Injury
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To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted shaping titanium cage combined with Masquelet technology in the treatment of calcaneal infectious defects. ⋯ Three-dimensional printing-assisted shaping titanium cages and Masquelet technology may be effective methods for the treatment of infectious calcaneal defects.
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Fracture non-unions have a detrimental effect on patients due to reduced mobility and severe pain. Current literature on the quality of life in non-unions is limited, hence the purpose of this study, to quantify the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with post-traumatic long bone non-unions. It was hypothesized that the HRQoL of these patients is lower than the Dutch population standard as well as for multiple chronic diseases and musculoskeletal disorders. ⋯ This study has quantified the detrimental effect of post-traumatic long bone non-unions on patient's health-related quality of life, being significantly lower than the HRQoL of the Dutch population as well as for multiple chronic and musculoskeletal medical conditions. This cohort demonstrates a patient population in need of more specialized care with a low health-related quality of life.
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The rate of deaths and injuries caused by unintentional injuries, especially driving accidents, in Iran is globally high. This study aims to explore the rate of the death due to unintentional injuries. ⋯ Despite the policies adapted about the deaths caused by accidents and the reduction of them, the results of the study show that one of the main groups and the target of these policies, namely young men, has not been affected much yet, and the death caused by accidents in young men is still high. Focusing on this population group, policies should be made to reduce the death of young men caused by accidents.
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Clinical relevance and statistical significance are different concepts, linked via the sample size calculation. Threshold values for detecting a minimal important change over time are frequently (mis)interpreted as a threshold for the clinical relevance of a difference between groups. The magnitude of a difference between groups that is considered clinically relevant directly impacts the sample size calculation, and thereby the statistical significance in clinical study outcomes. ⋯ The magnitude of a clinically relevant difference between groups should be carefully considered, by determining the smallest effect for each specific study that is considered worthwhile. This means taking into account the (dis)advantages of both study interventions in terms of benefits, harms, costs, and potential side effects. This article clarifies common sources of confusion, illustrates the implications for clinical research with an example and provides specific suggestions to improve the design and interpretation of clinical research.