Search

Background: The consequences of radial nerve palsy associated with a humeral shaft fracture are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the functional recovery of radial nerve palsy, at presentation or postoperatively, in patients with a humeral shaft fracture. Methods: Data from patients who participated in the HUMeral shaft fractures: measuring recovery after operative versus non-operative treatment (HUMMER) study, a multicenter prospective cohort study including adults with a closed humeral shaft fracture Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) type 12A or 12B, and had radial nerve palsy at presentation or postoperatively, were extracted from the HUMMER database. The primary outcome measure was clinically assessed recovery of motor function of the radial nerve. Secondary outcomes consisted of treatment, functional outcome (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Constant–Murley Score), pain level, quality of life (Short Form-36 and EuroQoL-5D-3L), activity resumption, and range of motion of the shoulder and elbow joint at 12 months after trauma. Results: Three of the 145 nonoperatively treated patients had radial nerve palsy at presentation. One recovered spontaneously and 1 after osteosynthesis. Despite multiple surgical interventions, the third patient had no recovery after entrapment between fracture fragments. Thirteen of the 245 operatively treated patients had radial nerve palsy at presentation; all recovered. Nine other patients had postoperative radial nerve palsy; 8 recovered. One had ongoing recovery at the last follow-up, after nerve release and suture repair due to entrapment under the plate. At 12 months, the functional outcome scores of all patients suggested full recovery regarding functional outcome, pain, quality of life, activity resumption, and range of motion. Conclusion: Radial nerve palsy in patients with a humeral shaft fracture at presentation or postoperatively functionally recovers in 94% and 89%, respectively.

Summary: Hip fractures are associated with significant healthcare costs. In frail institutionalized patients, the costs of nonoperative management are less than operative management with comparable short-term quality of life. Nonoperative management of hip fractures in patients at the end of life should be openly discussed with SDM. Purpose: The aim was to describe healthcare use with associated costs and to determine cost-utility of nonoperative management (NOM) versus operative management (OM) of frail institutionalized older patients with a proximal femoral fracture. Methods: This study included institutionalized patients with a limited life expectancy aged ≥ 70 years who sustained a proximal femoral fracture in the Netherlands. Costs of hospital- and nursing home care were calculated. Quality adjusted life years (QALY) were calculated based on EuroQol-5D-5L utility scores at day 7, 14, and 30 and at 3 and 6 months. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated from a societal perspective. Results: Of the 172 enrolled patients, 88 (51%) patients opted for NOM and 84 (49%) for OM. NOM was associated with lower healthcare costs at 6 months (NOM; €2425 (SD 1.030), OM; €9325 (SD 4242), p < 0.001). The main cost driver was hospital stay (NOM; €738 (SD 841) and OM; €3140 (SD 2636)). The ICER per QALY gained in the OM versus NOM was €76,912 and exceeded the threshold of €20,000 per QALY. The gained QALY were minimal in the OM group in patients who died within 14- and 30-day post-injury, but OM resulted in more than triple the costs. Conclusion: OM results in significant higher healthcare costs, mainly due to the length of hospital stay. For frail patients at the end of life, NOM of proximal femoral fractures should be openly discussed in SDM conversations due to the limited gain in QoL. Trial registration. Netherlands Trial Register (NTR7245; date 10–06-2018).

BackgroundThis study compares patient-reported outcomes and range of motion (ROM) between adults with an AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association type C proximal humerus fracture managed nonoperatively, with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and with reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of patients >60 years of age treated with nonoperative management, ORIF, or RSA for AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 11C proximal humerus fractures from 2015 to 2018. Visual analog scale pain scores, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores, ROM values, and complication and reoperation rates were compared using analysis of variance for continuous variables and chi square analysis for categorical variables.ResultsA total of 88 patients were included: 41 nonoperative, 23 ORIF, and 24 RSA. At the 2-week follow-up, ORIF and RSA had lower visual analog scale scores and lower PROMIS pain interference scores (P&nbsp

Purpose The best treatment of humeral shaft fractures in adults is still under debate. This study aimed to compare functional and clinical outcome of operative versus nonoperative treatment in adult patients with a humeral shaft fracture. We hypothesized that operative treatment would result in earlier functional recovery. Methods From October 23, 2012 to October 03, 2018, adults with a humeral shaft fracture AO type 12A or 12B were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in 29 hospitals. Patients were treated operatively or nonoperatively. Outcome measures were the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (DASH; primary outcome), Constant–Murley score, pain (Visual Analog Score, VAS), health-related quality of life (Short Form-36 (SF-36) and EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ-5D)), activity resumption (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS), range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder and elbow joint, radiologic healing, and complications. Patients were followed for one year. Repeated measure analysis was done with correction for age, gender, and fracture type. Results Of the 390 included patients, 245 underwent osteosynthesis and 145 were primarily treated nonoperatively. Patients in the operative group were younger (median 53 versus 62 years; p p = 0.044). Superior results in favor of the operative group were noted until six months follow-up for the DASH, Constant–Murley, abduction, anteflexion, and external rotation of the shoulder, and flexion and extension of the elbow. The EQ-US, and pronation and supination showed superior results for the operative group until six weeks follow-up. Malalignment occurred only in the nonoperative group (N = 14; 9.7%). In 19 patients with implant-related complications (N = 26; 10.6%) the implant was exchanged or removed. Nonunion occurred more often in the nonoperative group (26.3% versus 10.10% in the operative group; p Conclusion Primary osteosynthesis of a humeral shaft fracture (AO type 12A and 12B) in adults is safe and superior to nonoperative treatment, and should therefore be the treatment of choice. It is associated with a more than twofold reduced risk of nonunion, earlier functional recovery and a better range of motion of the shoulder and elbow joint than nonoperative treatment. Even after including the implant-related complications, the overall rate of complications as well as secondary surgical interventions was highest in the nonoperative group. Trial registration NTR3617 (registration date 18-SEP-2012).

Background Distal humerus fractures (DHF) pose a treatment challenge in elderly patients. We sought to systematically review and report the clinical outcomes of the nonoperative approach (e.g., “bag of bones”) for the treatment of these injuries, and the rate of conversion to delayed surgery. Methods A comprehensive review of the literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted. Studies involving outcomes following nonoperative treatment of DHF in patients >65 years of age were included from 1985 to present. Data regarding patient age, DHF type, nonoperative treatment method, complications, conversion to delayed surgery, range of motion, union rate, and surgeon and patient reported outcome measures were extracted. Results A total of five studies met inclusion criteria (all level IV evidence), yielding a total of 143 patients (mean age: 73.5 years to 87.4 years) with 7.1 months to 55 months of follow-up. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) scores were good to excellent across several studies (range 83 - 93.1). Multiple studies reported good range of motion (mean arc of motion: 81 to 106 degrees) and low levels of upper extremity disability (mean Quick Disability of the Arm-Shoulder-Hand (Q-DASH) scores: 31.3 to 38.5) at final follow-up. The rate of conversion to total elbow arthroplasty and operative fixation ranged from 0% to 7.5% and 0% to 5%, respectively. Conclusion Nonoperative management of distal humerus fractures in the elderly seems to be associated with acceptable functional outcomes and low rates of delayed surgery. This information is important for patient counseling and treatment decision-making.

Introduction: Based on hemodynamic stability, non-operative management of low- and high-grade liver injury is the first treatment choice over surgical treatment. Small clinics are still preferring primary operative approach instead of nonoperative one. Presentation of the case: We are presenting a case (3-year-old male child) of nonoperative treatment of a grade IV blunt liver trauma (lacero-contusive injury of V, VI and VII segments) with massive hemoperitoneum. The patient was put into a conservative treatment with antibiotics, fluids and ½ unit of blood. The results of Computed Tomography showed significant amounts of perihepatic and periileal fluid between the bowels and in the Douglas pouch, which persisted for five days. Laboratory alterations ​​of Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase, Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase, and Total Bilirubin reached their maximum values on third day, persisting in decline until fifth day and returned to normal after tenth day. The hospital stay was 11 days, the length of time necessary for the complete conservatory treatment and full recovery of the trauma. Discussion: More than 80%-90% of liver injuries are managed with nonoperative intervention. Early and late complication can be managed by interventional radiology procedures when it is possible. Success rate of conservative treatment is over 80%. Conclusion: If no other abdominal injuries are evident and patient is hemodynamically stable nonoperative management for major blunt hepatic trauma in children is the best choice of treatment, South Eastern European Journal of Public Health (SEEJPH), Special Volume No. 4, 2022: Health status of the populations and health sector reforms in Albania and Kosovo

