniques, including music therapy, have been evaluated as a way to ease this anxiety. The use of iPads as a form of distraction during cast room procedures has not previously been evaluated and was the purpose of the current study. ⋯ The results of this study show a significant decrease in heart rate when transitioning from the waiting room to the cast room while watching videos on the iPad. iPad-based video delivery appears to decrease anxiety prior to cast room procedures. iPad-based game play is difficult to assess as elevations in heart rate prior to the procedure are presumed to be related to game play and confound the observed effect it may have on anxiety related to the procedure.
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Ankle fragility fractures are difficult to treat due to poor bone quality and soft tissues as well as the near ubiquitous presence of comorbidities including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. Conventional open reduction and internal fixation in this population has been shown to lead to a significant rate of complications. Given the high rate of complications with contemporary fixation methods, the present study aims to critically evaluate the use of acute hindfoot nailing as a percutaneous fixation technique for high-risk ankle fragility fractures. ⋯ This study shows that retrograde hindfoot nailing is an acceptable treatment option for treatment of ankle fragility fractures. Hindfoot nailing allows early weightbearing, limited soft tissue injury, and a relatively low rate of complications, all of which are advantages to conventional open reduction internal fixation techniques. Given these findings, larger prospective randomized trials comparing this treatment with conventional open reduction internal fixation techniques are warranted.
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Nonunion of long bone fractures is a serious complication for many patients leading to considerable morbidity. The purpose of this study is to elucidate factors affecting continued pain following long bone nonunion surgery and offer better pain control advice to patients. ⋯ Healed patients have improved pain levels after lower extremity nonunion surgery. Orthopedic surgeons should stress smoking cessation programs and minimize delay to nonunion surgery, in order to maximize pain relief in this patient cohort.