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Perry DC, Dritsaki M, Achten J, Appelbe D, Knight R, Widnall J, Roland D, Messahel S, Costa ML, Mason J. Cost-effectiveness analysis of soft bandage and immediate discharge versus rigid immobilization in children with distal radius torus fractures. Bone Joint J 2024; 106-B:623-630. [PMID: 38821496 DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.106b6.bjj-2023-1211.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Aims The aim of this trial was to assess the cost-effectiveness of a soft bandage and immediate discharge, compared with rigid immobilization, in children aged four to 15 years with a torus fracture of the distal radius. Methods A within-trial economic evaluation was conducted from the UK NHS and personal social services (PSS) perspective, as well as a broader societal point of view. Health resources and quality of life (the youth version of the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-Y)) data were collected, as part of the Forearm Recovery in Children Evaluation (FORCE) multicentre randomized controlled trial over a six-week period, using trial case report forms and patient-completed questionnaires. Costs and health gains (quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) were estimated for the two trial treatment groups. Regression was used to estimate the probability of the new treatment being cost-effective at a range of 'willingness-to-pay' thresholds, which reflect a range of costs per QALY at which governments are typically prepared to reimburse for treatment. Results The offer of a soft bandage significantly reduced cost per patient (saving £12.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) -£5.30 to £19.80)) while QALYs were similar (QALY difference between groups: 0.0013 (95% CI -0.0004 to 0.003)). The high probability (95%) that offering a bandage is a cost-effective option was consistent when examining the data in a range of sensitivity analyses. Conclusion In addition to the known clinical equivalence, this study found that the offer of a bandage reduced cost compared with rigid immobilization among children with a torus fracture of the distal radius. While the cost saving was small for each patient, the high frequency of these injuries indicates a significant saving across the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Perry
- Department of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melina Dritsaki
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Economics & Laboratory of Applied Economics, University of Western Macedonia - Kastoria, Kastoria, Greece
| | - Juul Achten
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Duncan Appelbe
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ruth Knight
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- University of Oxford Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | - Matthew L Costa
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James Mason
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Hussain M, Perry D, Messahel S. Summary of recent advances in management of torus fracture of the distal radius in children. Arch Dis Child 2024:archdischild-2024-326880. [PMID: 38408860 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-326880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Perry
- Trauma and Orthopaedics, University of Liverpool Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Liverpool, UK
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - Shrouk Messahel
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Distal radius buckle fractures (DRBFx) represent nearly half of the pediatric wrist injuries. DRBFx are stable injury patterns that can typically be successfully managed with brief immobilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate opinions and preferences of pediatric orthopaedic specialists regarding the management of DRBFx. METHODS The POSNA Trauma Quality, Safety, and Value Initiative (QSVI) Committee developed a 20-question survey regarding the treatment of DRBFx in children. The survey was sent twice to all active and candidate POSNA members in June 2020 (n=1487). Questions focused on various aspects of treatment, including type and length of immobilization, follow-up, and radiographs and on potential concerns regarding patient/family satisfaction and pain control, medicolegal concerns, misdiagnosis, and mismanagement. RESULTS A total of 317 participants completed the survey (response rate=21.3%). In all, 69% of all respondents prefer to use a removable wrist splint, with 76% of those in practice <20 years preferring removable wrist splints compared with 51% of those in practice >20 years (χ 2 =21.7; P <0.01). Overall, 85% of participants utilize shared decision-making in discussing management options with patients and their families. The majority of participants felt that the risk of complications associated with DRBFx was very low, but concern for misdiagnosis and mismanagement have required some respondents to perform closed or open reductions. CONCLUSIONS In 2020, the majority of respondents treat DRBFx with removable splints (69%) for 3 or fewer weeks (55%), minimal follow-up (85%), and no reimaging (64%). This marks a dramatic shift from the 2012 POSNA survey when only 29% of respondents used removable splinting for DRBFx. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Lindsay
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Stephanie Holmes
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Ishaan Swarup
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA
| | - Matthew Halsey
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
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Perry DC, Achten J, Knight R, Appelbe D, Dutton SJ, Dritsaki M, Mason JM, Roland DT, Messahel S, Widnall J, Costa ML. Immobilisation of torus fractures of the wrist in children (FORCE): a randomised controlled equivalence trial in the UK. Lancet 2022; 400:39-47. [PMID: 35780790 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The most common fractures in children are torus (buckle) fractures of the wrist. Controversy exists over treatment, which ranges from splint immobilisation and discharge to cast immobilisation, follow-up, and repeat imaging. This study compared pain and function in affected children offered a soft bandage and immediate discharge with those receiving rigid immobilisation and follow-up as per treating centre protocol. METHODS In this randomised controlled equivalence trial we included 965 children (aged 4-15 years) with a distal radius torus fracture from 23 hospitals in the UK. Children were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the offer of bandage group or rigid immobilisation group using bespoke web-based randomisation software. Treating