Health care consumption and costs due to foot and ankle injuries in the Netherlands, 1986-2010

Foot, ankle, and leg problems in Australian primary care: consultation patterns, management practices, and costs

OBJECTIVE

To explore consultation patterns, management practices, and costs of foot, ankle, and leg problems in Australian primary care.

STUDY DESIGN

We analyzed data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program, April 2000 to March 2016. Foot, ankle, and leg problems were identified using the International Classification of Primary Care, Version 2 PLUS terminology. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics examining general practitioner (GP) and patient characteristics associated with a foot, ankle, or leg problem being managed. Cost to government was estimated by extracting fees for GP consultations, diagnostic imaging, and pathology services from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) database. Costs for prescription-only medicines were extracted from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule and for nonprescribed medications, large banner discount pharmacy prices were used.

RESULTS

GPs recorded 1,568,100 patient encounters, at which 50,877 foot, ankle, or leg problems were managed at a rate of 3.24 (95% confidence intervals [CIs] 3.21-3.28) per 100 encounters. The management rate of foot, ankle, or leg problems was higher for certain patient characteristics (older, having a health care card, socioeconomically disadvantaged, non-Indigenous, and being English speaking) and GP characteristics (male sex, older age, and Australian graduate). The most frequently used management practice was the use of medications. The average cost (Australian dollars) per encounter was A$52, with the total annual cost estimated at A$256m.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot, ankle, and leg problems are frequently managed by GPs, and the costs associated with their management represent a substantial economic impact in Australian primary care.

Trends in incidence, health care use and costs for subtrochanteric femur fractures in the Netherlands 2000-2019

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to provide population based trends in incidence rate, hospital length of stay (HLOS), trauma mechanism, and costs for healthcare and lost productivity of subtrochanteric femur fractures in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Data on patients with subtrochanteric femur fractures sustained between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2019 were extracted from the National Medical Registration of the Dutch Hospital Database. Incidence rates, HLOS, health care and productivity costs were calculated in sex- and age-specific groups.

RESULTS

A total of 14,399 patients sustained a subtrochanteric fracture in the 20-year study period. Incidence rates in the entire population dropped by 15.5 % from 4.5 to 3.8 per 100,000 person years (py). This decline was larger in women (6.4 to 5.2 per 100,000 py, -19.8 %) than in men (2.6 to 2.5 per 100,000 py, -4.0 %). HLOS declined by 62.5 % from a mean of 21.6 days in 2000-2004 to 8.1 days in 2015-2019. Subtrochanteric fractures were associated with total annual costs of €15.5 M, of which 91 % (€14.1 M) were health care costs and €1.3 M were costs due to lost productivity. Mean healthcare costs per case were lower in men (€16,394) than in women (€23,154).

CONCLUSION

The incidence rates and HLOS of subtrochanteric fractures in the Netherlands have decreased in the 2000-2019 study period and subtrochanteric fractures are associated with a relatively small total annual cost of €15.5 M. Increasing incidence rates and a bimodal age distribution, described in previous studies from other European countries, were not found in the Dutch population.

A systematic analysis on global epidemiology and burden of foot fracture over three decades

PURPOSE

To comprehensively analyze the geographic and temporal trends of foot fracture, understand its health burden by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI), and explore its leading causes from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS

The datasets in the present study were generated from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019, which included foot fracture data from 1990 to 2019. We extracted estimates along with the 95% uncertainty interval (UI) for the incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of foot fracture by location, age, gender, and cause. The epidemiology and burden of foot fracture at the global, regional, and national level was exhibited. Next, we presented the age and sex patterns of foot fracture. The leading cause of foot fracture was another focus of this study from the viewpoint of age, sex, and location. Then, Pearson's correlations between age-standardized rate (ASR), SDI, and estimated annual percentage change were calculated.

RESULTS

The age-standardized incidence rate was 138.68 (95% UI: 104.88 - 182.53) per 100,000 persons for both sexes, 174.24 (95% UI: 134.35 - 222.49) per 100,000 persons for males, and 102.19 (95% UI: 73.28 - 138.00) per 100,000 persons for females in 2019. The age-standardized YLDs rate was 5.91 (95% UI: 3.58 - 9.25) per 100,000 persons for both genders, 7.35 (95% UI: 4.45 - 11.50) per 100,000 persons for males, and 4.51 (95% UI: 2.75 - 7.03) per 100,000 persons for females in 2019. The global incidence and YLDs of foot fracture increased in number and decreased in ASR from 1990 to 2019. The global geographical distribution of foot fracture is uneven. The incidence rate for males peaked at the age group of 20 - 24 years, while that for females increased with advancing age. The incidence rate of older people was rising, as younger age incidence rate declined from 1990 to 2019. Falls, exposure to mechanical forces, and road traffic injuries were the 3 leading causes of foot fracture. Correlations were observed between ASR, estimated annual percentage change, and SDI.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of foot fracture remains high globally, and it poses an enormous public health challenge, with population ageing. It is necessary to allocate more resources to the high-risk populations. Targeted realistic intervention policies and strategies are warranted.

Topical Treatment Is Effective and Safe for Acute Ankle Sprains: The Multi-Center Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled TRAUMED Trial

BACKGROUND

Topical NSAIDs are widely used to treat ankle sprains. Traumed (Tr14) gel is a multicomponent formulation, demonstrating inflammation-resolution properties.

METHODS

This multicenter, double-blind trial investigated the efficacy and safety of Tr14 gel versus placebo gel and non-inferiority versus 1% diclofenac gel, applied 3×/day for 7 days after acute lateral ankle sprain (EudraCT Number: 2016-004792-50). The primary outcome was AUC for pain on passive movement, assessed by VAS from baseline to Days 4 and 7.

RESULTS

The trial population included 625 patients aged 18 to 78 years. The AUC scores were 187.88 and 200.75 on Day 4 (p = 0.02) and 294.14 and 353.42 on Day 7 (p < 0.001) for Tr14 and placebo, respectively. For Tr14 compared to diclofenac, the AUC scores were 187.50 and 197.19 on Day 4 (p = 0.3804) and 293.85 and 327.93 on Day 7 (p = 0.0017), respectively. On the FAAM-ADL subscale, Tr14 was superior to placebo and non-inferior to diclofenac at all time points. Time to 50% pain improvement was lowest for Tr14 (6.0 days), compared to placebo (7.1 days) and diclofenac (7.0 days). Adverse events were uncommon and minor.

CONCLUSIONS

Tr14 gel is effective and safe in acute ankle sprains, compared to placebo gel and diclofenac gel, and has faster pain resolution.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered in clinicaltrialsregister.eu, EudraCT number 2016-004792-50 on 07.06.2017.