Background: There has been an increasing amount of interest and research examining best practices for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHF). Recent, high-level randomized control trials and many retrospective cohort studies have failed to demonstrate clear benefit of surgical management for these injuries especially in the elderly (generally defined as ≥65 years old). There is a paucity of research available on outcomes after surgical and nonsurgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures in adults younger than 65 years, and comparative data are almost nonexistent. The purpose of our study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the available data to determine if the literature supports surgical management over conservative treatment for PHFs in adults younger than 65 years. Materials and methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of proximal humerus fractures was performed using MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases. Studies were included if they reported useable data such as outcome measures for adult patients younger than 65 years. Quality of nonrandomized studies was assessed utilizing the MINORs criteria. Extracted data were analyzed using statistical software with P-value set at 0.05. Results: Six studies were included in the study for data extraction and statistical analysis. When comparing Constant Scores (CS) and Oxford Shoulder Scores (OSS) of operatively and nonoperatively treated adult patients aged less than 65 years, no statistical differences were found. Furthermore, no statistical differences in CS or OSS were found comparing elderly patients (defined as ≥65 years) and adult patients (defined as 18 to

Background: The self-reduction in proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) remains a poorly explored myth, and it was rarely investigated in the past. One of the oldest hypotheses suggests that gravity and the weight of the affected arm alone are driving forces, which facilitate a self-reducing potential in PHFs. However, thus far, clear radiographic evidence for this theory is missing in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of upright patient positioning on self-reducing of PHFs. Methods: Between November 2019 and November 2020, seven consecutively bedridden but mentally competent patients were admitted to our emergency department with an acute proximal humerus fracture. Within routinely attempts of closed reductions under the control of an image converter (C-arm), immobile patients were mobilized into an upright sitting position on a stretcher while the affected arm was immobilized in a sling. Fluoroscopic controls were performed before and after upright positioning. Changes in the head-shaft angle (HSA), as well as the medial hinge index (MHI), were determined on plain true anteroposterior (AP) fluoroscopic images. Results: In all cases, upright patient positioning had an immediate self-reducing effect. This effect could be seen in five out of seven cases for both HSA and MHI. Changes in HSA and MHI averaged 21.2° and 0.25, respectively. Mean deviation from an ideal, anatomic HSA of 135° decreased through upright positioning from 25.5° to 13.8°. Mean deviation from an ideal, anatomic MHI of 1 decreased through upright positioning from 0.28 to 0.19. Conclusions: Upright patient positioning might contribute immediately to the self-reduction in PHF through the force of gravity. This underlines the importance of being aware of patients’ position when interpreting X-ray images within treatment decision-making processes.

Background: Underutilization of operative management of early stage pancreatic cancer is associated with sociodemographic variables, including age, race, facility type, insurance, and education. It is currently unclear how these variables are associated with survival in patients who undergo surgery. Methods: Patients with clinical stage I pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified within the National Cancer Database (2010–2016). Utilization of surgery and nonoperative management was determined. Nonclinical factors associated with nonoperative management were identified by multivariable analysis. The association between nonclinical factors and survival was assessed in patients who received operative management. Results: A total of 17,833 patients with clinical stage I pancreatic cancer were identified, and 41.2% underwent operative intervention. Approximately 46% of nonoperatively managed patients lacked a contraindication. Operatively managed patients had longer overall survival (OS) than those who were nonoperatively managed or untreated (25.1 months vs. 11.1 months vs. 5.1 months, p

Background The majority of clavicle fractures are midshaft injuries, although fractures of the distal or medial fragment also occur. The aim of this study was to review the current evidence on these injuries to help inform future treatment plans. Methods We searched for studies comparing interventions for medial, midshaft, or distal clavicle fractures; however, we did not identify any comparative studies on medial fractures and performed a secondary search on this topic. We conducted Bayesian network meta-analyses, although this was not feasible with studies on medial fractures and we described their results qualitatively. Results For midshaft fractures, we found statistically significant improvements in function and time to radiographic union with plating, an elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN), and the Sonoma CRx intramedullary nail over nonoperative treatments. Both plating and an ESIN also showed significantly lower risks of nonunion and malunion relative to nonoperative methods. For distal fractures, a locking plate (LP) with or without coracoclavicular (CC) suturing yielded significantly better outcomes over K-wires with or without tension bands, CC suturing alone, an LP with a CC screw, a hook plate, and a sling. For medial fractures, plating may result in more favorable functional and union-related outcomes, although implant irritation may occur. In addition, K-wires, tension bands, and a screw with sutures demonstrated success when plating was technically not feasible in a few cases, whereas treatment with a sling may result in reduced function and a higher risk of complications relative to surgery. Conclusion This study can provide guidance on the management of medial, midshaft, and distal clavicle fractures. The current evidence suggests that plating, an ESIN, and a CRx intramedullary nail are all good options for midshaft fractures; an LP with or without CC suturing should be preferred for distal fractures; and plating is also acceptable for medial fractures, provided that the patient is deemed suitable for surgery and has the adequate bone stock and sufficiently sized medial fragment necessary to implant the device. Patient preferences for certain outcomes should be considered, which may result in different treatment recommendations.

Background The benefit of endoscopic treatment (ET) and esophagectomy for early esophageal cancer (EC) has been sufficiently recognized. Radiotherapy (RT) is the main treatment modality for patients who do not undergo surgery. The effectiveness of adding chemotherapy (CT) to RT remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and RT alone on overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) in early EC patients not undergoing surgery. Methods Data collected between 2004 and 2015 were obtained from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. All the samples were randomly grouped into the training cohort or the verification cohort. The training cohort was split into subgroups by stage, age, and histology. Stage was based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th edition published in 2004. The Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to compare OS and CSS. The performance of the nomogram was measured by a concordance index (C‐index) and the calibration curve. Results Data for a total of 5332 patients were obtained from the SEER database. A total of 3736 patients (stage I: n = 1277; stage IIA: n = 1484; stage IIB: n = 975) were used for the training cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, sex, histology, grade, therapy, reasons for no surgery, and year of diagnosis were independent predictors of OS. The survival curve of patients treated with CRT showed a significant survival benefit compared to that in patients treated by RT alone in stage I, stage IIA, and stage IIB. CRT was also found to be related to better survival than RT in patients at a younger age (, Chemoradiotherapy results in a better OS and CSS in early esophageal cancer patients who do not undergo surgery.

Purpose: The best treatment of humeral shaft fractures in adults is still under debate. This study aimed to compare functional and clinical outcome of operative versus nonoperative treatment in adult patients with a humeral shaft fracture. We hypothesized that operative treatment would result in earlier functional recovery. Methods: From October 23, 2012 to October 03, 2018, adults with a humeral shaft fracture AO type 12A or 12B were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in 29 hospitals. Patients were treated operatively or nonoperatively. Outcome measures were the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (DASH; primary outcome), Constant-Murley score, pain (Visual Analog Score, VAS), health-related quality of life (Short Form-36 (SF-36) and EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ-5D)), activity resumption (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS), range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder and elbow joint, radiologic healing, and complications. Patients were followed for one year. Repeated measure analysis was done with correction for age, gender, and fracture type. Results: Of the 390 included patients, 245 underwent osteosynthesis and 145 were primarily treated nonoperatively. Patients in the operative group were younger (median 53 versus 62 years; p < 0.001) and less frequently female (54.3% versus 64.8%; p = 0.044). Superior results in favor of the operative group were noted until six months follow-up for the DASH, Constant-Murley, abduction, anteflexion, and external rotation of the shoulder, and flexion and extension of the elbow. The EQ-US, and pronation and supination showed superior results for the operative group until six weeks follow-up. Malalignment occurred only in the nonoperative group (N = 14; 9.7%). In 19 patients with implant-related complications (N = 26; 10.6%) the implant was exchanged or removed. Nonunion occurred more often in the nonoperative group (26.3% versus 10.10% in the operative group; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Primary osteosynthesis of a humeral shaft fracture (AO type 12A and 12B) in adults is safe and superior to nonoperative treatment, and should therefore be the treatment of choice. It is associated with a more than twofold reduced risk of nonunion, earlier functional recovery and a better range of motion of the shoulder and elbow joint than nonoperative treatment. Even after including the implant-related complications, the overall rate of complications as well as secondary surgical interventions was highest in the nonoperative group.

Purpose Operative treatment of a humeral shaft fracture results in faster recovery than nonoperative treatment. The cost-effectiveness, in terms of costs per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained (Dutch threshold €20,000-€80,000) or minimal important change (MIC) in disability reduced (DASH 6.7), is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of operative versus nonoperative treatment in adults with a humeral shaft fracture type 12A or 12B. Methods This study was performed alongside a multicenter prospective cohort study. Costs for health care and lost productivity until one year after trauma were calculated. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was reported in costs per QALY (based on the EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ-5D)) gained. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was reported in costs per MIC (based on the DASH score at three months) reduced. Results Overall, 245 patients were treated operatively and 145 nonoperatively. In the operative group, the mean total costs per patient (€11,925 versus €8793; p p i.e., €3132/0.028). The DASH was 7.3 points (p i.e., €3132/7.3*6.7). Conclusion Due to the limited effect of treatment on quality of life measured with the EQ-5D, the ICUR of operative treatment (€111,860 per QALY gained) exceeds the threshold. However, the incremental costs of €2880 per clinically meaningful difference in DASH are much lower and suggest that operative treatment for a humeral shaft fracture is cost-effective.