clinicians, participants, and their families could not be masked to treatment allocation. Exclusion criteria included multiple injuries, diagnosis at more than 36 h after injury, and inability to complete follow-up. The primary outcome was pain at 3-days post-randomisation measured using Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. We performed a modified intention-to-treat and per protocol analysis. The trial was registered with ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN13955395. FINDINGS Between Jan 16, 2019, and July 13, 2020, 965 children were randomly allocated to a group, 489 to the offer of a bandage group and 476 to the rigid immobilisation group, 379 (39%) were girls and 586 (61%) were boys. Primary outcome data was collected for 908 (94%) of participants, all of whom were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. Pain was equivalent at 3 days with 3·21 points (SD 2·08) in the offer of bandage group versus 3·14 points (2·11) in the rigid immobilisation group. With reference to a prespecified equivalence margin of 1·0, the adjusted difference in the intention-to-treat population was -0·10 (95% CI -0·37 to 0·17) and-0·06 (95% CI -0·34 to 0·21) in the per-protocol population. INTERPRETATION This trial found equivalence in pain at 3 days in children with a torus fracture of the distal radius assigned to the offer of a bandage group or the rigid immobilisation group, with no between-group differences in pain or function during the 6 weeks of follow-up. FUNDING UK National Institute for Health and Care Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Perry
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Juul Achten
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ruth Knight
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Duncan Appelbe
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan J Dutton
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melina Dritsaki
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James M Mason
- Centre for Health Economics, Warwick, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Damian T Roland
- Paediatric Emergency Medicine Leicester Academic (PEMLA) Group, Children's Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK; SAPPHIRE Group, Health Sciences, Leicester University, Leicester, UK
| | | | - James Widnall
- Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Matthew L Costa
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Perry DC, Achten J, Knight R, Dutton SJ, Dritsaki M, Mason JM, Appelbe DE, Roland DT, Messahel S, Widnall J, Gibson P, Preston J, Spoors LM, Campolier M, Costa ML. Offer of a bandage versus rigid immobilisation in 4- to 15-year-olds with distal radius torus fractures: the FORCE equivalence RCT. Health Technol Assess 2022; 26:1-78. [PMID: 35904496 DOI: 10.3310/bdns6122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torus (buckle) fractures of the wrist are the most common fractures in children involving the distal radius and/or ulna. It is unclear if children require rigid immobilisation and follow-up or would recover equally as well by being discharged without any immobilisation or a bandage. Given the large number of these injuries, identifying the optimal treatment strategy could have important effects on the child, the number of days of school absence and NHS costs. OBJECTIVES To establish whether or not treating children with a distal radius torus fracture with the offer of a soft bandage and immediate discharge (i.e. offer of a bandage) provides the same recovery, in terms of pain, function, complications, acceptability, school absence and resource use, as treatment with rigid immobilisation and follow-up as per usual practice (i.e. rigid immobilisation). DESIGN A pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled equivalence trial. SETTING Twenty-three UK emergency departments. PARTICIPANTS A total of 965 children (aged 4-15 years) with a distal radius torus fracture were randomised from January 2019 to July 2020 using a secure, centralised, online-encrypted randomisation service. Exclusion criteria included presentation > 36 hours after injury, multiple injuries and an inability to complete follow-up. INTERVENTIONS A bandage was offered to 489 participants and applied to 458, and rigid immobilisation was carried out in 476 participants. Participants and clinicians were not blinded to the treatment allocation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The pain at 3 days post randomisation was measured using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes were the patient-reported outcomes measurement system upper extremity limb score for children, health-related quality of life, complications, school absence, analgesia use and resource use collected up to 6 weeks post randomisation. RESULTS A total of 94% of participants provided primary outcome data. At 3 days, the primary outcome of pain was equivalent in both groups. With reference to the prespecified equivalence margin of 1.0, the adjusted difference in the intention-to-treat population was -0.10 (95% confidence interval -0.37 to 0.17) and the per-protocol population was -0.06 (95% confidence interval -0.34 to 0.21). There was equivalence of pain in both age subgroups (i.e. 4-7 years and 8-15 years). There was no difference in the rate of complications, with five complications (1.0%) in the offer of a bandage group and three complications (0.6%) in the rigid immobilisation group. There were no differences between treatment groups in functional recovery, quality of life or school absence at any point during the follow-up. Analgesia use was marginally higher at day 1 in the offer of a bandage group than it was in the rigid immobilisation group (83% vs. 78% of participants), but there was no difference at other time points. The offer of a bandage significantly reduced the cost of treatment and had a high probability of cost-effectiveness at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. LIMITATIONS Families had a strong pre-existing preference for the rigid immobilisation treatment. Given this, and the inability to blind families to the treatment allocation, observer bias was a concern. However, there was clear evidence of equivalence. CONCLUSIONS The study findings support the offer of a bandage in children with a distal radius torus fracture. FUTURE WORK A clinical decision tool to determine which children require radiography is an important next step to prevent overtreatment of minor wrist fractures. There is also a need to rationalise interventions for other common childhood injuries (e.g. 'toddler's fractures' of the tibia). TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial is registered as ISRCTN13955395 and UKCRN Portfolio 39678. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 26, No. 33. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Perry