Trends in incidence, health care consumption, and medical and productivity costs of femoral shaft fractures in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2019

INTRODUCTION

Population-based knowledge on the occurrence of femoral shaft fractures is necessary for allocation of health care services, optimization of preventive measures, and research purposes. This nationwide study aimed to provide an overview on the incidence of femoral shaft fractures over a 15-year period and to gain insight into health care consumption and work absence with associated costs in the Dutch population.

METHODS

Data of patients who sustained an acute femoral shaft fracture in the years 2005-2019 were extracted from the National Medical Registration of the Dutch Hospital Database. The incidence rate, hospital length of stay (HLOS), direct medical costs, productivity costs, and years lived with disability were calculated for age- and gender specific groups.

RESULTS

A total of 15,847 patients with a femoral shaft fracture were included. The incidence rate increased with 13 % over this 15-year period (5.71/100,000 persons per year in 2005 and 6.47/100,000 in 2019). The mean HLOS per patient was 13.8 days in 2005-2009 versus 8.4 days in 2015-2019 for the entire group. Mean HLOS per patient increased with age (10.0 days for age group 0-9 and 12.7 days for age group >80), but declined over time from 13.6 days in 2005-2009 to 8.8 days in 2015-2019 in males, and from 13.7 days and to 8.2 days, respectively, in females. The costs due to work absence was higher in males. Cumulative health care costs were highest in females >80 years (8.4 million euros versus 1.6 million in males).

CONCLUSION

The incidence rate of femoral shaft fractures increased over the past 15 years in the Netherlands. Mean HLOS per patient has decreased in all age groups and in both sexes. Health care costs were highest for female octogenarians.

Societal burden and quality of life in patients with Lisfranc Injuries

BACKGROUND

The incidence of Lisfranc fractures is rising, along with the incidence of foot fractures in general. These injuries can lead to long-term healthcare use and societal costs. Current economic evaluation studies are scarce in Lisfranc fracture research, and only investigate the healthcare costs. The aim of the present study was to accurately measure the monetary societal burden of disease and quality of life in the first 6 months after the injury in patients with Lisfranc fractures in the Netherlands.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study used a prevalence-based, bottom-up approach. Patients were included through thirteen medical centres in the Netherlands. Both stable and unstable injuries were included. The societal perspective was used. The costs were measured at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 months using the iMTA MCQ and PCQ questionnaires. Reference prices were used for valuation. Quality-of-life was measured using the EQ-5D-5 L and VAS scores.

RESULTS

214 patients were included. The mean age was 45.9 years, and 24.3% of patients had comorbidities. The baseline questionnaires yielded approximately €2023 as the total societal costs in the 3 months prior to injury. The follow-up questionnaires and surgery costs assessment yielded approximately €17,083 as the total costs in the first 6 months after injury. Of these costs, approximately two thirds could be attributed to productivity losses. The EQ-5D-5 L found a mean index value of 0.449 at baseline and an index value of 0.737 at the 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The total monetary societal costs in the first 6 months after injury are approximately €17,083. Approximately two thirds of these costs can be attributed to productivity losses. These costs appear to be somewhat higher than those found in other studies. However, these studies only included the healthcare costs. Furthermore, the baseline costs indicate relatively low healthcare usage before the injury compared to the average Dutch patient. The mean QoL index was 0.462 at baseline and 0.737 at 6 months, indicating a rise in QoL after treatment as well as a long-lasting impact on QoL. To our knowledge, this is only the first study investigating the societal costs of Lisfranc injuries, so more research is needed.

Accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing ankle injuries in emergency care

BACKGROUND

Ankle injuries are one of the most common presentations in the ED. Although fractures can be ruled out using the Ottawa Ankle Rules, the specificity is low, which means many patients may still receive unnecessary radiographs. Even once fractures are ruled out, assessment of ankle stability is recommended to rule out ruptures, but the anterior drawer test has only moderate sensitivity and low specificity and should be performed only after swelling has receded. Ultrasound could be a reliable, cheap and radiation free alternative to diagnose fractures and ligamentous injuries. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing ankle injuries.

METHODS

Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched up to 15 February 2022 to include studies of patients of 16 years or older presenting to the ED with acute ankle or foot injury, who underwent ultrasound and had diagnostic accuracy as outcome. No restrictions were applied for date and language. Risk of bias and quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies evaluating 1455 patients with bony injuries were included. In 10 studies, the reported sensitivity for fracture was >90%, but varied among studies between 76% (95% CI 63% to 86%) and 100% (95% CI 29% to 100%). In nine studies, the reported specificity was at least 91%, but varied between 85% (95% CI 74% to 92%) and 100% (95% CI 88% to 100%).Six studies including 337 patients examined the use of ultrasound for ligamentous injuries and found a sensitivity and specificity >94% and 100%. Overall quality of evidence for both bony and ligamentous injuries was low and very low.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound has the potential to be a reliable method for diagnosing foot and ankle injuries, however, higher grade evidence is needed.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020215258.

Use of Distal Tibial Cortical Bone Thickness and FRAX Score for Further Treatment Planning in Patients with Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures

Trimalleolar ankle fractures show a bimodal age distribution, affecting younger men and older women. Postmenopausal women often exhibit low bone mineral density, which contributes to a higher prevalence of osteoporotic-related fractures. The primary goal of this study was to analyse the association of patient characteristics with the cortical bone thickness of the distal tibia (CBTT) in trimalleolar ankle fractures.

METHODS

A total of 193 patients with a trimalleolar ankle fracture treated between 2011 and 2020 were included. Patient registries were reviewed regarding demographics, mechanism, and type of injury. The CBTT was assessed in radiographs and CT images. The FRAX score was calculated to estimate the probability for an osteoporotic fracture. A multivariable regression model was calculated to identify independent variables affecting the cortical bone thickness of the distal tibia.

RESULTS

Patients older than 55 years were 4.22 (95% CI: 2.12; 8.38) times more likely to be female. In the multivariable regression analysis, female sex (β -0.508, 95% CI: -0.739; -0.278, p < 0.001) and a higher age (β -0.009, 95% CI: -0.149; -0.003, p = 0.002) were independent variables associated with a lower CBTT. Patients with a CBTT < 3.5 mm had a higher 10-year probability for a major osteoporotic fracture (12% vs. 7.75%; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The assessment of the peripheral bone quality in routine computed tomography demonstrated that higher age and female sex are significantly associated with reduced cortical bone thickness of the distal tibia. Patients with a lower CBTT showed a higher probability for a subsequent osteoporotic fracture. In female patients with reduced distal tibial bone quality and associated risk factors, an osteoporosis assessment should be evaluated.

