Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialProspective randomized comparison of gliding nail and gamma nail in the therapy of trochanteric fractures.
In a prospective randomized study, we compared the new intramedullary implant of the gliding nail to the gamma nail in the fixation of 80 unstable trochanteric fractures in elderly patients. The preconditions of both groups were comparable. ⋯ Also, the anatomic reconstruction and the long-term function according to the Merle d'Aubigne score were comparable. Regarding postoperative complications, the gliding nail showed a minor tendency of cutting out; this we attribute to the special design of the dynamic blade and regard it as the most favourable advantage of this new implant.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPain therapy following joint replacement.A randomized study of patient-controlled analgesia versus conventional pain therapy.
A prospective randomized trial in 42 patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty under general anaesthesia was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) versus demanded conventional pain therapy (CPT) for controlling postoperative pain. Four patients had to be excluded from the study (2 postoperative confusion, 1 elevated piritramid dosage caused by chronic pain therapy, 1 stressed by PCA pump handling). PCA group (n = 19) received piritramid via PCA pump, CPT group (n = 19) received tramadol (oral or intramuscularly) or piritramid intravenously. ⋯ The PCA group required on average twice as much piritramid-equivalent than the CPT group (P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was good in both groups, but significantly better in the PCA group (P < 0.01), although the measured postoperative individual pain scores were above the preoperatively determined individual subjective pain threshold in the majority of both groups. From these results we draw the conclusion that even if the patients feel satisfied by the pain therapy administered, the majority are objectively treated below their individual subjective pain threshold.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPrevention of heterotopic bone formation after total hip arthroplasty: a prospective randomised study comparing postoperative radiation therapy with indomethacin medication.
Heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip arthroplasty is known to be a major complication with an impact on the functional outcome. Efforts have been made to prevent the occurrence of HO by means of either radiation therapy or pharmacotherapy. To date, there are no data available regarding the relative benefit of radiation versus medication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. ⋯ In conclusion, this study demonstrated that both radiation and indomethacin therapy are effective in the prevention of postoperative HO. The choice for either one of the treatments has to be based on availability, contraindications, side-effects, practicability, standardisation and cost. Based on these considerations together with the results of this study, we currently use postoperative radiation with 600 cGy for all patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1999
ReviewPrevalence of popliteal cysts in children. A sonographic study and review of the literature.
Popliteal cysts in children differ from those in adults. They are considered to be less frequent and usually appear in the absence of intra-articular lesions. However, their prevalence in asymptomatic children is unknown. ⋯ A popliteal cyst could be identified in 4 patients. The prevalence of asymptomatic popliteal cysts was thus 2.4%. For 2 of these patients, we obtained magnetic resonance image of the knee which showed no concommitant intra-articular pathology.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1999
Clinical TrialNo effective prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification with short-term ibuprofen.
Ninety-five patients underwent primary total hip arthroplasty and routinely received ibuprofen for 5 days as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification. This group was compared with a group of 99 patients who received indomethacin for 7 days as prophylaxis. ⋯ The widespread ossification, Brooker grades III and IV, was prevented better by indomethacin than by ibuprofen. We conclude that ibuprofen for 5 days is not effective as prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification after primary total hip arthroplasty.