The aim of this study was to describe the nonoperative treatment outcomes of finger flexor tenosynovitis in sport climbers and to evaluate the association with baseline measures and therapy contents. Sixty-five sport climbers (49 males, mean age 34.1 years) diagnosed with tenosynovitis of the finger flexors were retrospectively asked about injury triggers, therapy contents and outcomes. Pulley thickness was measured by ultrasound. All patients were initially treated conservatively, and only one of the patients needed further therapy (single injection with hyaluronic acid); none of them underwent surgical treatment. The most frequently applied therapy was climbing-related load reduction (91%). The treatment resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity during climbing (before/after therapy ratio [Visual Analog Scale (VAS)/VAS] = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.55, 0.68). The average duration of the symptoms was 30.5 weeks (range 1–120 weeks). In a multiple linear regression analysis, initial daily life pain intensity and a climbing level higher than 7b according to the French/sport grading scale were the only predictive parameters for the relative change in pain intensity and symptom duration, respectively. All patients were able to resume climbing, with 75% regaining or even exceeding their initial climbing level. The good to excellent outcomes and no correlation between particular therapy contents and therapy outcome may suggest that finger flexor tenosynovitis in sport climbers has a favorable natural course without requiring invasive therapy. However, further cohort studies and, ultimately, randomized controlled trials are needed to conclusively confirm our promising observations.

Amaç: Çocuk yaş grubunda Primer Spontan Pnömotoraks (PSP) etyolojisi, tanı ve tedavisi henüz kesinleşmemiş ve tartışmalı bir konudur. Makalemizde konuya açıklık getirme ve literatür eşliğinde tartışılması amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: “Primer Spontan Pnömotoraks (PSP) nedeniyle takip ve tedavi ettiğimiz hastaların yaş, cinsiyet, etyoloji, sigara alışkanlıkları, tanı yöntemleri, pnömotoraks oranları, ilk tedavi yaklaşımımız ve sonuçları hastaların kayıtları incelenerek değerlendirildi. 2010-2020 yılları arasında takip ve tedavi edilen 65’i (%91.5) erkek, 6’sı (%8.5) kız, toplam 71 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Çalışma verileri değerlendirilirken tanımlayıcı istatistiksel metodlar, Shapiro-Wilk testi, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson ki-kare test, Fisher’s exact test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test kullanıldı.Bulgular: Hastaların yaş ortalaması 16.23±0.81 (13–18 years)’di. Hastaların çoğunda etyoloji belli değildi. Ancak 14 (%25.4) hastada bül saptanırken, 23 (%32.4) hastanın hikayesinde sigara içme alışkanlığı saptandı. Tanı, hikâye, fizik muayene ve PA Akciğer grafisi ile kondu. Pnömotoraks oranı %20’nin altında olan 14 (%19.7) hastaya nazal oksijen ile tedaviye başlandı. Toplam 57 hastaya ilk tedavi olarak tüp torakostomi uygulandı. Tüp torakostominin başarısız olduğu olgulara video yardımlı torakoskopik cerrahi (VATS) uygulandı.Sonuç: Spontan pnömotoraks başlangıç tedavi yöntemleri arasında farklı uygulamalar mevcuttur. Ancak çocuklarda ilk seçenek klinik takip ve destek tedavisi gerekirse tüp torakostomi uygulaması şeklinde olmalıdır. Bu uygulamalar kolay, başarı oranı yüksek, güvenli ve etkili bir tedavi yöntemidir. İleri cerrahi uygulamalar seçilmiş olgularda yapılmalıdır., Objective: Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) are not well-established and subject to debate in the pediatric age group. Our study aims to clarify the subject and discuss it in the light of available literature.Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the age, sex, etiology, smoking habits, diagnostic methods, pneumothorax percentages, first treatment approach, and treatment results of the patients with PSP by examining the patients’ records. A total of 71 patients, 65 (91.5%) male and six (8.5%) female, who were followed up and treated between 2010 and 2020 were included in the study. Descriptive statistical methods, Shapiro-Wilk test Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test were used while evaluating the study data.Results: The mean age of the patients was 16.23±0.81 (13–18 years). The etiology was not clear in most of the patients. However, among them, 14 (25.5%) patients had bullae and 23 (32.4%) patients had a smoking habit. The diagnosis was made by means of taking medical history, physical examination, and post-anterior (PA) chest X-ray. Treatment with nasal oxygen was initiated in 14 (19.7%) patients with a pneumothorax percentage

STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of prospective multicenter cohort. OBJECTIVE To assess effect of serious adverse events (SAEs) on 2- and 4-year patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in patients surgically treated for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis (ASLS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Operative treatment for ASLS can improve health-related quality of life, but has high rates of SAEs. How these SAEs effect health-related quality of life remain unclear. METHODS The ASLS study assessed operative versus nonoperative ASLS treatment, with randomized and observational arms. Patients were 40- to 80-years-old with ASLS, defined as lumbar coronal Cobb ≥30° and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) ≥20 or Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) ≤4.0 in pain, function, and/or self-image domains. SRS-22 subscore and ODI were compared between operative patients with and without a related SAE and nonoperative patients using an as-treated analysis combining randomized and observational cohorts. RESULTS Two hundred eighty-six patients were enrolled, and 2- and 4-year follow-up rates were 90% and 81%, respectively, although at the time of data extraction not all patients were eligible for 4-year follow-up. A total of 97 SAEs were reported among 173 operatively treated patients. The most common were implant failure/pseudarthrosis (n = 25), proximal junctional kyphosis/failure (n = 10), and minor motor deficit (n = 8). At 2 years patients with an SAE improved less than those without an SAE based on SRS-22 (0.52 vs. 0.79, P = 0.004) and ODI (-11.59 vs. -17.34, P = 0.021). These differences were maintained at 4-years for both SRS-22 (0.51 vs. 0.86, P = 0.001) and ODI (-10.73 vs. -16.69, P = 0.012). Despite this effect, patients sustaining an operative SAE had greater PROM improvement than nonoperative patients (P

Isolated medial malleolar fractures are frequently encountered injuries. Literature regarding their treatment, though, is scarce and contradicting. The aim of this systematic review is to compare surgical and conservative treatment of isolated medial malleolar fractures considering complication rates and functional outcomes. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL were searched for this review. Articles from 1980 or later, written in English, French, German, or Dutch, reporting any outcome of 10 or more isolated medial malleolar fractures in skeletally mature patients were included. Study quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non Randomized Studies (MINORS) instrument. Eighteen studies were included involving 2566 isolated medial malleolar fractures, which showed a mean (± SD) MINORS score of 8 ± 2. Mean nonunion rate was 1.7% after surgical treatment and 3.5% after conservative treatment. Overall, comparable functional outcomes were found after both treatment methods. Only 2 of the included studies reported the exact amount of fracture displacement. One study—comparing surgical and conservative treatment—showed similar functional outcomes for 1- and 2-mm displaced isolated medial malleolar fractures, and the other, a nonunion rate of 3.5% and a good mean functional outcome in 57 conservatively treated isolated medial malleolar fractures with a mean displacement of 3.8 mm. The available evidence is scarce and of low quality but suggests that conservative treatment of isolated medial malleolar fractures displaced ≤2 mm is safe. No study exists that compares surgical and conservative treatment in isolated medial malleolar fractures displaced >2 mm. Therefore, further research is needed. Until then, the eventual choice of treatment for isolated medial malleolar fractures displaced >2 mm, might be mainly dependent on the patients' characteristics and demands.

BACKGROUND Meta-analyses and a recent guideline acknowledge that conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics can be successful for patients who wish to avoid surgery. However, guidance as to specific management does not exist. METHODS PUBMED and EMBASE search of trials describing methods of conservative treatment was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS Thirty-four studies involving 2,944 antibiotic-treated participants were identified. The greatest experience with conservative treatment is in persons 5 to 50 years of age. In most trials, imaging was used to confirm localized appendicitis without evidence of abscess, phlegmon, or tumor. Antibiotics regimens were generally consistent with intra-abdominal infection treatment guidelines and used for a total of 7 to 10 days. Approaches ranged from 3-day hospitalization on parenteral agents to same-day hospital or ED discharge of stable patients with outpatient oral antibiotics. Minimum time allowed before response was evaluated varied from 8 to 72 hours. Although pain was a common criterion for nonresponse and appendectomy, analgesic regimens were poorly described. Trials differed in use of other response indicators, that is, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and reimaging. Diet ranged from restriction for 48 hours to as tolerated. Initial response rates were generally greater than 90% and most participants improved by 24 to 48 hours, with no related severe sepsis or deaths. In most studies, appendectomy was recommended for recurrence; however, in several, patients had antibiotic retreatment with success. CONCLUSION While further investigation of conservative treatment is ongoing, patients considering this approach should be advised and managed according to study methods and related guidelines to promote informed shared decision-making and optimize their chance of similar outcomes as described in published trials. Future studies that address biases associated with enrollment and response evaluation, employ best-practice pain control and antibiotic selection, better define cancer risk, and explore longer time thresholds for response, minimized diet restriction and hospital stays, and antibiotic re-treatment will further our understanding of the potential effectiveness of conservative management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Systematic review, level II.

Penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries caused by stabbing or firearms are seen on an almost daily basis at trauma centers in the USA. The nonoperative management of carefully selected hemodynamically stable patients is still under dispute. We present a case of right thoracoabdominal firearm injury managed nonoperatively.

Background: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, MPFL repair, and nonoperative treatment are important treatments for patients with patellar dislocation. However, it is unclear which treatment leads to better outcomes. Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of the 3 treatments in the treatment of patellar dislocation and compare the effect of MPFL reconstruction with MPFL repair, MPFL reconstruction with nonoperative treatment, and MPFL repair with nonoperative treatment. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to December 2020. Included were clinical studies that described the efficacy and safety of 2 of the 3 treatments, studies directly comparing the clinical effects of the 2 operative techniques, or studies comparing the effects of reconstruction or repair with nonoperative treatment. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. The outcomes evaluated were postoperative redislocation rate, revision rate, complications, and Kujala score. We used traditional direct pairwise meta-analysis as well as network meta-analysis for comprehensive efficacy of all 3 treatment measures. Results: Twelve studies were included: 5 compared MPFL reconstruction with MPFL repair, 2 compared MPFL reconstruction with nonoperative treatment, and 5 compared MPFL repair with nonoperative treatment. The risk of bias was serious in 4, moderate in 4 and low in 4 articles. MPFL reconstruction led to significantly reduced redislocation and improved Kujala scores compared with MPFL repair and nonoperative treatment. MPFL repair led to reduced redislocation rates compared with nonoperative treatment but did not show an obvious benefit in primary dislocations. There was no significant difference among the 3 treatments in terms of revision rate and incidence of complications, although we found that treatment-related complications were least likely to occur in nonoperative treatment. Conclusion: The results of this review indicate that MPFL reconstruction decreases recurrent dislocation compared with MPFL repair or nonoperative treatment, but it has a higher possibility of complications. MPFL repair resulted in less postoperative redislocation than nonoperative treatment but did not show an obvious benefit in primary dislocation.

BackgroundCurrent knowledge of the role of the nonoperative treatment of Lisfranc injuries is based on a few retrospective case series. Hence, consensus on which patients can be treated nonoperatively does not exist. The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes after nonoperative treatment of Lisfranc injuries.MethodsIn this study, patients were collected by recruiting all computer tomography-confirmed Lisfranc injuries treated during a 5-year period at a major trauma hospital. Between 2 and 6 years after suffering the injury, patients completed the visual analogue scale foot and ankle questionnaire.ResultsIn total, 55 patients returned adequately completed questionnaires and were included in the study. Of those, 22 patients had avulsion fractures and 33 had simple non-displaced intra-articular fractures. Of these patients, 30 (55%) scored over 90 points in both the pain and function subscales of the VAS-FA, and 35 (64%) scored over 90 points overall. In addition, three (5%) patients scored under 60 points in both the pain and function subscales of the VAS-FA, and four (7%) scored under 60 points overall. Only one patient with avulsion fractures underwent secondary surgery.ConclusionNonoperative treatment has a role in the treatment of Lisfranc injuries, and the results of our study support the view that avulsion and simple intra-articular fractures with < 2 mm of displacement can be treated nonoperatively with high functional outcomes. The results of nonoperative and operative treatment should be compared in a prospective randomized controlled study setting in future studies.Level of evidenceIV, retrospective case series

The paper was critically revised in the reviewing process and the key messages confirmed by the opinions of 24 experts in “How to Intervene in the Caries Process in Children: A Joint ORCA and EFCD Expert Delphi Consensus Statement” [Splieth et al., 2020].Regarding the type of article (systematic review), like the Cochrane Foundation, we faced the problem that the available publications were not designed primarily to make systematic reviews feasible. Thus, the design of the paper, i.e., starting with a systematic review, was due to the work being part of a requested review consortium for a consensus paper of the European Organisation for Caries Research and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry regarding caries management. The aim was to provide the most recent literature in the field to be able to provide the expert panel with a beneficial, clinically relevant, scientific background. The search strategy was systematic, but due to the nature of the available literature, studies other than randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. In these studies, deviations from a “pure” systematic review for RCTs only were necessary and can be traced in the paper. After screening and reading the retrieved papers, we found different levels of evidence regarding different methods for the management of early childhood caries (e.g., several systematic reviews regarding nonoperative caries management [NOCM] with silver diamine fluoride [SDF]).

IntroductionAtraumatic and degenerative rotator cuff tears are common in individuals over 55 years of age. This condition can have a high impact on social life and is associated with chronic pain, weakness and dysfunction of the upper limb. There is evidence that conservative approaches should be the first treatment option. Conservative treatment usually addresses a variety of therapeutic behaviours without providing scientific arguments for the choice and progression of exercises.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of two different exercise programmes based on the load of the rotator cuff on a population with shoulder pain and rotator cuff tears.Methods and analysisThis is a controlled, randomised, blinded clinical trial. Seventy-eight individuals with shoulder pain and presence of atraumatic and degenerative rotator cuff tear will participate and will be randomly distributed between two groups. The primary outcome will be quality of life (The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index), and secondary outcomes will include pain, function (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), fear avoidance beliefs (Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Brazil), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale), Pain Catastrophizing Scale, muscle strength of abductors, external and internal rotators of the shoulder, range of motion of arm elevation and patient satisfaction. The treatment will be performed for 12 weeks (2 x/week) acording to the selected group (Rotator Cuff Unloading x Rotator Cuff Loading Exercise Programme).Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.Trial registration numberNCT03962231.

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Patients with foot and ankle conditions have been shown to demonstrate improvement in their generic outcomes using the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). However, the responsiveness to change and the impact change may have on quality of life has not been explored following non-operative care with physical therapy. The effect size (ES) is an assessment of the magnitude of change while the impact of change in physical function can be assed with quality of life utility scores. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to investigate the responsiveness of the PROMIS physical function (PF) scale on changes in quality of life. Methods: The PROMIS PF scale was available at the start and end of physical therapy treatment for 352 patients with foot and ankle ICD10 codes. PF was chosen as a good outcome measure to assess overall outcome from physical therapy care. Changes from baseline to post-care were examine using Cohen’s d to remove dependence on sample size and was interpreted as d=0.20 as a small effect, d=0.05 as a medium effect, and d=0.80 as a large effect. Using available isotonic regression with linear interpolation functions, health state utility scores were calculated from the PROMIS PF scores. These scores represent a health state between 0, representing ‘being dead’, and 1 being the utility of ‘full health’. This methodology has been shown to be reliable and valid for assessing overall health quality of life from changes in physical function. Repeated measures ANOVA models were used to compare outcomes across time. Results: A significant improvement (pConclusion: There is a general improvement in reported physical function following physical therapy but the magnitude of this effect depends on baseline function. Lower function is associated with greater changes. Improvement in physical function was associated with an overall improvement in quality of life. The non-linear nature of utility scores suggests some patients may have large increases in quality of life with small changes in physical function.

Category: Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: Scientific publication and original articles remain the primary method of sharing scientific findings and thus advancing the knowledge base of that subject. These articles have the potential to reinforce or change current practice. Despite the value of these publications, little research has gone into surveying what topics are being published. Our goal was to identify and characterize the most common topics of publication in current foot and ankle literature. Methods: To determine the rate of publications in the literature, we reviewed all published articles in a 3.5-year period (January 2016 - June 2019) in three foot and ankle specific journals: Foot and Ankle International, Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics, and Foot and Ankle Surgery. We then sorted these articles into the topic of the article to identify the four most common domains of publication. These domains were further characterized by level of evidence as well as citations/year. Results: A total of 845 articles were published in the 3.5-year study period. During this time, the four most published topics in foot and ankle literature were hallux valgus (10%), arthroplasty (9%), ankle fracture (7.5%), and achilles pathology (6.4%). These four subjects accounted for 280/845 articles (33%). The average level of evidence for articles on hallux valgus, arthroplasty, ankle fracture, and Achilles pathology were 3.3 (3.1, 3.4, 3.4, and 3.4 respectively), and the average number of citations/year for these articles was 2.6 (2.3, 3.0, 2.3, and 3.1 respectively). Based on our study there is no correlation between level of evidence and number of citations. Conclusion: Despite the wide variety of cases (176 unique CPT codes) performed by an orthopedically trained foot and ankle surgeons, a small subset of publications represent a significant portion of scientific publication within the field.