Determining key clinical predictors for chronic ankle instability and return to sports with cost of illness analysis: protocol of a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Ankle sprains are common in sports and the general population. Although considered innocuous, a large proportion has residual complaints such as recurrent ankle sprains and develop chronic ankle instability. Although some predicting factors are identified, there is no unequivocality regarding the development of chronic ankle instability, nor about the optimal rehabilitation for an acute ankle sprain. Alongside the biomechanical impairments, ankle sprains are a burden on society due to substantial economic costs. Therefore, we aim to identify key clinical predictors of chronic ankle instability or recovery after acute lateral ankle sprain. Additionally, we aim to determine cost-of-illness of patients who developed chronic ankle instability.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This prospective cohort study (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05637008 - pre-results) aims to recruit adult (18-55 years) patients with an acute lateral ankle sprain who are active in sports. Clinical assessments and patient-reported outcome measures will be used to collect data at 7-14 days, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months after enrolment in the study. The primary outcome will be chronic ankle instability at 12-month follow-up. Salient outcomes will be analysed by logistic regression to determine association with the development of chronic ankle instability. Participants will fill in a cost diary containing direct and indirect costs related to their injury.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATIONS

The ethical committee of the Antwerp University Hospital (B3002022000138) has given approval of the protocol and consent forms on 10 October 2022. We perform this study according to the Helsinki Declaration. We will present results at conferences or webinars and publish in peer-reviewed articles.NCT05637008.

Trends in incidence, health care consumption, and costs for proximal femoral fractures in the Netherlands between 2000 and 2019: a nationwide study

This study evaluated the incidence rates and societal burden of hip fractures in The Netherlands. Although incidence in the elderly population is decreasing and hospital stay is at an all-time low, the burden of medical costs and crude numbers of proximal femoral fractures are still rising in our aging population.

PURPOSE

The aim of this nationwide study was to provide an overview of the incidence rate and economic burden of acute femoral neck and trochanteric fractures in The Netherlands.

METHODS

Data of patients who sustained acute proximal femoral fractures in the period January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2019, were extracted from the National Medical Registration of the Dutch Hospital Database. The incidence rate, hospital length of stay (HLOS), health care and lost productivity costs, and years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated for age- and sex-specific groups.

RESULTS

A total of 357,073 patients were included. The overall incidence rate increased by 22% over the 20-year study period from 16.4 to 27.1/100,000 person-years (py). The age-specific incidence rate in elderly > 65 years decreased by 16% (from 649.1 to 547.6/100,000 py). The incidence rate in men aged > 90 has surpassed the incidence rate in women. HLOS decreased in all age groups, hip fracture subtypes, and sexes from a mean of 18.5 to 7.2 days. The mean health care costs, over the 2015-2019 period, were lower for men (€17,723) than for women (€23,351) and increased with age to €26,639 in women aged > 80. Annual cumulative costs reached €425M, of which 73% was spent on women.

CONCLUSION

The total incidence of hip fractures in The Netherlands has increased by 22%. Although incidence in the elderly population is decreasing and HLOS is at an all-time low, the burden of medical costs and crude numbers of proximal femoral fractures are still rising in our aging population.

Evaluation of ensemble strategy on the development of multiple view ankle fracture detection algorithm

OBJECTIVE

To identify the feasibility and efficiency of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) in the detection of ankle fractures and to explore ensemble strategies that applied multiple projections of radiographs.Ankle radiographs (AXRs) are the primary tool used to diagnose ankle fractures. Applying DCNN algorithms on AXRs can potentially improve the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of detecting ankle fractures.

METHODS

A DCNN was trained using a trauma image registry, including 3102 AXRs. We separately trained the DCNN on anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (Lat) AXRs. Different ensemble methods, such as "sum-up," "severance-OR," and "severance-Both," were evaluated to incorporate the results of the model using different projections of view.

RESULTS

The AP/Lat model's individual sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, accuracy, and F1 score were 79%/84%, 90%/86%, 88%/86%, 83%/85%, and 0.816/0.850, respectively. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the AP/Lat model was 0.890/0.894 (95% CI: 0.826-0.954/0.831-0.953). The sum-up method generated balanced results by applying both models and obtained an AUROC of 0.917 (95% CI: 0.863-0.972) with 87% accuracy. The severance-OR method resulted in a better sensitivity of 90%, and the severance-Both method obtained a high specificity of 94%.

CONCLUSION

Ankle fracture in the AXR could be identified by the trained DCNN algorithm. The selection of ensemble methods can depend on the clinical situation which might help clinicians detect ankle fractures efficiently without interrupting the current clinical pathway.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This study demonstrated different ensemble strategies of AI algorithms on multiple view AXRs to optimize the performance in various clinical needs.

Pediatric Musculoskeletal Injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries are a common reason for emergency department and primary care visits in the pediatric population. The prevalence of these injuries is likely related to children and adolescents participating in sports activities, physical activity, and exercise that can lead to these injuries. It is important for health care professionals and practitioners to understand the assessment, evaluation, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, but also to understand when to refer for expert consultation. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(9):e330-337.].

Economic evaluations in fracture research an introduction with examples of foot fractures

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of foot fractures is increasing. These types of fractures represent the most expensive group of diagnoses in the emergency department. Next to this, the need for economic evaluation studies is growing fast. The aim of this article is to provide healthcare professionals with an introduction to economic evaluation studies in the field of foot fractures.

TYPES OF ECONOMIC EVALUATION STUDIES

Four types of economic evaluation studies exist: cost-minimization analysis (CMA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), and cost-utility analysis (CUA). An economic evaluation study can be either trial- or model-based.

COST ASSESSMENT

When assessing costs in an economic evaluation study, three steps need to be made: identification of costs, measurement of costs, and valuation of costs.

PERSPECTIVE OF ANALYSIS

Two main perspectives exist in economic evaluation studies. When using a healthcare perspective, only the potential costs and benefits of an intervention for the healthcare sector are included. The societal perspective includes all potential costs, including societal costs.

SYNTHESIS OF COSTS AND EFFECTS AND UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS

The level of cost-effectiveness can be objectively expressed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). This measure can be plotted in a cost-effectiveness plane and can be compared with existing regional ceiling ratios.

CONCLUSION

Although this article is not a guideline for economic evaluations, we do want to present five tips to consider when performing an economic evaluation. Firstly, when measuring resource use, consult the Database of Instruments for Resource Use Measurements (DIRUM) to find an appropriate instrument. Secondly, when measuring utility values, use the EuroQol questionnaire if possible. Thirdly, when setting up an economic evaluation study, consult the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) database for the appropriate pharmacoeconomic guidelines. Fourthly, consult international guidelines to decide which study design is most appropriate. Finally, when performing an economic evaluation, consult a heath technology assessment (HTA) specialist from the start to ensure methodological quality.

