Fabio Teruo Matsunaga

Are classifications of proximal radius fractures reproducible

BackgroundFractures of the proximal radius need to be classified in an appropriate and reproducible manner. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of the three most widely used classification systems.MethodsElbow radiographs images of patients with proximal radius fractures were classified according to Mason, Morrey, and Arbeitsgemeinschaft für osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF) classifications by four observers with different experience with this subject to assess their intra- and inter-observer agreement. Each observer analyzed the images on three different occasions on a computer with numerical sequence randomly altered.ResultsWe found that intra-observer agreement of Mason and Morrey classifications were satisfactory (κ = 0.582 and 0.554, respectively), while the AO/ASIF classification had poor intra-observer agreement (κ = 0.483). Inter-observer agreement was higher in the Mason (κ = 0.429-0.560) and Morrey (κ = 0.319-0.487) classifications than in the AO/ASIF classification (κ = 0.250-0.478), which showed poor reliability.ConclusionInter- and intra-observer agreement of the Mason and Morey classifications showed overall satisfactory reliability when compared to the AO/ASIF system. The Mason classification is the most reliable system.

Treatment of the humeral shaft fractures - minimally invasive osteosynthesis with bridge plate versus conservative treatment with functional brace: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundHumeral shaft fractures account for 1 to 3% of all fractures in adults and for 20% of all humeral fractures. Non-operative treatment is still the standard treatment of isolated humeral shaft fractures, although this method can present unsatisfactory results. Surgical treatment is reserved for specific conditions. Modern concepts of internal fixation of long bone shaft fractures advocate relative stabilisation techniques with no harm to fracture zone. Recently described, minimally invasive bridge plate osteosynthesis has been shown to be a secure technique with good results for treating humeral shaft fractures. There is no good quality evidence advocating which method is more effective. This randomised controlled trial will be performed to investigate the effectiveness of surgical treatment of humeral shaft fractures with bridge plating in comparison with conservative treatment with functional brace.Methods/DesignThis randomised clinical trial aims to include 110 patients with humeral shaft fractures who will be allocated after randomisation to one of the two groups: bridge plate or functional brace. Surgical treatment will be performed according to technique described by Livani and Belangero using a narrow DCP plate. Non-operative management will consist of a functional brace for 6 weeks or until fracture consolidation. All patients will be included in the same rehabilitation program and will be followed up for 1 year after intervention. The primary outcome will be the DASH score after 6 months of intervention. As secondary outcomes, we will assess SF-36 questionnaire, treatment complications, Constant score, pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and radiographs.DiscussionAccording to current evidence shown in a recent systematic review, this study is one of the first randomised controlled trials designed to compare two methods to treat humeral shaft fractures (functional brace and bridge plate surgery).Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials: ISRCTN24835397

Result from surgical treatment on the terrible triad of the elbow

Objective To evaluate the results from surgical treatment of the terrible triad of the elbow, with a minimum of six months of follow-up, taking elbow function into consideration. Methods The analyzed aspects of 20 patients, who underwent surgical treatment of the terrible triad of the elbow, were given as follows: Dash score (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), Meps (Mayo Elbow Performance Score), pain according to VAS (visual analog scale), ROM (range of motion), patient satisfaction, degree of energy of the trauma, complications and radiographs. Results The mean length of follow-up among the patients was 38 months. There were statistically significant relationships between the following set of parameters: trauma mechanism and patient satisfaction; radiological outcome of “heterotopic ossification” and satisfaction; functional flexion–extension ROM and satisfaction; and between type of radial head fracture and presence of a radiological outcome. Conclusion The surgical treatment for the terrible triad of the elbow generally provided satisfactory results, when the functioning of this joint upon the return to activities was taken into consideration.

Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis with a Bridge Plate Versus a Functional Brace for Humeral Shaft Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Nonoperative treatment has historically been considered the standard for fractures of the shaft of the humerus. Minimally invasive bridge-plate osteosynthesis for isolated humeral shaft fractures has been proven to be a safe technique, with good and reproducible results. This study was designed to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes between patients who had been treated with bridge plate osteosynthesis and those who had been managed nonoperatively with a functional brace. Methods: A prospective randomized trial was designed and included 110 patients allocated to 1 of 2 groups: surgery with a bridge plate or nonoperative treatment with a functional brace. The primary outcome was the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at 6 months. The score on the Short Form-36 (SF-36) life-quality questionnaire, complications of treatment, Constant-Murley score for the shoulder, pain level, and radiographic results were assessed as secondary outcomes. Participants were assessed at 2 weeks; 1, 2, and 6 months; and 1 year after the interventions. Results: The mean DASH score of the bridge plate group was statistically superior to that of the functional brace group (mean scores, 10.9 and 16.9, respectively; p = 0.046) only at 6 months. The bridge plate group also had a significantly more favorable nonunion rate (0% versus 15%) and less mean residual angular displacement seen on the anteroposterior radiograph (2.0° versus 10.5°) (both p < 0.05). No difference between the groups was detected with regard to the SF-36 score, pain level, Constant-Murley score, or angular displacement seen on the lateral radiograph. Conclusions: This trial demonstrates that, compared with functional bracing, surgical treatment with a bridge plate has a statistically significant advantage, of uncertain clinical benefit, with respect to self-reported outcome (DASH score) at 6 months, nonunion rate, and residual deformity in the coronal plane as seen on radiographs. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Análise radiográfica dos fatores prognósticos no tratamento do quadril displásico inveterado

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) treated in the walking age. METHODS: We evaluated 33 hips in 30 patients operated between November of 1992 and September of 1997. The mean age was 4 years and 5 months at surgical period and the mean age at the last evaluation was 11 years and 7 months. The mean follow up time was 10 years and 2 months. We performed femoral shortening, open reduction and pelvic osteotomy (Salter or Chiari). Radiographic assessment considered: acetabular index; acetabular angle; Shentons line; Hilgenreiners line; the c/b, c/h, acetabulum-center and acetabulum-head ratios; the width of the triradiate cartilage; the trochanter and femoral head relationship; femoral head sphericity; Wiberg angle; avascular necrosis and leg length discrepancy. These parameters were measured and compared in pre-operative, early and late post-operative period. RESULTS: After statistical analysis we observed a significant decrease in these parameters from pre-operative period to immediate post-operative period (p=0.0001) and those have not changed between the immediate post-operative period and late post-operative period (p=0.5958). CONCLUSION: By the classification used we observed 23 (69.70%) good, 5 (15.15%) regular and 5 (15.15%) bad results. None of these radiographic parameters were relevant to predicting final results.

Functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair

AIM To compare the functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair. METHODS Eighty-seven patients with rotator cuff tears following arthroscopic treatment were divided into traumatic and non-traumatic tear groups. Postoperative muscle strength and outcomes using the modified University of California, Los Angeles score were evaluated. Sex, age, affected limb and dominant limb were correlated between groups. Muscle strength of the repaired and unaffected shoulders was compared. Rotator cuff injury size was measured. RESULTS Of the 87 patients who underwent rotator cuff repairs, 35 had traumatic tears and 52 had non-traumatic tears. In patients with non-traumatic tears, the average age was 59 years, 74.5% were female, 96.1% were right-hand dominant and 92.3% had their dominant shoulder affected. Patients with traumatic tears were 59.5 years old on average, 51.4% were female, 91.4% were right-hand dominant and 88.5% had their dominant shoulder affected. No difference existed in the mean modified University of California, Los Angeles score between patients with traumatic tears (33.7) compared with those with non-traumatic tears (32.8). No strength differences were observed between groups: The strength difference between the non-affected and affected sides was 1.21 kg in the non-traumatic group and 1.39 kg in the traumatic group (P = 0.576), while the strength ratio between the non-affected/affected sides was 0.805 in the non-traumatic group and 0.729 in the traumatic group (P = 0.224). CONCLUSION The functional results of traumatic rotator cuff repairs are similar to non-traumatic tears. Both outcomes are satisfactory.

Surgical Interventions for the Treatment of Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children: Protocol of a Systematic Review

Background The treatment of supracondylar humerus fracture in children (SHFC) is associated with complications such as functional deficit, residual deformity, and iatrogenic neurological damage. The standard treatment is closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation with different configurations. Despite this fact, there is still no consensus on the most effective technique for the treatment of these fractures. Objective The aim of this systematic review will be to evaluate the effect of surgical interventions on the treatment of Gartland type II and III SHFC by assessing function, complications, and error as primary outcomes. Clinical outcomes such as range of motion and pain and radiographic outcomes will also be judged. Methods A systematic review of randomized controlled trials or quasi-randomized controlled trials evaluating the surgical treatment of SHFC will be carried out in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, and Excerpta Medica Database. The search will also occur at ongoing and recently completed clinical trials in selected databases. Data management and extraction will be performed using a data withdrawal form and by analyzing the following: study method characteristics, participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, results, methodological domains, and risk of bias. To assess the risk of bias of the included trials, the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used. Dichotomous outcome data will be analyzed as risk ratios, and continuous outcome data will be expressed as mean differences, both with 95% confidence intervals. Also, whenever possible, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and assessment of heterogeneity will be performed. Results Following the publication of this protocol, searches will be run and included studies will be deeply analyzed. We hope to obtain final results in the next few months and have the final paper published by the end of 2018. This study was funded by a government-based noncommercial agency, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). Conclusions This study may provide surgical treatment effects evidence for SHFC. The results will assist clinical practice by demonstrating the effectiveness and potential complications of these interventions and might serve as a reference for future clinical trials on the topic. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42014009304; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=9304 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6usiDHzD7)

