Preliminary effect and feasibility of physiotherapy with strength training and protein-rich nutritional supplement in combination with anabolic steroids in cross-continuum rehabilitation of patients with hip fracture: protocol for a blinded randomized controlled pilot trial (HIP-SAP1 trial).

BACKGROUND: A 2014 Cochrane review evaluating the effect of anabolic steroids after hip fracture concluded that the quality of the studies was insufficient to draw conclusions on the effects and recommended further high-quality trials in the field. Therefore, the aim of this pilot trial is to determine the preliminary effect and feasibility of a 12-week multimodal intervention consisting of physiotherapy (with strength training), protein-rich nutritional supplement and anabolic steroid on knee-extension muscle strength and function 14 weeks after hip fracture surgery. METHODS: We plan to conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial with 48 patients operated for acute hip fracture. The patients are randomized (1:1) to either (1) physiotherapy with protein-rich nutritional supplement plus anabolic steroid or (2) physiotherapy with protein-rich nutritional supplement plus placebo. Outcome assessments will be carried out blinded at baseline (3-10 days after surgery) and at 14 weeks after entering the trial. Primary outcome is the change from baseline to follow-up in maximal isometric knee-extension muscle strength in the fractured limb. Secondary outcomes are physical performance test, patient-reported outcomes, and measures of body composition. DISCUSSION: If the trial is found feasible and the results show an indication of anabolic steroid being a relevant addition to further enhance the recovery of muscle strength and function in an enhanced recovery after surgery program, this trial will constitute the basis of a larger confirmatory trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03545347. Preregistered on 4 June 2018.

Knee pain and associated complications after intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fracture.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of choice for unstable diaphyseal fractures in the tibia is reamed insertion of an intramedullary nail (IMN). The most common complication to this treatment is chronic knee pain with reported rates ranging from 10% to 87% with a mean of 47.4% in meta-analyses. METHODS: This study evaluates the long-term outcome after IMN insertion in adult patients with a tibial shaft fracture using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. The study includes patients operated on one of five Danish hospitals in a five-year period. The patients received a KOOS questionnaire with questions regarding knee-specific symptoms, stiffness, pain, function and quality of life. Data were subsequently compared to those of a reference population. RESULTS: A total of 391 patients were enrolled from the trauma centre's database search. 55 patients did not meet the inclusion criteria. Questionnaires were sent out to 336 patients and 223 (66%) responded. Mean age was 47.9 years at the time of surgery; 63% were men. The follow-up time ranged from 1.7 to 6.7 years. CONCLUSIONS: With a follow-up time of more than six years after receiving an IMN, patients in this study experienced more knee-specific symptoms, pain, limitations in sports and daily living than a reference population who had not undergone surgery. The study population also reported poorer quality of life outcomes than the reference population. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency. Clinical trials: NCT03649360.

High reliability of an algorithm for choice of implants in hip fracture patients.

PURPOSE: Hip fracture treatment is controversial, with high complication rates. An algorithm for hip fracture surgery has shown reduced reoperation rates, but choice of implant is based on the commonly used fracture classifications, which were previously evaluated to be unreliable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the algorithm. METHODS: From two hospitals, four observers (orthopaedic consultant, fellow, resident and intern) used the algorithm to classify into 15 hip fracture types [Garden type I-IV femoral neck including posterior tilt, vertical femoral neck, basocervical and Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO)-31 A1.1 to A3.3 trochanteric fractures] and to choose between five surgical procedures [parallel implants, prosthesis, two-or four-hole sliding hip screw (SHS) and intermedullary (IM) nail]. After individual assessment, each hospital made a consensus decision. Observations were performed twice, ten weeks apart, on pelvic, anteroposterior (AP) and axial X-rays from 100 consecutive patients. RESULTS: For fracture classification, mean kappa values were 0.60 for intra and 0.62 for interobserver variation, with interobserver variation between hospitals at 0.65. For posterior tilt, mean intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91 for intra and 0.87 for interobserver variation. For choice of implant type, mean kappa values were 0.86 for both intra and interobserver variation. The two hospital consensus decisions chose same implant in 91 of 100 patients, giving a kappa value at 0.88. CONCLUSION: Although hip fracture classification confirmed to be somewhat unreliable in this study, posterior tilt measurement and subsequent choice of implant type by the algorithm was found to be reliable, which opens up the possibility for a more standardized treatment of hip fracture patients between hospitals.

[Atrial myxom is a rare cause of peripheral embolus]. / Atrialt myksom er en sjælden årsag til perifer embolus.

Two case stories of seemingly healthy individuals, a 45 year-old male and a 54 year-old woman, with acute lower extremity ischemia caused by cardiac myxomas. Both patients had a lower extremity amputated and a removal of myxomas by surgery. In patients presenting with acute ischemia of the lower extremity surgeons need to consider this rare, but important diagnosis; especially in middle-aged, otherwise healthy patients. Performing an ultrasound sonography of the heart is the best way to make a diagnosis.