Foot & ankle international
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Stable lateral malleolar fractures treated with aircast ankle brace and DonJoy R.O.M.-Walker brace: a prospective randomized study.
Stable lateral malleolar fractures can be treated with dynamic braces and early mobilization. In a randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with supination-eversion stage II fractures were treated with Aircast Air-Stirrup ankle braces or DonJoy R. O. ⋯ M.-Walker group after 4 weeks. Three months after injury, no differences were observed in grade of ambulation, pain, swelling, range of motion, or inflammatory score. Both braces can be recommended.
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After the 1990 establishment of a multidisciplinary foot salvage clinic, 1346 diabetic patients, at high risk for the development of foot ulcers and eventual lower limb amputation, were followed for 4 years. Of the 224 high-risk patients admitted to the hospital, 74 amputations (5.5%) of all or part of a lower limb were performed. Patients undergoing amputation were younger, more severely ill, and required more frequent hospitalizations because of greater organ system involvement. ⋯ Clinical benchmarking facilitates the identification and reduction of unnecessary variations in patient care practices. Here, a formal benchmark analysis provides the current outcome expectations for amputation rates and co-morbidities in patients with diabetes who are classified as at high risk for lower extremity amputation. Management of these patients in a structured, multidisciplinary foot salvage clinic, augmentation of baseline services, and preliminary benchmark data may provide a standard for the measurement of therapeutic interventions that improve patient care.