Long-Term Follow-up of Functional and Radiographic Outcome After Revision Surgery for Fibula Malunion

Background. Ankle fractures are some of the most common injuries seen in the emergency department. Malunited ankle fractures are uncommon. Patients with malunion frequently present with multiple complaints. Radiographs often show abnormalities in anatomical alignment. Aim. To evaluate the anatomical alignment on radiographic imaging in patients with malunited ankle fractures. Secondary aims were to evaluate patient satisfaction after reconstruction and to investigate the relationships between radiological alignment and functional outcome. Methods. All consecutive patients (n = 25) treated for a fibula malunion between January 1, 2002, and September 1, 2017, were included. The primary outcome was anatomical alignment of the ankle mortise. The talocrural angle (TCA), talar tilt (TT), and medial clear space (MCS) were used to investigate to what extent revision surgery had improved alignment. The patient-related outcome measure consisted of the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS). To assess quality of life (QoL) the EQ-5D-5L was used. Results. The median TCA was 78.4° before revision and 79.25° after revision; P = .297. The median TT was 2.95° before revision and 0.70° after; P < .001. The MCS before revision was 5.2 mm and 3.17 mm after; P < .000). The OMAS had a median of 67.5 points. Analysis of the QoL questionnaires yielded a score of 0.84 points. Conclusion. Anatomical alignment improves significantly after revision surgery of malunited ankles. Measurements of the TCA appeared less useful in determining the anatomical alignment. In our series, 60% of patients reported good to excellent results. The QoL scores of our patient were comparable to those in the healthy population in the Netherlands.Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Case series.

The effect of the ankle syndesmosis reduction quality on the short-term functional outcome following ankle fractures

INTRODUCTION

A few radiographic techniques have been proposed to evaluate ankle syndesmosis reduction. The purpose of this study was to analyze post-operatively with CT-scanning the quality of ankle syndesmotic reduction. Moreover, to assess the impact of quality of syndesmotic reduction to functional outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective cohort study focused on patients older than 17 years with lateral and medial malleolar fracture with verified syndesmotic disruption.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

open fracture, concomitant injury, surgery delayed for more than 24 hours, additional posterior malleolar fracture, ASA score of ≥ 3, complication requiring revision surgery, articular step or gap of ≥ 2mm on the postoperative CT scans.

RESULTS

Out of 41 patients, 34 participants completed the follow-up. There was a male predominance (20 patients - 58.82%) and the mean age was 48.46±16.1 years (range (20-72 years). 22 patients (64.71%) have sustained type B fracture, while in 12 patients (35.29%) the fracture was of a type C. The reduction was classified as anatomical in 26 patients (76.50%), while in 8 patients (23.50%) the reduction of the syndesmosis was non-anatomical. In those 26 patients in whom the reduction was anatomical, 17 (65.39%) were males and there were 18 (66.67%) type B fractures. In the patients with non-anatomical reduction, 3 patients (37.5%) were of a male gender and there was the equal number of type B and C fractures. The statistical analysis showed significantly favorable scores for both AOFAS score and VAS scale for the patients with anatomical reduction.

CONCLUSION

Functional analysis showed a strong association with the CT observed reduction quality and both the AOFAS score and VAS scale. Further studies are desirable to provide further evidence in relation to the findings of this study.

Short-term outcome of isolated lateral malleolar fracture treatment is independent of hospital trauma volume or teaching status: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

Introduction

In light of current discussions about centralisation and teaching in medicine, we wanted to investigate the differences in in-hospital outcomes after surgical treatment of isolated ankle fractures, taking into account high-volume centres (HVCs) and low-volume centres (LVCs) and teaching procedures.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of malleolar fractures recorded in a National Quality Assurance Database (AQC) from the period 01-01-1998 to 31-12-2018 was carried out. Inclusion criteria were isolated, and operatively treated lateral malleolar fractures (ICD-10 Code S82.6 and corresponding procedure codes). Variables were sought in bivariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 6760 cases were included. By dividing the total cases arbitrarily in half, 12 HVCs (n = 3327, 49%) and 56 LVCs (n = 3433, 51%) were identified.

Results

Patients in HVCs were younger (48 vs. 50 years old), had more comorbidities (26% vs. 19%) and had more open fractures (0.48% vs. 0.15%). Open reduction and internal fixation was the most common operative treatment at HVCs and LVCs (95% vs. 98%). A more frequent use of external fixation (2.5% vs. 0.55%) was reported at HVCs. There was no difference in mortality between treatment at HVCs and LVCs. A longer hospitalisation of 7.2 ± 5 days at HVCs vs. 6.3 ± 4.8 days at LVCs was observed. In addition, a higher rate of complications of 3.2% was found at HVCs compared to 1.9% at LVCs. The frequency of teaching operations was significantly higher at HVCs (30% vs. 26%). Teaching status had no influence on mortality or complications but was associated with a prolonged length of stay and operating time.

Conclusion

We found significant differences between HVCs and LVCs in terms of in-hospital outcomes for ankle fractures. These differences could be explained due to a more severely ill patient population and more complex (also open) fracture patterns with resulting use of external fixation and longer duration of surgery. However, structural and organisational differences, such as an extended preoperative stays at HVCs and a higher teaching rate, were also apparent. No difference in mortality could be detected.

Isolated Medial Cuneiform Fractures: A Systematic Search and Qualitative Analysis of Case Studies

BACKGROUND

Isolated medial cuneiform fracture is a rare but diagnostically challenging condition. Diagnostic delay in these cases may lead to delays in ideal treatment approaches and prolonged symptoms. An understanding of clinical presentation is needed to expedite diagnosis, facilitate decision making, and guide treatment approach.

METHODS

Case studies/series were searched in four databases until September 2019. Included studies had participants with a history of traumatic closed medial cuneiform fracture. Studies were excluded if the medial cuneiform fractures were open fractures, associated with multitrauma, or associated with dislocation/Lisfranc injury. Three blinded reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the studies, and a qualitative synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

Ten studies comprising 15 patients were identified. Mean ± SD patient age was 38.0 ± 12.8 years, with 86.7% of reported participants being men. The overall methodological quality was moderate to high, and reporting of the patient selection criteria was poor overall. The most commonly reported clinical symptoms were localized tenderness (60.0%) and edema (53.3%). Direct blow was the most common inciting trauma (46.2%), followed by axial load (30.8%) and avulsion injuries (23.1%). Baseline radiographs were occult in 72.7% of patients; magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were the most common diagnostic modalities. Mean ± SD diagnostic delay was 64.7 ± 89.6 days. Conservative management was pursued in 54.5% of patients, with reported resolution of symptoms in 3 to 6 months. Surgical intervention occurred in 45.5% of patients and resulted in functional restoration in 3 to 6 months in all but one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial radiographs for isolated medial cuneiform fractures are frequently occult. Due to expedience and relatively low cost, radiographs are still a viable first-line imaging modality. If clinical concern remains, magnetic resonance imaging may be pursued to minimize diagnostic delay. Conservative management is a viable treatment method, with expected return to full function in 3 to 6 months.

Trends in incidence rate, health care use, and costs due to rib fractures in the Netherlands

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine population-based trends in the incidence rate, health care consumption, and work absence with associated costs in patients with rib fractures.

