Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2018
Meta AnalysisArthroscopic meniscal surgery versus conservative management in patients aged 40 years and older: a meta-analysis.
The efficacy of arthroscopic meniscus surgery in old aged patients remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to review published studies comparing arthroscopic meniscal surgery with conservative management to treat meniscal injuries in patients 40 years of age and older. ⋯ The efficacy of arthroscopic surgery was not superior to conservative management in this type of patients. Therefore, arthroscopic meniscal surgery should not be recommended as a first choice of treatment for degenerative meniscal tears. In patients over 40 years of age, arthroscopic surgery should be cautiously considered for degenerative meniscal tears and only when there has not been a satisfactory response to conservative management.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2018
ReviewThe value of radiography in the follow-up of extremity fractures: a systematic review.
The added value of routine radiography in the follow-up of extremity fractures is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to create an overview of radiography use in extremity fracture care and the consequences of these radiographs for the treatment of patients with these fractures. ⋯ Based on current literature, the added value of routine radiography in the follow-up of extremity fractures seems limited. Results, however, should be interpreted with care, considering that available evidence is of a low level.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2018
Patient age of less than 55 years is not an independent predictor of functional improvement or satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty.
Management of the young patient with end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee is difficult, with surgical options of osteotomy, partial or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The primary aim of this study was to assess whether age of less than 55 years was an independent predictor of functional outcome and satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The secondary aims were to identify pre-operative differences in patient demographics, comorbidity and function between patients less than 55 years old compared to those 55 years old and over. ⋯ Age of less than 55 years is not an independent predictor of functional outcome or rate of patient satisfaction after TKA. However, depression and poor mental health are significantly more prevalent in patients less than 55 years old and were independently associated with a lower satisfaction rate.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2018
Bone density correlates with clinical outcomes after ankle fracture fixation.
Osteoporosis and decreased bone density are known to increase fracture incidence and severity. Although much is known regarding the effects of bone density on fracture risk and the treatment options for prevention of fragility fractures, whether bone quality alters clinical outcomes after fracture fixation is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone quality correlates with clinical outcomes after fracture fixation. ⋯ Our results suggest that decreased bone quality, as measured using preoperative CT, significantly correlates with inferior short-term clinical outcomes. These results have significant implications for integrating bone quality into treatment algorithms for fracture patients.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2018
Is routine MRI necessary to exclude pathological fractures in patients with an oncological history?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the radiological modality of choice for diagnosing pathological fractures in situations of diagnostic uncertainty. With the increasing availability of MRI, we have observed a disturbing trend in utilising routine MRI scans to exclude pathological fractures in all patients with a history of cancer. The study objective was to determine if routine use of MRI scans in such patients is truly necessary and if other predictive factors can be utilised in lieu of the MRI scan. ⋯ MRI is an imperative tool for operative planning in pathological fractures; however, we recommend against the routine use of MRI to diagnose pathological fractures in oncological patients. Patients with solid organ cancer remission, a positive history of significant trauma prior to sustaining the fracture, and the absence of pathological features on plain radiographs are strongly predictive against pathological fractures.