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Plantar fasciitis is one of the common foot complaints that is chronic and can induce dysfunction. Approximately 80% of patients improve with conservative management such as stretching exercise, ice bag massage, and splint. Refractory plantar fasciitis, unresponsive to conservative care for more than 6months, can be treated with insole, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, injection, and surgery etc. Total contact insole (TCI) is effective in reducing pain with just putting it in the shoes but quite expensive and time consuming for the custom production. Therefore, we produced alternative three-spike insole that can press about half of patient’s plantar fascia using 3-dimensional (D) printing and compared the clinical outcomes with it and TCI. Methods: A pragmatic, participant-blinded randomized trial was carried out from February 2019 to January 2020. Inclusion criteria was refractory plantar fasciitis and the duration of follow-up for each patient was 6 months. Three-dimensional printing used thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for the material of insole and the hardness was 58 +- 5 Shore-A. Twenty-eight patients were randomly allocated to use a three-spike insole or a TCI (Figure 1). The following assessment tools were used; visual analog scale for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Karlsson- Peterson (KP) score, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life, and Foot Function Index (FFI). The groups were evaluated by a blinded assessor at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Results: The groups were homogenous for the majority of variables at baseline. Overall patient reported satisfaction showed improvement from mean 5.2 (range, 1 - 12) weeks of wearing and patient’s wearing time in a day was mean 2.4 (range, 0.5 - 3.0) hours. All the subscales except for sports in FAOS and mental component summary in SF-36 showed significant improvement from 6 weeks in both groups. There was no significant difference in all parameters between both groups at 6 weeks but AOFAS score, some of FAOS subscales, KP score, SF-36, and FFI showed significantly better outcome in three-spike insole group at 12 weeks. Those significant differences in outcome parameters tended to diminish at 24 weeks. Conclusion: We reaffirmed that insole is effective in plantar fasciitis and showed the three-spike insole restores function rapidly comparing to TCI. Three-spike design that supports not the whole longitudinal arch but about half of it was efficient enough. We can manufacture the three-spike insole for the popularization that can lower the price and producing time.

Introduction In late December 2019, reports emerged from Wuhan, China of a novel corovonavirus SARS-CoV-2, which caused severe acute respiratory distress syndrome referred to as COVID-19. As the virus spread, reports of severe perioperative complications, including fatalities, began to emerge in the literature. We present a case of a previously healthy patient who developed classic symptoms of appendicitis. The patient was also found to be positive for COVID-19. Given the risks to both the patient and surgical team, we elected to pursue a non-operative management strategy for this patient with appendicitis. Materials and methods A 13 year old female with COVID-19 presented with a day of right lower quadrant abdominal pain. A computerized tomography (CT) scan diagnosed uncomplicated appendicitis. The patient was successfully treated non-operatively with antibiotics and discharged home. Conclusion To our knowledge, this case illustrates the first report of a pediatric patient with concomitant appendicitis and COVID-19 infection. We have been able to utilize a non-operative management strategy to effectively treat the patient's acute appendicitis, while protecting her from the risks of undergoing a general anesthetic as well as the operative team. We hope this report can provide others with a potential management strategy for similar patients.

Purpose The treatment of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in children remains controversial. The purpose of our study was to compare the outcome of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in children who were managed operatively by flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN) with nonoperative treatment. Methods A prospective review of 31 children (mean age 10.5 years) with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures treated either by FIN or nonoperatively and with at least a six-month follow-up was undertaken. In all, 24 children underwent FIN and seven underwent nonoperative treatment. The patient outcomes included the Constant-Murley score, Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), numeric pain rating scale, time to union and time to return to activity. Surgical complications were recorded. Results The two groups were comparable with regards to age, gender and mechanism of injury. At six months of follow-up, the Constant-Murley (97.8 versus 94.7, p < 0.001) and CSQ-8 (29.1 versus 19.1, p < 0.001) scores were higher in the FIN group. Time to union and return to activity were significantly shorter in the FIN group (7.3 and 9.2 weeks versus 10.4 and 16.6 weeks respectively, p < 0.01). The only surgical complication was a FIN exchange for skin irritation due to nail prominence. Conclusion FIN is a minimally invasive procedure for children with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures associated with shorter time to union, quicker return to activity and higher Constant-Murley and CSQ-8 scores when compared with nonoperative treatment. However, the difference in Constant-Murley scores was not clinically significant. Furthermore, the advantages of FIN are at the expense of an increased complication rate of 12.5% (upper 95% confidence interval 33.3%). Level of Evidence Therapeutic, II

Background: To study if patients that have a second radiograph 2 or more years after nonoperative treatment of an isolated radial head fracture have radiocapitellar osteoarthritis (RC OA). Methods: We used the database of 3 academic hospitals in one health system from 1988 to 2013 to find patients with isolated radial head fractures (no associated ligament injury or fracture) that had a second elbow radiograph after more than 2 years from the initial injury. Of 887 patients with isolated radial head fractures, 54 (6%) had an accessible second radiograph for reasons of a second injury (57%), pain (30%), or follow-up visit (13%). Two orthopedic surgeons independently classified the radial head fractures on the initial radiographs using the Broberg and Morrey modified Mason classification, and assessed the development of RC OA on the final radiograph using a binary system (yes/no). Results: Four out of 54 (7.5%) patients had RC OA, one with isolated RC arthrosis that seemed related to capitellar cartilage injury, and 3 that presented with pain and had global OA (likely primary osteoarthritis). Conclusion: With the caveat that some percentage of patients may have left our health system during the study period, about 1 in 887 patients (0.1%) returns with isolated radiocapitellar arthritis after an isolated radial head fracture, and this may relate to capitellar injury rather than attrition. Patients with isolated radial head fractures can consider post-traumatic radiocapitellar arthritis a negligible risk.

Up to 15% of the population older than 30 years suffers from symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA), with the incidence increasing to ~33% in postmenopausal women. The thumb CMC joint has been reported as the most painful joint when compared to other hand joints affected by OA. It is therefore no surprise that this is a common chief complaint of patients and has a significant effect on work and life satisfaction. The purpose of this article was to review currently available literature to discuss nonoperative and operative techniques utilized to treat the various stages of thumb CMC arthritis. A variety of nonoperative and operative techniques have been described in the literature, each with its own benefits and pitfalls. This review concludes that while many treatment options exist, there remains no perfect treatment, but the goal of improving quality of life and patient satisfaction remains the same.

Category: Ankle, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Walk-in and “afterhours” clinics are a common setting in which patients may seek care for musculoskeletal complaints. These clinics may be staffed by orthopaedic surgeons, nonsurgical physicians, advanced practice nurses, or physician assistants. If orthopaedic surgeons are more efficient than nonoperative providers at facilitating the care of operative injuries in this setting is unknown. This study assesses whether evaluation by a nonoperative provider delays the care of patients with operative ankle fractures compared to those seen by an orthopaedic surgeon in an orthopaedic walk-in clinic. Methods: Following IRB approval, a cohort of patients who were seen in a walk-in setting and who subsequently underwent surgical treatment for an isolated ankle fracture were retrospectively identified. The cohort was divided based on whether the initial clinic visit had been conducted by an operative or nonoperative provider. A second cohort of patients who were evaluated and subsequently treated by a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon in their private practice was used as a control group. Outcome measures included total number of clinic visits before surgery, total number of providers seen, days until evaluation by treating surgeon, and days until definitive surgical management. Results: 138 patients were seen in a walk-in setting and subsequently underwent fixation of an ankle fracture. 61 were seen by an orthopaedic surgeon, and 77 were seen by a nonoperative provider. No significant differences were found between the operative and nonoperative groups when comparing days to evaluation by treating surgeon (4.1 vs 4.5, p=.31), or days until definitive surgical treatment (8.4 vs 8.8, p=.58). 62 patients who were seen and treated solely in a single surgeon’s practice had significantly fewer clinic visits (1.11 vs 2.03 and 2.09, pConclusion: Initial evaluation in a walk-in orthopaedic clinic setting is associated with a longer duration between initial evaluation and treatment compared to a conventional foot and ankle surgeon’s clinic, but this difference may not be clinically significant. Evaluation by a nonoperative provider is not associated with an increased duration to definitive treatment compared to an operative provider.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD) in elderly patients remains controversial. The aim of this study was to identify the factors leading to the surgical treatment by comparing the baseline characteristics of operative versus nonoperative patients, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgery, and to compare operative and nonoperative management of elderly ASD patients at the end of the 2-year follow-up period. METHODS: Retrospective review of a multicenter, prospective ASD database was performed. Patients over 70 years of age with ASD who were scheduled to undergo surgical treatment and who were treated and/or followed without surgical intervention participated in the study. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and radiological characteristics and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) (Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Short-Form-36 Mental Component Summary [SF-36 MCS], Short-Form-36 Physical Component Summary [SF36-PCS], and Scoliosis Research Society-22 [SRS-22]) parameters of such group of patients were evaluated pre- and posttreatment. RESULTS: A total 90 patients (females: 71, males: 29; operative: 61, nonoperative: 29) made up the study group. The comparison between the operative and the nonoperative groups at baseline showed statistical significance for all the HRQOL parameters and the major coronal Cobb angle (P