METHODS

A retrospective nationwide epidemiologic study was performed with data from patients with one or more rib fractures presented or admitted to a hospital in the Netherlands between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 and have been registered in the Dutch Injury Surveillance System (DISS) or the Hospital Discharge Registry (HDR). Incidence rates were calculated using data from Statistics Netherlands. The associated direct health care costs, costs for lost productivity, and years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated using data from a questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the 4-year study period, a total of 32,124 patients were registered of which 19,885 (61.9%) required hospitalization with a mean duration of 7.7 days. The incidence rate for the total cohort was 47.1 per 100,000 person years and increased with age. The mean associated direct health care costs were €6785 per patient and showed a sharp increase after the age of 75 years. The mean duration of work absence was 44.2 days with associated mean indirect costs for lost productivity of €22,886 per patient. The mean YLD was 0.35 years and decreased with age.

CONCLUSION

Rib fractures are common and associated with lengthy HLOS and work absenteeism as well as high direct and indirect costs which appear to be similar between patients with one or multiple rib fractures and mostly affected by admitted patients and age.

Utility of Ottawa Ankle Rules in an Aging Population: Evidence for Addition of an Age Criterion

The Ottawa ankle rules (OAR) indicate that any patient with the inability to ambulate up to four steps or with tenderness at either malleoli should receive diagnostic imaging for an acute ankle injury. Current trends indicate that health care providers tend to order more images in practice than necessary according to OAR. The purpose of this study is to analyze OAR in geriatric versus nongeriatric patients. Secondarily, we hope to refine these guidelines for ankle imaging in the hopes that health care providers will be comfortable in adhering to these guidelines more strictly. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 491 adult patients with an average (± standard deviation) age of 54.4 ± 21.6 years (range 18 to 96). Applying the current OAR resulted in a sensitivity of 98.2% and a specificity of 58.6% in this entire cohort. The calculated sensitivities were comparable between the nongeriatric and geriatric cohorts, at 98.60% and 97.99%, respectively. The specificities varied between the nongeriatric and geriatric cohorts, at 60.13% and 33.33%. We propose new guidelines that would mandate imaging studies for any patient ≥65 years of age presenting to the emergency department with ankle pain. When applying these proposed guidelines, the sensitivity of the entire study population was found to be improved to 99.0%, whereas the specificity dropped to 56.7%. The slight decrease in specificity was deemed acceptable because these guidelines are meant to be used as a screening tool and because the risk of OAR not correctly identifying ankle fracture (2% of geriatric fractures) was completely mitigated in the geriatric population.

Epidemiologic trends for isolated tibia shaft fracture admissions in The Netherlands between 1991 and 2012

INTRODUCTION

Population-based knowledge on the occurrence of specific injuries is essential for the allocation of health care services, optimization of preventive measures, and research purposes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine long-term nation-based trends in the incidence rate, trauma mechanism, hospital length of stay (HLOS), treatment, and outcome of hospital-admitted patients with an isolated tibia shaft fracture between 1991 and 2012 in The Netherlands.

METHODS

All hospital-admitted patients in The Netherlands between 1991 and 2012 with an isolated tibia shaft fracture were included. Age and gender-standardized incidence rates were calculated for each year. Data were extracted from the National Medical Registration.

RESULTS

The incidence rate for men decreased to 13.8/100,000 person years (py). For women the incidence rate remained stable with 7.2/100,000 py. Incidence showed a peak for adolescent men (15-19 years), and increased in both genders from 65 years onwards. Since 1993 the mean HLOS for isolated tibia fractures reduced from 10.8 to 5.4 days. Mean HLOS increased with age. Mean years lived with disability (YLD) was 4.5 years, declined linearly with age, and showed no gender effect.

CONCLUSIONS

In 22 years, the incidence rate of hospital admitted patients with an isolated tibia shaft fracture in The Netherlands dropped with 12%, which was mainly attributable to a 15% decline among men. Incidence rate, trauma mechanism, and HLOS were age and gender related. HLOS also reduced over time. Operation rate and YLD were only age related.

Treatment options for unstable ankle fractures in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Ankle fractures are the third most common fracture in the elderly. Patients over 60 years are more severely affected by these injuries than their younger counterparts and have a higher rate of complications regardless of the management strategy. Traditional management strategies for unstable ankle fractures include plaster immobilisation and open reduction and internal fixation, with newer modalities such as intramedullary fixation becoming increasingly popular. The aim of this review is to establish the best current evidence for or against different treatment strategies.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing treatment options for unstable ankle fractures in adults over 55 was conducted, with the primary outcome being functional assessment score at 6–12 months (Olerud and Molander Ankle Score). Secondary outcomes were adverse events including infection and re-operation.

Results

The search strategies identified 426 articles. After screening and full text review, four papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, providing data on 754 ankle fractures. Alternative treatment groups were tibio-talo-calcaneal nail, fibular nail and casting and were compared to open reduction and internal fixation. Meta-analysis of the data showed no difference in Olerud and Molander Ankle Score between treatment modalities at 6–12 months. There was, however, a significant reduction in the incidence of adverse events (OR 0.59 (0.44, 0.81)) and wound infection (0.13 (0.05, 0.31)) in the alternative treatment groups compared to open reduction and internal fixation.

Conclusion

The current evidence shows no significant difference between treatment modalities for ankle fractures in older adults in terms of functional outcome. Open reduction and internal fixation has a higher rate of adverse events and wound infection when compared to alternative treatments. Therefore, surgery should be carefully considered and if undertaken, in a select patient cohort other treatment modalities, such as intramedullary fixation should be considered.

Epidemiology of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand between 2010 and 2016

Background

Injuries to tendons and ligaments make up a large portion of musculoskeletal injuries, and contribute to significant morbidity and healthcare costs. However, there is currently a poor understanding of the burden of these injuries at a population level.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the burden and distribution of tendon and ligament injuries in the Aotearoa/New Zealand population.

Methods

Using the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC, a no fault comprehensive compensation scheme encompassing all of Aotearoa/New Zealand; population in 2013 4.4 million) database, data specific to tendon and ligament injuries were identified between July 2010 and June 2016. The total number of claims made and the total cost of these claims per financial year were analyzed. Injuries were categorized by anatomical site, gender, ethnicity and age of the claimant.

Results

During the 6-year study period, the total number of tendon and ligament injury claims was 1,112,077, with a total cost of over $1.4 billion NZD. There was a 16.2% increase in the number of claims, and a 40% increase in the total cost of these injuries during this period.

The majority of claims were made by people of European ethnicity, whilst the number of claims made by people of Asian ethnicity increased at the greatest rate; 52% (from 9047 claims in 2011) during the 6-year study period. Interestingly, Māori (Indigenous New Zealanders) maintained the highest average cost per claim ($1614.05 NZD); 13% more than the overall average cost per claim ($1262.12 NZD). The most common sites of injury were the shoulder and knee; these injuries were also the greatest contributors to overall cost. The total costs of injuries peaked in claimants aged 40–54, irrespective of the number of claims made for that age group.