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Juul Achten
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ruth Knight
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan J Dutton
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melina Dritsaki
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James M Mason
- Centre for Health Economics at Warwick (CHEW), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Duncan E Appelbe
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Damian T Roland
- Paediatric Emergency Medicine Leicester Academic (PEMLA) Group, Children's Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.,SAPPHIRE Group, Health Sciences, Leicester University, Leicester, UK
| | - Shrouk Messahel
- Emergency Department, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - James Widnall
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Phoebe Gibson
- Parents and Carers Forum, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jennifer Preston
- Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children, University of Liverpool, Institute in the Park, Liverpool, UK
| | - Louise M Spoors
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Campolier
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew L Costa
- Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Many children with tibial fractures are currently being managed as outpatients. It is unclear how much opiates should be prescribed to ensure adequate analgesia at home without overprescription. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for requiring opiates following admission for tibial fractures and to estimate opiate requirements for children being discharged directly from the emergency department (ED). METHODS All children aged 4 to 16 years admitted with closed tibial fractures being treated in a molded circumferential above-knee plaster cast between October 2015 and April 2020 were included. Case notes were reviewed to identify demographics, analgesic prescriptions, and complications. Risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 75 children were included, of which 64% were males. The mean age was 9.5 (SD 3.4) years. Opiates were required by 36 (48%) children in the first 24 hours following admission. The median number of opiate doses in the first 48 hours was 0 (range: 0 to 5), with 93% of children receiving ≤3 doses. The odds of requiring opiates in the first 24 hours were unchanged for age above 10 years [odds ratio (OR)=0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33-2.23], male sex (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 0.59-4.19), high-energy injury (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 0.45-6.04), presence of a fibula fracture (OR=2.21, 95% CI: 0.72-6.76), or need for fracture reduction in the ED (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.20-1.65). No children developed compartment syndrome, and the mean length of stay was 1.4 (SD 1.2) days. No children were readmitted following discharge. CONCLUSIONS We have found no cases of compartment syndrome or extensive requirement for opiates following closed tibial fractures treated in plaster cast. These children are candidates to be discharged directly from the ED. We have not identified any specific risk factors for the targeting of opiate analgesics. We recommend a guideline prescription of 6 doses of opiates for direct discharge from the ED to ensure adequate analgesia without overprescription. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV-case series.
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Perry DC, Gibson P, Roland D, Messahel S. What level of immobilisation is necessary for treatment of torus (buckle) fractures of the distal radius in children? BMJ 2021; 372:m4862. [PMID: 33414102 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m4862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Perry
- Oxford Trauma, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Phoebe Gibson
- Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility Parent Carer Forum, Liverpool, UK
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Knight R, Dritsaki M, Mason J, Perry DC, Dutton SJ. The Forearm Fracture Recovery in Children Evaluation (FORCE) trial: statistical and health economic analysis plan for an equivalence randomized controlled trial of treatment for torus fractures of the distal radius in children. Bone Jt Open 2020. [DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.16.bjo-2020-0015.r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Torus fractures of the distal radius are the most common fractures in children. The NICE non-complex fracture guidelines recently concluded that bandaging was probably the optimal treatment for these injuries. However, across the UK current treatment varies widely due to a lack of evidence underpinning the guidelines. The Forearm Fracture Recovery in Children Evaluation (FORCE) trial evaluates the effect of a soft bandage and immediate discharge compared with rigid immobilization. Methods FORCE is a multicentre, parallel group randomized controlled equivalence trial. The primary outcome is the Wong-Baker FACES pain score at three days after randomization and the primary analysis of this outcome will use a multivariate linear regression model to compare the two groups. Secondary outcomes are measured at one and seven days, and three and six-weeks post-randomization and include the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) upper extremity limb score, EuroQoL EQ-5D-Y, analgesia use, school absence, complications, and healthcare resource use. The planned statistical and health economic analyses for this trial are described here. The FORCE trial protocol has been published separately. Conclusion This paper provides details of the planned analyses for this trial, and will reduce the risks of outcome reporting bias and data driven results. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-6:205–213.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Knight
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Botnar Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Melina Dritsaki
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Botnar Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - James Mason
- The Centre for Health Economics at Warwick (CHEW), Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick University, Coventry, UK
| | - Daniel C. Perry
- Oxford Trauma, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Kadoorie Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan J. Dutton
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Botnar Research Centre, Oxford, UK
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