Background:There is no agreement on the best treatment for displaced midshaft clavicle fractures (MCFs), which are currently addressed by nonoperative or surgical approaches.Purpose:To compare fracture healing and functional outcome after surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of MCFs, to help specialists in deciding between these different strategies by providing a synthesis of the best literature evidence.Study Design:Meta-analysis.Methods:A systematic research of the literature was performed in different online databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and grey literature. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analyses) guidelines were used. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane Collaboration’s “risk of bias” tool, and the quality of evidence was graded according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. Randomized controlled trials investigating differences between surgery and nonoperative treatment for displaced MCFs were included. The primary outcome was the nonunion rate. Other outcomes analyzed were time to union and to return to activities, Constant score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) index. Patients’ satisfaction, secondary operations, and complications were also recorded.Results:Out of 832 records found, 14 randomized controlled trials with 1546 patients were included. A significantly lower risk ratio was found for nonunion (10%; 95% CI, 6%-18%, P < .001) favoring surgery. Time to union was 5.1 weeks shorter with surgery ( P = .007). The complication rate (including the number of reinterventions) was higher in the surgical group (31.3% vs 20.5%, P < .001). Shoulder function at short-term follow-up was significantly better in the surgical group (DASH index mean difference = 4.0 points), while no statistical difference was found in the Constant score and in the DASH index at midterm follow-up ( P = .41 and .80, respectively). At long-term follow-up, both shoulder functional scores were significantly better in the surgery group: the overall Constant score mean difference was 5.3 points (95% CI, 2.3-8.4 points; P < .001), and the DASH index mean difference was 4.3 points (95% CI, 0.2-8.4 points; P = .04).Conclusion:Surgical treatment of MCFs significantly reduces the nonunion rate and shortens the time to union as compared with the nonoperative approach and, despite a slightly higher incidence of complications, leads to better shoulder functional scores at short- and long-term follow-up. Further studies should address the clinical significance of the documented improvement.

Study Design: Retrospective review. Objectives: To evaluate the rate of nonoperative treatment failure for cervical facet fractures while secondarily validating computed tomography–based criteria proposed by Spector et al for identifying risk of failure of nonoperative management. Methods: Single-level or multilevel unilateral cervical facet fractures from 2007 to 2014 were included. Exclusion criteria included spondylolisthesis, dislocated or perched facets, bilateral facet fractures at the same level, floating lateral mass, thoracic or lumbar spine injuries, or spinal cord injury. Patients were placed into 3 groups for evaluation: immediate operative management, successful nonoperative management, and failed nonoperative treatment requiring surgical intervention. Results: Eighty-eight patients (106 facets) were included. Twenty-one patients underwent operative treatment with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion without any failures. Sixty-seven of these patients were treated nonoperatively with either a hard collar (n = 62) or halo vest (n = 5). Eleven patients failed nonoperative treatment (16.4%), all with an absolute fracture height of at least 1 cm and 40% involvement of the absolute height of the lateral mass. Of the 56 patients successfully treated through nonoperative measures, 8 (14.3%) had fracture measurements exceeding both operative parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that it is safe and appropriate for patients with unilateral cervical facet fractures to receive a trial period of nonoperative management. However, patients who weigh over 100 kg, have comminuted fractures, or have radiographic measurements outside of the proposed computed tomography criteria for nonoperative treatment should be educated on the risks of treatment failure.

PURPOSE: Despite a rising incidence in proximal humeral fractures, there is still no evidence for the best treatment option, especially for elderly patients. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional outcome, pain and social participation in elderly patients, after operative and nonoperative treatment of displaced 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures.METHODS: 150 patients aged ≥ 65, treated for a displaced 3- or 4-part proximal humeral fracture between 2004 and 2014, were invited to participate. Eventually 91 patients (61%) participated, of which 32 non-operatively treated patients were matched to 32 of the 59 operatively treated patients by propensity score matching. The EQ-5D, DASH, VAS for pain and WHODAS 2.0 Participation in Society domain were administered. Complications and reinterventions were registered.RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the two treatment groups in HRQoL (p = 0.43), function (p = 0.78) and pain (p = 0.19). A trend toward better social participation in the operative group (p = 0.09) was found. More complications and reinterventions occurred in the operative group than the nonoperative group, with 9 versus 5 complications (p = 0.37) and 8 versus 2 reinterventions (p = 0.08).CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found no evidence of a difference in HRQoL, functional outcome or pain 1-10 years after operative or nonoperative treatment in patients of 65 and older with a displaced 3- or 4-part humeral fracture. Operatively treated patients showed a trend toward better social participation but also higher reintervention rates.

Category: Ankle; Hindfoot; Midfoot/Forefoot; Trauma. Introduction/Purpose: To aid in healing and avoid costly revision surgery, bone grafts, growth factors, and bone stimulation devices are used as adjuncts to foot/ankle arthrodesis. This study evaluated the union rates of LIPUS as an adjunct to foot/ankle arthrodesis and the corresponding factors associated with improved healing. Methods: Foot/ankle arthrodesis patients were identified retrospectively from a prospective post-market arthrodesis/fracture registry for EXOGEN (Bioventus LLC, Durham, NC). Inclusion criteria were males or non-pregnant females 18 years of age or older at time of enrollment, known date of fracture, known start and end dates of LIPUS treatment, and known treatment success outcome. Treatment success was defined by both clinical (solid and pain-free on manual stress) and radiological (at least 3 of 4 cortices bridged on x-rays) criteria. Association between union rates and surgical treatments, comorbidities, and medications was tested with Chi-square tests. Results: A total of 235 primary and 16 revision foot/ankle arthrodesis patients used EXOGEN. 41.4% used EXOGEN within 90 days of the fracture/arthrodesis. Overall union rate was 86.9% (primary: 86.4%; revision: 93.8%). Having the comorbidity of diabetes, obesity, or current smoker was not associated with a higher non-union rate (p=0.779). Other comorbidities were also not associated with increased non-union rates (e.g., Charcot disease p=0.614, NSAID p=0.862, steroids p=0.647). EXOGEN use within 90 days of the fracture/procedure date was associated with improved union rates for the overall (p=0.004, odds ratio (OR) 3.7 (95% CI: 1.5-9.3)) and primary (p=0.007, OR 3.4 (95% CI: 1.3-8.6)) groups. For the overall group, union rates were 94.2% (EXOGEN use 365 days). Conclusion: Union rates for foot/ankle arthrodesis with adjunctive LIPUS were comparable to other therapies with and without other adjuncts (Table 1). Known risk factors for non-union, such as smoking and Charcot disease, were not found to be associated with healing for the LIPUS patients. This suggests the possibility that LIPUS was able to mitigate potential patient risk factors and may offer a low risk post-operative adjunct in difficult healing scenarios. [Table: see text]

PurposeEvaluate the presence of new-onset cervical deformity (CD) in nonoperative adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients with extended follow-up, with consideration for predictors, prevalence, and impact on patient-reported outcomes.MethodsRetrospective review of a prospective nonoperative ASD cohort. New onset CD patients at 1- (CD-1Y) and 2-year (CD-2Y) follow-up were defined as displaying baseline cervical alignment. Univariate analyses determined differences in radiographic parameters and outcome scores of CD and maintained-cervical-alignment patients. Multivariate binary logistic regression models determined new-onset CD predictors.ResultsA total of 143 patients were included (mean age 54 years, mean body mass index 25.6 kg/m2, 86% female). Cervical deformity rate was 38.5% at baseline. New-onset CD incidence at 1- and 2-year follow-up was 30.0% and 41.7%, respectively. Global sagittal profile comparison of CD-1Y/CD-2Y versus maintained cervical alignment cases revealed no differences (P > .05) at any interval. Baseline C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) was associated with increased new-onset CD risk at 1 (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, P = .025) and 2 years (OR 1.04, P = .032); prior spine surgical history was associated with CD risk at 1-year follow-up (OR 6.75, P = .047); baseline C2 slope was associated with increased CD risk at 2-year follow-up (OR 1.12, P = .041). CD development did not significantly impact health-related quality of life (P > .05).ConclusionsCervical deformity can manifest in nonoperative ASD patients: 30.0% at 1-year follow-up, and 41.7% at 2-year follow-up. Progressive CD manifested independently of thoracolumbar profile changes. Increased baseline C2-C7 SVA, C2 slope, and prior surgical history increased new-onset CD odds at 1 and 2 years.