Conclusions

Health and economic burdens of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand are rising. The high healthcare costs underscore the urgent need for multifaceted interventions to reduce the incidence and improve clinical outcomes of tendon and ligament injuries.

The calcaneofibular ligament has distinct anatomic morphological variants: an anatomical cadaveric study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate if the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) presents morphologic variants and measure the morphometrics of the ligament and its footprints METHODS: An anatomical study of 47 fresh-frozen below-the-knee ankle specimens was performed. Lateral ankle structures were dissected to expose the CFL. Overdissection was avoided to not modify the native morphology. The morphology (number and orientation of CFL bundles) and measurements of CFL insertions were recorded with ankle secured in neutral position.

RESULTS

Four distinct morphological-oriented shapes of the CFL were observed. These included single bundle, Y-shape double bundle, V-shape double bundle, and associated with the lateral talocalcaneal ligament. The most frequent CFL morphology observed was the single bundle and the Y-shape double bundle, present in 21 (44.7%) and 13 (27.7%) ankles. The V-shape double bundle and the CFL double bundle associated with the lateral talocalcaneal ligaments were less common, appearing only in eight (17.0%) and five (10.6%) ankles. The CFL length was higher in single bundle and Y-shaped double bundle CFL variants, about 30 mm each. Footprint morphometrics were heterogenous amongst the different CFL variants.

CONCLUSION

The CFL presents four distinct morphological-oriented shapes. The double bundle, V-shaped and Y-shaped CFL variants are uncommon and poorly reported in the literature. Their relation to the lateral talocalcaneal ligament and the inferior fascicle of the anterior talofibular ligament requires further research. The CFL morphology provides detailed knowledge of CFL anatomy that can improve diagnostic procedures. Furthermore, this information can fine-tune graft selection and sizing and allow a more precise anatomic placement during surgical reconstruction.

Comparison of Supervised Exercise and Home Exercise After Ankle Fracture

Ankle fractures are common fractures of the lower extremities that have an incidence rate of 101 fractures per 100.000 person-years. It is not clear which rehabilitation intervention should be performed after an ankle fracture. The aims of this study are to compare the effectiveness of a supervised exercise program with that of a home exercise program and to determine and compare the costs of these programs. A supervised exercise program and a home exercise program were performed for 8 weeks. The supervised exercise group consisted of 35 patients (mean age 39.23 years), and the home exercise group consisted of 73 patients (mean age 41.78 years). The average follow-up was 27.86 ± 9.88 months. Demographic information, injury details, type and classification of fracture, pain severity, and ankle range of motion were recorded. The clinical outcomes were determined by using the Pain Disability Index, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score, and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey. Surgical and rehabilitation satisfaction was evaluated with the use of a numeric scale. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scores were statistically significantly higher in the home exercise group (p = .036), and rehabilitation satisfaction of the supervised exercise group was statistically significantly better (p = .047). The total rehabilitation crude cost of a patient in the supervised exercise group is 1113.63 Turkish lira (310.25 U.S. dollars) versus 182.31 Turkish lira (50.79 U.S. dollars) in the home exercise group. Considering that the crude cost of the home exercise program is very low and clinical outcomes are satisfactory, we recommend that patients with surgically treated isolated ankle fractures be followed up with a postoperative home exercise program.

The health economics of ankle and foot sprains and fractures: A systematic review of English-language published papers. Part 1: Overview and critical appraisal

BACKGROUND

Ankle and foot sprains and fractures are common injuries affecting many individuals, often requiring considerable and costly medical interventions. The objectives of this systematic review are to collect, assess, and critically appraise the published literature on the health economics of ankle and foot injury (sprain and fracture) treatment.

METHODS

A systematic literature review of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane DSR, ACP Journal Club, AMED, Ovid Healthstar, and CINAHL was conducted for English-language studies on the costs of treating ankle and foot sprains and fractures published from January 1980 to December 2014. Two reviewers assessed the articles for study quality and abstracted data.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 2047 studies of which 32 were analyzed. A majority of the studies were published in the last decade. A number of the studies did not report full economic information, including the sources of the direct and indirect costs, as suggested in the guidelines. The perspective used in the analysis was missing in numerous studies, as was the follow-up time period of participants. Only five of the studies undertook a sensitivity analysis which is required whenever there are uncertainties regarding cost data.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review found that publications do not consistently report on the components of health economics methodology, which in turn limits the quality of information. Future studies undertaking economic evaluations should ensure that their methods are transparent and understandable so as to yield accurate interpretation for assistance in forthcoming economic evaluations and policy decision-making.

The health economics of ankle and foot sprains and fractures: A systematic review of English-language published papers. Part 2: The direct and indirect costs of injury

BACKGROUND

Ankle and foot sprains and fractures are prevalent injuries, which may result in substantial physical and economic consequences for the patient and place a financial burden on the health care system. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to examine the direct and indirect costs of treating ankle and foot injuries (sprains, dislocations, fractures), as well as to provide an overview of the outcomes of full economic analyses of different treatment strategies.

METHODS

A systematic review was carried out among seven databases to identify English language publications on the health economics of ankle and foot injury treatment published between 1980 and 2014. The direct and indirect costs were abstracted by two independent reviewers. All costs were adjusted for inflation and reported in 2016 US dollars (USD).

RESULTS

Among 2047 identified studies, 32 were selected for analysis. The direct costs of ankle sprain management ranged from $292 to $2268 per patient (2016 USD), depending on the injury severity and treatment strategy. The direct costs of managing ankle fractures were higher ($1908-$19,555). Foot fracture treatment had similar direct costs ranging from $998 to $21,801. The economic evaluations were conducted from the societal or payer's perspectives.

CONCLUSION

The costs of treating ankle and foot sprains and fractures varied among the studies, mostly due to differences in injury type and study characteristics, which impacted the ability of directly comparing the financial burden of treatment. Nonetheless, the review showed that the costs experienced by the patient and the health care system increased with injury complexity.

The Ankle Injury Management (AIM) trial: a pragmatic, multicentre, equivalence randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation comparing close contact casting with open surgical reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of unstable ankle fractures in patients aged over 60 years

BACKGROUND

Close contact casting (CCC) may offer an alternative to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery for unstable ankle fractures in older adults.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to (1) determine if CCC for unstable ankle fractures in adults aged over 60 years resulted in equivalent clinical outcome compared with ORIF, (2) estimate cost-effectiveness to the NHS and society and (3) explore participant experiences.

DESIGN

A pragmatic, multicentre, equivalence randomised controlled trial incorporating health economic evaluation and qualitative study.