Shock wave therapy associated with eccentric strengthening versus isolated eccentric strengthening for Achilles insertional tendinopathy treatment: a double-blinded randomised clinical trial protocol

Background There is no consensus regarding the treatment of Achilles insertional tendinopathies. Eccentric training remains the main choice in the conservative treatment of this illness; however, the good results in the management of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy were not replicated in the insertional condition. Low energy shock wave therapy has been described as an alternative to these patients, but has yet to be empirically tested. Hypothesis Shock wave therapy, adjunctive to the eccentric strengthening protocol, will improve measures of pain and function. Design Double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups, randomised clinical trial. Materials and methods 93 patients with a diagnosis of chronic insertional tendinopathy, referred from primary or secondary healthcare services, will be assessed and enrolled in this study. They will be divided into two groups (randomised by sequentially numbered identical envelopes, which will be administered serially to participants), one containing the combination of low energy shock wave and eccentric exercises, as treatment and the other comprehending the exercises and the placebo treatment (an apparatus placed in the therapeutic head). The assessments will occur in 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Patients will be evaluated primarily by the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire and secondarily by the visual analogue scale, Algometry, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. We will use comparison of two proportions via relative frequency analysis, the Pearson Correlation the χ2 test and the analysis of variance for statistical analyses. Discussion This study intends to demonstrate if the association of the eccentric exercise programme with the shock wave therapy can produce good results regarding the treatment of the Achilles insertional tendinopathy. In an attempt to prevent the high costs and complications associated with the surgical intervention, we will try to prove this combination as a viable therapeutic option in the conservative management of this prevalent condition. The strengths of the study are the design and the novelty of the combination of methods. The main limitation is the short follow-up course. Ethics and dissemination The study is registered in the Clinical Trials database (protocol number: 8094833648737701) and was approved by the University Ethics Committee (number: 1373481). Trial registration number 8094833648737701 (NCT02757664); Pre-results.

Evaluation of the reproducibility of the AO/ASIF classification for humeral shaft fractures

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of the AO/Asif classification for humeral shaft fractures. Methods Consecutive radiographs of the arm in both anteroposterior and lateral view from 60 patients with humeral shaft fractures were analyzed. Six observers who were familiar with the AO/Asif classification (three shoulder and elbow surgery specialists and three general orthopedists) were selected to make the analysis, which was done at three different times. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using the kappa coefficient. Results The intra and interobserver concordance was statistically significant in all the analyses. Conclusions All the evaluators showed concordance between the three evaluations that was considered to be statistically significant. However, the highest values were found among the specialists.

Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in diagnosing supraspinatus lesions: a prospective accuracy diagnostic study

BACKGROUND This study was designed to define the accuracy of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tears. This examination is routinely used by orthopedists and may do away with the need for other examinations for diagnosing these tendon injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon injuries, using magnetic resonance imaging as the reference. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective accuracy study at a single center: the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Clinic of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. METHODS Shoulder ultrasonography was performed on 80 patients of both genders, over 18 years of age, with complaints of shoulder pain and clinically suspected supraspinatus tendon lesions. Jobes test and a full can test were performed. In addition, they underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a 3.0-tesla machine, as the reference standard. The examinations were performed and interpreted by radiologists. RESULTS Ultrasonography showed sensitivity of 36.3% and specificity of 91.7% for supraspinatus tears overall: sensitivity of 25.8% and specificity of 91.8% for partial tears and sensitivity of 46.2% and specificity of 100% for full-thickness tears. Ultrasonography showed high accuracy for diagnosing full-thickness tears: 91.3%. The p-values were 0.003 for tears overall, 0.031 for partial tears and < 0.001 for full-thickness tears. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonography showed low sensitivity for detecting supraspinatus tears, but high specificity for both partial and full-thickness tears.