Injury
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Periprosthetic fracture rate after short and long hip nails: Analysis of a regional health database.
Intertrochanteric hip fractures are a major socio-economic burden, and a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Treatment is generally surgical, with either a dynamic hip screw or a cephalomedullary hip nail. Recently, there has been a trend toward the use of hip nails. The use of short nails over long nails, which span the length of the femur, remains a source of controversy. Historically, short nails were associated with a higher periprosthetic fracture rate compared with long nails, however newer nail designs, appear to have resolved this issue. Small retrospective studies show a refracture rate similar in both long and short nails. Given the small sample size of current studies, it remains unclear if the refracture rate is indeed the same between treatment arms, or if studies are not sufficiently large to identify a difference between the two. A large database review would provide the practical next step to further explore this question. ⋯ This study did not find a statistical difference in periprosthetic fracture rate when comparing short and long cephalomedullary nails for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. Procedure time was shorter in the SN group. However, no difference in rate of blood transfusion was noted between patient groups. This study supports use of both nail type for hip fracture fixation, on the basis of periprosthetic fracture rate.
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Adequate foot function is paramount in daily activities, yet the incidence of foot fractures shows a rising trend. Patient-reported outcome measures are increasingly used for research; however, the use of a wide variety of available instruments is undesirable. In the current study, an overview is provided of patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical research evaluating outcomes of foot fractures. Tools are provided to choose the most adequate instrument in future research. ⋯ A multitude of specific patient-reported outcome measures concerning foot fractures exists. Furthermore, the predominantly used instrument is deemed insufficient regarding quality as found by other studies. A valid, reliable, and responsive patient-reported outcome measure for clinical research on foot fractures is necessary. The most adequate existing ones for future research on different topics can be found through the tools provided.
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Although excellent results of cephalomedullary nailing for femoral trochanteric fractures have been reported, excessive sliding has recently been noted as a cause of lag screw cut-out. Excessive sliding is reported as sliding of ≥8mm, which occurs in approximately 40%of cases. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for excessive sliding. ⋯ IV.