SETTING

Trauma and orthopaedic departments of 24 NHS hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged over 60 years with unstable ankle fracture. Those with serious limb or concomitant disease or substantial cognitive impairment were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

CCC was conducted under anaesthetic in theatre by surgeons who attended training. ORIF was as per local practice. Participants were randomised in 1 : 1 allocation via remote telephone randomisation. Sequence generation was by random block size, with stratification by centre and fracture pattern.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Follow-up was conducted at 6 weeks and, by blinded outcome assessors, at 6 months after randomisation. The primary outcome was the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), a patient-reported assessment of ankle function, at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (as measured by the European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions, Short Form questionnaire-12 items), pain, ankle range of motion and mobility (as measured by the timed up and go test), patient satisfaction and radiological measures. In accordance with equivalence trial US Food and Drug Administration guidance, primary analysis was per protocol.

RESULTS

We recruited 620 participants, 95 from the pilot and 525 from the multicentre phase, between June 2010 and November 2013. The majority of participants, 579 out of 620 (93%), received the allocated treatment; 52 out of 275 (19%) who received CCC later converted to ORIF because of loss of fracture reduction. CCC resulted in equivalent ankle function compared with ORIF at 6 months {OMAS 64.5 points [standard deviation (SD) 22.4 points] vs. OMAS 66.0 points (SD 21.1 points); mean difference -0.65 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.98 to 2.68 points; standardised effect size -0.04, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.15}. There were no differences in quality of life, ankle motion, pain, mobility and patient satisfaction. Infection and/or wound problems were more common with ORIF [29/298 (10%) vs. 4/275 (1%)], as were additional operating theatre procedures [17/298 (6%) vs. 3/275 (1%)]. Malunion was more common with CCC [38/249 (15%) vs. 8/274 (3%); p < 0.001]. Malleolar non-union was lower in the ORIF group [lateral: 0/274 (0%) vs. 8/248 (3%); p = 0.002; medial: 3/274 (1%) vs. 18/248 (7%); p < 0.001]. During the trial, CCC showed modest mean cost savings [NHS mean difference -£644 (95% CI -£1390 to £76); society mean difference -£683 (95% CI -£1851 to £536)]. Estimates showed some imprecision. Incremental quality-adjusted life-years following CCC were no different from ORIF. Over common willingness-to-pay thresholds, the probability that CCC was cost-effective was very high (> 95% from NHS perspective and 85% from societal perspective). Experiences of treatments were similar; both groups endured the impact of fracture, uncertainty regarding future function and the need for further interventions.

LIMITATIONS

Assessors at 6 weeks were necessarily not blinded. The learning-effect analysis was inconclusive because of limited CCC applications per surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

CCC provides a clinically equivalent outcome to ORIF at reduced cost to the NHS and to society at 6 months.

FUTURE WORK

Longer-term follow-up of trial participants is under way to address concerns over potential later complications or additional procedures and their potential to impact on ankle function. Further study of the patient factors, radiological fracture patterns and outcomes, treatment responses and prognosis would also contribute to understanding the treatment pathway.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN04180738.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 75. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. This report was developed in association with the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Unit funding scheme. The pilot phase was funded by the AO Research Foundation.

Routine versus on demand removal of the syndesmotic screw; a protocol for an international randomised controlled trial (RODEO-trial)

BACKGROUND

Syndesmotic injuries are common and their incidence is rising. In case of surgical fixation of the syndesmosis a metal syndesmotic screw is used most often. It is however unclear whether this screw needs to be removed routinely after the syndesmosis has healed. Traditionally the screw is removed after six to 12 weeks as it is thought to hamper ankle functional and to be a source of pain. Some studies however suggest this is only the case in a minority of patients. We therefore aim to investigate the effect of retaining the syndesmotic screw on functional outcome.

DESIGN

This is a pragmatic international multicentre randomised controlled trial in patients with an acute syndesmotic injury for which a metallic syndesmotic screw was placed. Patients will be randomised to either routine removal of the syndesmotic screw or removal on demand. Primary outcome is functional recovery at 12 months measured with the Olerud-Molander Score. Secondary outcomes are quality of life, pain and costs. In total 194 patients will be needed to demonstrate non-inferiority between the two interventions at 80% power and a significance level of 0.025 including 15% loss to follow-up.

DISCUSSION

If removal on demand of the syndesmotic screw is non-inferior to routine removal in terms of functional outcome, this will offer a strong argument to adopt this as standard practice of care. This means that patients will not have to undergo a secondary procedure, leading to less complications and subsequent lower costs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR5965), Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02896998 ) on July 15th 2016.

Review article: Best practice management of common ankle and foot injuries in the emergency department (part 2 of the musculoskeletal injuries rapid review series)

Ankle and foot injuries are the most common musculoskeletal injuries presenting to Australian EDs and are associated with a large societal and economic impact. The quality of ED care provided to patients with ankle and foot fractures or soft tissue injuries is critical to ensure the best possible outcomes for the patient. This rapid review investigated best practice for the assessment and management of common ankle and foot injuries in the ED. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, TRIP and the grey literature, including relevant organisational websites, were searched in 2017. Primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines were considered for inclusion. English language articles published in the last 12 years that addressed the acute assessment, management or prognosis in the ED were included. Data extraction of included articles was conducted, followed by quality appraisal to rate the level of evidence where possible. The search revealed 1242 articles, of which 71 were included in the review (n = 22 primary articles, n = 35 systematic reviews and n = 14 guidelines). This rapid review provides clinicians managing fractures and soft tissue injuries of the ankle and foot in the ED a summary of the best available evidence to enhance the quality of care for optimal patient outcomes. Following a thorough history and physical examination, including the application of the Ottawa ankle rules, ED clinicians should not only provide a diagnosis, but rate the severity of soft tissue injuries, or stability of fractures and dislocations, which are the pivotal decision points in guiding ED treatment, specialist referral and the follow-up plan.

Validation of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale Dutch language version in patients with hindfoot fractures

OBJECTIVES

The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale is among the most used questionnaires for measuring functional recovery after a hindfoot injury. Recently, this instrument was translated and culturally adapted into a Dutch version. In this study, the measurement properties of the Dutch language version (DLV) were investigated in patients with a unilateral hindfoot fracture.

DESIGN

Multicentre, prospective observational study.

SETTING

This multicentre study was conducted in three Dutch hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 118 patients with a unilateral hindfoot fracture were included. Three patients were lost to follow-up.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients were asked to complete the AOFAS-DLV, the Foot Function Index and the Short Form-36 on three occasions. Descriptive statistics (including floor and ceiling effects), reliability (ie, internal consistency), construct validity, reproducibility (ie, test-retest reliability, agreement and smallest detectable change (SDC)) and responsiveness were determined.

RESULTS

Internal consistency was inadequate for the AOFAS-DLV total scale (α=0.585), but adequate for the function subscale (α=0.863). The questionnaire had adequate construct validity (82.4% of predefined hypotheses were confirmed), but inadequate longitudinal validity (70.6%). No floor effects were found, but ceiling effects were present in all AOFAS-DLV (sub)scales, most pronounced from 6 to 24 months after trauma onwards. Responsiveness was only adequate for the pain and alignment subscales, with a SDC of 1.7 points.