Background: The first-line treatment for patellar dislocations is often nonoperative and consists of physical therapy and immobilization techniques, with various adjuncts employed. However, the outcomes of nonoperative therapy are poorly described, and there is a lack of quality evidence to define the optimal intervention. Purpose: To perform a comprehensive review of the literature and assess the quality of studies presenting patient outcomes from nonoperative interventions for patellar dislocations. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The MEDLINE, AMED, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus electronic databases were searched through July 2017 by 3 independent reviewers. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed. Study quality was assessed using the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials) criteria for randomized controlled trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and case series. Results: A total of 25 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 12 randomized controlled trials, 7 cohort studies, and 6 case series, consisting of 1066 patients. Studies were grouped according to 4 broad categories of nonoperative interventions based on immobilization, weightbearing status, quadriceps exercise type, and alternative therapies. The most commonly used outcome measure was the Kujala score, and the pooled redislocation rate was 31%. Conclusion: This systematic review found that patient-reported outcomes consistently improved after all methods of treatment but did not return to normal. Redislocation rates were high and close to the redislocation rates reported in natural history studies. There is a lack of quality evidence to advocate the use of any particular nonoperative technique for the treatment of patellar dislocations.

Background: Thoracolumbar fractures are among the most common types of damages caused to the spinal cord .Therefore, the aim of this study was the comparison of surgical or nonsurgical treatment outcomes in patients with thoracolumbar fracture with score 4 of the thoracolumbar injury classification and severity (TLICS) Methods: This study was clinical trial and double blind. Patients with thoracolumbar fracture with score 4 of TLICS entered at this research. We divided patients in 2 groups randomly (each group 25 patients) and then we followed patients for 1 year after start of treatment. We checked duration of bedridden and absence work, pain every 3 months for 1 year and radiography every 3 months for 1 year. Results: Pain in operative group was lower than nonoperative group (P = .02). Regional sagittal angles (RSA) in operative group was lower than nonoperative group in all time (P = .0001). Mean of time of return to work in operative group was lower than nonoperative group (P = .001). Conclusions: Pain and mean of time of return to work and RSA in operative group was lower than nonoperative group. The present data suggest the use of operative method in patients with thoracolumbar fracture with score 4 of TLICS.

Appendicectomy has been the gold standard treatment of acute appendicitis for more than a century, while nonoperative therapies, including antibiotics, have acquired increased interest in recent years. The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of antibiotics versus appendicectomy for the treatment of acute appendicitis. Medline, Embase and The Cochrane Library databases were searched. Prospective randomized controlled trials that compared antibiotic treatment with surgery were included. The outcomes evaluated included the time of hospital stay, complications and time to work. There were no statistically significant differences between the antibiotic and appendicectomy groups with regard to the time of hospital stay and complications. However, the time to work was significantly longer in the appendicectomy group when compared with the antibiotic group. In addition, the therapeutic effects of antibiotics and appendicectomy were comparable for the treatment of acute appendicitis.

Background: Although nonoperative management after shoulder instability injury allows an athlete to return to play sooner than operative intervention, higher rates of recurrence have been observed after nonoperative management. However, no study has investigated the differences in performance of National Basketball Association (NBA) players after index shoulder instability events managed nonoperatively versus operatively. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to identify shoulder instability events in NBA athletes and assess differences in performance after injury with nonoperative versus operative management. We hypothesized that players who undergo operative intervention have reduced risk of recurrence and are able to continue their elite level of play as opposed to those who undergo nonoperative management. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Publicly available injury data from the 1986-1987 through 2017-2018 seasons were reviewed to identify NBA athletes sustaining a shoulder instability event. In addition to characteristics, player performance information, including games played, player efficiency rating (PER), and win shares, was analyzed before and for 3 seasons after injury. Statistical learning models were applied to identify performance variables that have the greatest predictive value to determine players who would benefit from surgery. Results: A total of 60 players with shoulder instability events were identified between 1986 and 2018. After injury, 37 players (61.7%) eventually underwent surgery and 23 players (38.3%) did not. Players who were treated nonoperatively had significantly decreased PER, games played, and offensive win shares in the season after injury ( P < .05). Players who underwent surgery did not see a decline in PER, games played, or win shares. Random forest modeling found that true shooting percentage and win shares per 48 minutes were the performance variables most predictive in determining which players would benefit from surgery after shoulder instability. Conclusion: Players who underwent surgical intervention for shoulder instability maintained their PER, games played, and win share performance characteristics, whereas players who did not undergo surgery had declines in these parameters. Given the demands of shoulder function in basketball and the risk of recurrence after an instability event, surgery enhances a player’s opportunity to maintain a high level of performance after injury.

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The opioid epidemic has been defined by over-prescribing by practitioners and increasing misuse, abuse, and diversion of opioids by patients. Orthopedic surgeons are the fourth largest prescriber of opioid medications and have a unique opportunity to play a prominent role in the solution. Many perceived barriers to such a solution have now been eliminated. For example, it has been demonstrated that neither the amount nor duration of opioid prescription correlates with patient satisfaction. To address this epidemic, it is important to first understand rates of new persistent opioid use following specific injuries and to identify patient-specific risk factors. In this study, we evaluated new persistent opioid use following nonoperatively treated ankle sprains, one of the most common orthopaedic injuries seen in any healthcare system. Methods: A widely accepted insurance claims database was used to identify patients who underwent nonoperative treatment of an ankle sprain between January 2008 and December 2016. None had an opioid prescription filled in the period of 12 months to 7 days prior to treatment (defined as “opioid naïve”). We evaluated peri-treatment and post-treatment opioid prescription fulfillment to analyze prescribing patterns and continuation of opioid use. The primary outcome, new persistent opioid use, was defined as opioid prescription fulfillment between 91 and 180 days after treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of patient factors, including age, gender, median household income, tobacco use, mental health and pain disorders, and medical comorbidities on the likelihood of new persistent use. Results: 42,445 patients were identified who underwent nonoperative treatment of an ankle sprain and received an opioid prescription. The overall rate of new persistent opioid used following nonoperative treatment of ankle sprains was 9.3%. Rates of continued opioid use were significantly increased among patients who received an opioid dose prescribed in the peri-treatment period that was in the top 25th percentile of total oral morphine equivalents. In addition, patient-specific factors which were associated with new persistent opioid use included female gender, tobacco use, certain mental health disorders, comorbid conditions, and pre-existing arthritis. Patient factors associated with lower rates of new persistent opioid use included higher level education and median household income of $100,000 or more. Conclusion: Chronic opioid use is a major problem, even in the setting of relatively minor musculoskeletal injuries. Defining the problem and understanding contributing factors to this epidemic are paramount to developing a solution. Ankle sprains represent an orthopaedic injury which does not warrant opioid use for pain control. In this series, an alarming number of patients who sustained an ankle sprain were treated with an opioid medication, and 9.3% of these patients continued opioid use after three months. Understanding the risk factors associated with this problem provides a foundation upon which to address this sometimes lethal, public health problem.

Introduction: Older patients with hip fracture have a 20% to 30% mortality rate in the year after surgery. Nonoperative care has higher 1-year mortality rates and is generally only pursued in those with an extraordinarily high surgical risk. As the population ages, more patients with hip fracture may fall into this category. The orthopedic surgeon is typically the main consultant responsible for deciding between surgery and conservative management, and the reasoning behind one decision over the other is often poorly understood. We undertook a review to determine decision-making tools for surgery in high-risk patients with hip fracture. Materials and Methods: A review was conducted using PubMed to determine articles published using the terms palliative care, conservative care, nonoperative, hip fracture, orthopedic procedures, fracture fixation, and surgery. Our search resulted in 13 articles to review. These were further screened to determine tools for use in surgical decision-making. Results: Several potential decision-making tools were found in our search. The potential tools to identify patients who would benefit from nonoperative treatment included the Palliative Performance Scale for severe dementia, the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Katz Activities of Daily Living scales for prefracture immobility, a combination of clinical signs and laboratory tests to determine risk of imminent death, and the Charlson Comorbidity Score for additional serious comorbidities. No tools have been prospectively tested in a clinical setting. Discussion: Evaluation of each patient using a variety of decision making tools should help the orthopedic surgeon determine which patients would be better suited to non-operative management. After determining the benefit of non-operative care, they must effectively allow the fracture to heal while ameliorating pain. Palliative care physicians can fulfill this role by providing support and symptom relief. Conclusions: Surgical decision-making for hip fracture repair in the elderly patients is not straight forward. Several tools may be helpful to the surgeon in determining who may be better suited for nonoperative care or a palliative care referral. Prospective data do not exist in these decision-making tools.

