J Bone Joint Surg Br
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J Bone Joint Surg Br · May 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialFemoral shortening in intertrochanteric fractures. A comparison between the Medoff sliding plate and the compression hip screw.
We compared 54 patients treated by a Medoff sliding plate (MSP) with 60 stabilised by a compression hip screw (CHS) in a prospective, randomised study of the management of intertrochanteric femoral fractures. Four months after the operation femoral shortening was determined from radiographs of both femora. In unstable fractures the mean femoral shortening was 15 mm with the MSP and 11 mm with the CHS (p = 0.03). ⋯ Five postoperative failures of fixation occurred with the CHS and none with the MSP (p = 0.03). The marginally greater femoral shortening seen with the MSP compared with the CHS appeared to be justified by the improved control of impaction of the fracture. Biaxial dynamisation in unstable intertrochanteric fractures is a safe principle of treatment, which minimises the rate of postoperative failure of fixation.
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J Bone Joint Surg Br · May 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialHospital versus home management of children with buckle fractures of the distal radius. A prospective, randomised trial.
Our aim was to determine whether children with buckle fractures of the distal radius could be managed at home after initial hospital treatment. There were 87 patients in the trial: 40 had their short-arm backslab removed at home three weeks after the initial injury, and 47 followed normal practice by attending the fracture clinic after three weeks for removal of the backslab. ⋯ It was found that both groups, given a choice, would prefer to remove their child's backslab at home (p < 0.001). Our findings show that it is clinically safe to manage children with buckle fractures within the community.
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J Bone Joint Surg Br · Apr 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCardiac output during hemiarthroplasty of the hip. A prospective, controlled trial of cemented and uncemented prostheses.
In a prospective, controlled study, we measured the effect on cardiac output of the introduction of methylmethacrylate during hemiarthroplasty for displaced fractures of the femoral neck. We treated 20 elderly patients who were similar in age, height, weight and preoperative left ventricular function with either cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Using a transoesophageal Doppler probe, we measured cardiac output before incision and at six stages of the procedure: during the surgical approach, reaming and lavage of the femoral canal, the introduction of cement, the insertion of the prosthesis, and in reduction and closure. ⋯ There was no significant difference in cardiac function on insertion of the prosthesis. Standard non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring did not detect the cardiovascular changes which may account for the sudden deaths that sometimes occur during cemented hemiarthroplasty. The fall in stroke volume and cardiac output may be caused by embolism occurring during cementation, but there was no similar fall during reaming or insertion of the prosthesis.
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J Bone Joint Surg Br · Mar 2001
Comparative StudyTreatment of unstable fractures of the forearm in children. Is plating of a single bone adequate?
Unstable fractures of the forearm in children present problems in management and in the indications for operative treatment. In children, unlike adults, the fractures nearly always unite, and up to 10 degrees of angulation is usually considered to be acceptable. If surgical intervention is required the usual practice in the UK is to plate both bones as in an adult. ⋯ The mean radiological angulation in both was less than 10 degrees in both AP and lateral views, which was consistent with satisfactory function. The final outcome for 23 patients was excellent or good in 12 of 14 (90%) in group A, despite the complications, and in eight of nine in group B (90%). If reduction and fixation of the fracture of the ulna alone restores acceptable alignment of the radius in unstable fractures of the forearm, operation on the radius can be avoided.