CONCLUSIONS

The AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale DLV has adequate construct validity and is reliable, making it a suitable instrument for cross-sectional studies investigating functional outcome in patients with a hindfoot fracture. The inadequate longitudinal validity and responsiveness, however, hamper the use of the questionnaire in longitudinal studies and for assessing long-term functional outcome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR5613; Post-results.

Complex Foot Injury: Early and Definite Management

Complex foot injuries occur infrequently, but are life-changing events. They often present with other injuries as the result of a high-energy trauma. After initial stabilization, early assessment should be regarding salvagability. All treatment strategies are intensive. The initial treatment includes prevention of progression ischemia/necrosis, prevention of infection, and considering salvage or amputation. Definitive treatment for salvage includes anatomic reconstruction with stable internal fixation and early soft tissue coverage followed by aggressive rehabilitation. Prognosis after complex injuries is hard to predict. The various stages of the treatment are reviewed and recommendations are made.

Should syndesmotic screws be removed after surgical fixation of unstable ankle fractures? a systematic review

AIMS

In approximately 20% of patients with ankle fractures, there is an concomitant injury to the syndesmosis which requires stabilisation, usually with one or more syndesmotic screws. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether removal of the syndesmotic screw is required in order for the patient to obtain optimal functional recovery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library for articles in which the syndesmotic screw was retained. Articles describing both removal and retaining of syndesmotic screws were included. Excluded were biomechanical studies, studies not providing patient related outcome measures, case reports, studies on skeletally immature patients and reviews. No restrictions regarding year of publication and language were applied.

RESULTS

A total of 329 studies were identified, of which nine were of interest, and another two articles were added after screening the references. In all, two randomised controlled trials (RCT) and nine case-control series were found. The two RCTs found no difference in functional outcome between routine removal and retaining the syndesmotic screw. All but one of the case-control series found equal or better outcomes when the syndesmotic screw was retained. However, all included studies had substantial methodological flaws.

CONCLUSIONS

The currently available literature does not support routine elective removal of syndesmotic screws. However, the literature is of insufficient quality to be able to draw definitive conclusions. Secondary procedures incur a provider and institutional cost and expose the patient to the risk of complications. Therefore, in the absence of high quality evidence there appears to be little justification for routine removal of syndesmotic screws. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1497-1504.

The Biology of Bone and Ligament Healing

This review describes the normal healing process for bone, ligaments, and tendons, including primary and secondary healing as well as bone-to-bone fusion. It depicts the important mediators and cell types involved in the inflammatory, reparative, and remodeling stages of each healing process. It also describes the main challenges for clinicians when trying to repair bone, ligaments, and tendons with a specific emphasis on Charcot neuropathy, fifth metatarsal fractures, arthrodesis, and tendon sheath and adhesions. Current treatment options and research areas are also reviewed.

Evidence review for the 2016 International Ankle Consortium consensus statement on the prevalence, impact and long-term consequences of lateral ankle sprains

Lateral ankle sprains (LASs) are the most prevalent musculoskeletal injury in physically active populations. They also have a high prevalence in the general population and pose a substantial healthcare burden. The recurrence rates of LASs are high, leading to a large percentage of patients with LAS developing chronic ankle instability. This chronicity is associated with decreased physical activity levels and quality of life and associates with increasing rates of post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis, all of which generate financial costs that are larger than many have realised. The literature review that follows expands this paradigm and introduces emerging areas that should be prioritised for continued research, supporting a companion position statement paper that proposes recommendations for using this summary of information, and needs for specific future research.

Musculoskeletal Health Literacy in Patients With Foot and Ankle Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Comprehension

PURPOSE

Approximately 33% of Americans have inadequate health literacy, which is associated with decreased medical knowledge, increased hospitalization and use of emergency care, and worse control of diseases. In this study, the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems (LiMP) questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of limited musculoskeletal literacy in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with foot and ankle-related complaints, as these individuals may be at increased risk for inferior outcomes.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, individuals ≥18 years of age presenting with foot and ankle-related complaints to the ED were invited to participate. Participants completed a demographic survey and the LiMP questionnaire, with scores ≥6 indicative of adequate musculoskeletal literacy. The prevalence of adequate health literacy and the influence of demographic parameters was assessed. P values <.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

The mean LiMP score was 5 ± 2.06. Limited musculoskeletal health literacy was seen in 32% of participants (18/56). Although gender (male), a current or prior employment in a health care field, and having previously seen a physician for a musculoskeletal complaint correlated with higher literacy rates, these values did not reach statistical significance (P > .05). However, Caucasians and those with higher levels of education (equal to or more than college) were significantly more likely to possess adequate literacy (P = .008, P = .04, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one third of patients presenting to the ED with foot and ankle-related complaints have limited musculoskeletal literacy and may lack the necessary skills required for making informed decisions regarding their care. This is concerning and has tremendous socioeconomic implications, as more than 23 000 people per day require medical care for ankle sprains in the United States, with average treatment costs for this injury in the ED setting estimated at $1498. Identification of those most at risk is thus crucial and will facilitate the development of interventions geared toward those most vulnerable.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, Level IV study.

Fall-induced fractures of the calcaneus and foot in older people: nationwide statistics in Finland between 1970 and 2013 and prediction for the future

BACKGROUND

Although fall-induced fractures of elderly persons are a major problem, epidemiologic knowledge on their time trends is limited. We assessed the trends in fall-induced fractures of the calcaneus and foot in older Finns between 1970 and 2013.

METHODS

The current trends in the number and incidence (per 100,000 persons) of fall-induced fractures of the calcaneus and foot of older Finns were determined by taking into account individuals 50-year-olds or older who were admitted to Finnish hospitals for primary treatment of such injury in 1970-2013.

RESULTS

The number and raw incidence of these fractures increased considerably between 1970 and 2013, from 64 (number) and 5.6 (incidence) in 1970, to 325 and 15.0, respectively, in 2013. The age-adjusted incidence of fracture was higher in men than women and showed a clear rise in both sexes in 1970-2013, from 7.2 to 15.2 in men (111% increase), and from 4.3 to 13.9 in women (223% increase). A similar rise was observed in the age-specific incidences. If trends in the age-specific fracture incidence continue at the same rate as were observed in 1970-2013, and the 50-year-old or older population increases as predicted (by 15% by the year 2030), the annual number of fall-induced fractures of the calcaneus and foot in this population will be 1.8 times higher in the year 2030 (580 fractures) than it was in 2013 (325 fractures).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of fall-induced fractures of the calcaneus and foot among Finns 50 years of age or older has risen sharply between 1970 and 2013 with a rate that cannot be explained merely by demographic changes. Further studies should examine the reasons for the rise and possibilities for fracture prevention.