Controversy exists as to the most effective management option for elderly patients with type II odontoid fractures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes associated with rigid cervical collar and posterior fusion surgery. Patients with ≥ 50% odontoid displacement were treated with posterior fusion surgery including C1–2 (PSF group, n = 25, average age = 80 years). Patients with

Background:There is no consensus on the choice of treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures (MCFs).Purpose:The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were (1) to compare fracture healing disorders and functional outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of MCFs and (2) to compare effect estimates obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies.Study Design:Systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods:The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched for both RCTs and observational studies. Using the MINORS instrument, all included studies were assessed on their methodological quality. The primary outcome was a nonunion. Effects of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis models.Results:A total of 20 studies were included, of which 8 were RCTs and 12 were observational studies including 1760 patients. Results were similar across the different study designs. A meta-analysis of 19 studies revealed that nonunions were significantly less common after surgical treatment than after nonsurgical treatment (odds ratio [OR], 0.18 [95% CI, 0.10-0.33]). The risk of malunions did not differ between surgical and nonsurgical treatment (OR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.12-1.19]). Both the long-term Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Constant-Murley scores favored surgical treatment (DASH: mean difference [MD], −2.04 [95% CI, −3.56 to −0.52]; Constant-Murley: MD, 3.23 [95% CI, 1.52 to 4.95]). No differences were observed regarding revision surgery (OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.42-1.73]). Including only high-quality studies, both the number of malunions and days to return to work show significant differences in favor of surgical treatment (malunions: OR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.92]; return to work: MD, −8.64 [95% CI, −16.22 to −1.05]).Conclusion:This meta-analysis of high-quality studies showed that surgical treatment of MCFs results in fewer nonunions, fewer malunions, and an accelerated return to work compared with nonsurgical treatment. A meta-analysis of surgical treatments need not be restricted to randomized trials, provided that the included observational studies are of high quality.

Purpose Long-term functional results remain equivocal between operative fixation and closed management of displaced humeral medial epicondyle fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a functional difference exists between treatment types. Methods One hundred and forty patients with a displaced medial epicondyle fracture between 2007 and 2014 met the inclusion criteria. Of this large cohort, only 12 patients agreed to return to clinic at a mean follow-up of 3 years for prospective evaluation. Data collection included radiographs, physical examination, validated outcome tools, and grip strength testing with a Jamar dynamometer. Results Both groups were comparable with regard to age, dominant side injured, length of follow-up, preinjury sports involvement, and initial displacement (10 mm operative vs. 9 mm nonoperative); however, half of the surgical group presented with an associated unreduced elbow dislocation versus 0 % in the nonoperative group. Both treatment methods resulted in high patient satisfaction and elbow function scores. There were four osseous nonunions (67 %) and one malunion (17 %) in the nonoperative group versus none in the operative group ( p = 0.015). Patients treated nonoperatively had a nonsignificant decrease in grip strength (9 ± 6 lbs) as compared to operative patients (6 ± 5 lbs, medium effect size eta = 0.25, p = 0.25). Conclusions In this small cohort, operative management of displaced medial epicondyle fractures resulted in a higher rate of fracture union and return to sports. Other objective and subjective measures were similar between the two treatment groups.

Background: Identification of highly active individuals early after acute anterior cruciate ligament deficiency who are good candidates for nonoperative management is a clinical challenge. The University of Delaware has developed and validated a treatment algorithm and screening examination to distinguish between nonoperative and surgical candidates. Study Design: Review. Evidence Acquisition: A description of the decision-making rules and rehabilitation protocol for highly active individuals with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency is provided. Results from clinical trials, outcome studies, and biomechanical investigations conducted using the treatment algorithm and screening examination are also reviewed. Results: Patients identified as nonoperative rehabilitation candidates using these clinical guidelines have a far greater success rate than what has been reported when patients self-select nonoperative management. Furthermore, nonoperative outcomes are improved when patients participate in a perturbation-enhanced rehabilitation protocol. Divergent lower extremity movement patterns are consistent with the different functional abilities of the dichotomous patient groups identified with the screening examination. Conclusion: Given the differential patient response to anterior cruciate ligament injury, implementation of the decision-making guidelines discussed in this review offers clinicians the opportunity to provide individualized patient care rather than continuing with a blanket surgical treatment strategy.

Background: The optimal treatment of acute, complete dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) is still unresolved. Purpose: To determine the difference between operative and nonoperative treatment in acute Rockwood types III and V ACJ dislocation. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: In the operative treatment group, the ACJ was reduced and fixed with 2 transarticular Kirschner wires and ACJ ligament suturing. The Kirschner wires were extracted after 6 weeks. Nonoperatively treated patients received a reduction splint for 4 weeks. At the 18- to 20-year follow-up, the Constant, University of California at Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale (UCLA), Larsen, and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores were obtained, and clinical and radiographic examinations of both shoulders were performed. Results: Twenty-five of 35 potential patients were examined at the 18- to 20-year follow-up. There were 11 patients with Rockwood type III and 14 with type V dislocations. Delayed surgical treatment for ACJ was used in 2 patients during follow-up: 1 in the operatively treated group and 1 in the nonoperatively treated group. Clinically, ACJs were statistically significantly less prominent or unstable in the operative group than in the nonoperative group (normal/prominent/unstable: 9/4/3 and 0/6/3, respectively; P = .02) and in the operative type III ( P = .03) but not type V dislocation groups. In operatively and nonoperatively treated patients, the mean Constant scores were 83 and 85, UCLA scores 25 and 27, Larsen scores 11 and 11, and SST scores 11 and 12 at follow-up, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in type III and type V dislocations. In the radiographic analysis, the ACJ was wider in the nonoperative than the operative group (8.3 vs 3.4 mm; P = .004), and in the type V dislocations (nonoperative vs operative: 8.5 vs 2.4 mm; P = .007). There was no statistically significant difference between study groups in the elevation of the lateral end of the clavicle. Both groups showed equal levels of radiologic signs of ACJ osteoarthritis and calcification of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Conclusion: Nonoperative treatment was shown to produce more prominent or unstable and radiographically wider ACJs than was operative treatment, but clinical results were equally good in the study groups at 18- to 20-year follow-up. Both treatment methods showed statistically significant radiographic elevations of the lateral clavicle when compared with a noninjured ACJ.

Background: Conservative treatment remains the first-line option, and there is significant medical evidence showing that home-based exercise therapy for the treatment of common causes of knee pain is effective. SimpleTherapy created an online platform that delivers Internet-based exercise therapy for common causes of knee pain. The system is driven by an algorithm that can process the user’s feedback to provide an adaptive exercise regimen. This triple-armed, pragmatic randomized pilot was designed to evaluate if this telerehabilitation platform is safe and effective. Objective: We hypothesized that a home-based, algorithm-driven exercise therapy program can be safe for use and even improve compliance over the standard of care, the paper handout. Methods: After an independent internal review board review and approval, the website trial.simpletherapy.com was opened. Once the trial was open for enrollment, no changes to the functionality or user interaction features were performed until the trial had closed. User accrual to the website was done using website optimization and social media postings tied to existence of knee pain. Consent was obtained online through checkboxes with third-party signature confirmation. No fees were charged to any patient. Patients were recruited online from an open access website. Outcomes were self-assessed through questionnaires with no face-to-face clinician interaction. A triple-arm randomized controlled trial was used with arm 1 being a static handout of exercises, arm 2 being a video version of arm 1, and arm 3 being a video-based, algorithm-driven system that took patient feedback and changed the exercises based on the feedback. Patients used household items and were not supervised by a physical therapist or clinician. Patients were reminded at 48-hour intervals to complete an exercise session. Results: A total of 860 users found the trial and initiated the registration process. These 860 were randomized, and the demographic distribution shows the randomization was successful. In all, 70 users completed the 6-week regimen (8.1%): 20 users were in arm 1, 33 users in arm 2, and 17 users in arm 3. There were no adverse events reported in any of the 3 arms. All outcomes were self-assessed. No adverse events were reported during or after the trial. Conclusions: Because only 8.1% of those who enrolled completed the trial, an intent-to-treat analysis did not reach statistical significance in this pilot trial. However, the completion rates are comparable to those of previous online-only trials. Given an early phase trial, no adverse events were reported. Ongoing data collection continues and will form the basis for further data on the efficacy of this intervention. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01696162; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01696162 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6lM8jC7Gu) [JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2016;3(2):e12]