Femoral Lengthening in Children: A Comparison of Motorized Intramedullary Nailing Versus External Fixation Techniques.

BACKGROUND: Femoral lengthening is associated with high complication rates often related to the type of surgical device used to perform the lengthening. The advent of intramedullary lengthening devices has promised a reduction in complications when compared with external fixation systems. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of femoral lengthening in children using a motorized intramedullary nail (Precice) versus an external fixation system (Taylor Spatial Frame-TSF; or Monolateral Rail System-MRS) at a single institution, single surgeon practice. METHODS: This study is a retrospective comparison of pediatric patients who had previously undergone femoral lengthening (±deformity correction). Patients ages 8 to 18 years of age were included and grouped based on whether they had undergone Precice nailing or external fixation (TSF or MRS) between 2010 and 2019. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (32 femurs) were included. Thirteen patients (15 femurs) had undergone Precice nailing and 14 patients (17 femurs) had undergone external fixation. The Precice group had significantly fewer problems, obstacles, and complications than the external fixation group, Precice 6.6%, 0%, 0%, respectively, and external fixation 47.1%, 29.4%, 0% respectively (P<0.01). Unplanned return to the operating room occurred in 4 cases, solely in the external fixation group. There were no differences in percentage of goal length achieved, Precice (mean 93.6%, range: 66.7% to 114.3%), external fixation (mean 96%, range: 76.9% to 117.5%) P=0.31 and total length achieved, Precice (mean: 44 mm, range: 20 to 80 mm), external fixation (mean: 46 mm, range: 10 to 70 mm) P=0.72. There was no difference in consolidation index, Precice (24.1 d/cm), external fixation (28.5 d/cm) P=0.36. The Precice group had a significantly shorter length of stay (mean: 2.2 d, range: 1 to 4 d), compared with the external fixation group (mean: 3.7 d, range: 2 to 8), P=0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral lengthening in children using a motorized intramedullary nail was associated with a markedly reduced rate of complications and shorter length of stay compared with external fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Let's Talk about the Talk: Exploring the Experience of Discussing Student Performance at the Mid- and Final Points of the Clinical Internship.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of physiotherapy students and clinical instructors (CIs) when discussing student clinical performance at the mid- and final points of clinical internships. The objectives were to identify why performance assessment discussions are valuable, explore the role of each participant throughout the discussion, identify the challenges associated with these discussions, and explore the effect of the standardized assessment tool on the discussion. Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive design, consisting of student and CI focus groups in the Greater Toronto Area from January to June 2016. Results: All participants (N=29) recognized the importance of having face-to-face performance assessment discussions in a quiet and private space. Students and CIs agreed that the Canadian Physiotherapy Assessment of Clinical Performance helped to structure and focus the discussions. Valuable discussions occurred when students were open minded and self-reflected on their performance and when CIs were honest and used their expertise to guide learning. Other key features included mutual preparedness, two-way feedback that was constructive and tangible, and a goal-setting process. Students described the emotional component of these discussions as being challenging, and CIs found it difficult when a student took a more passive role in the discussion. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that valuable discussions can provide meaningful feedback, strengthen the student-CI relationship, and engage the learner in an ongoing and cumulative learning process that contributes to professional development.

Objectif : la présente étude visait à explorer les expériences d'étudiants en physiothérapie et de moniteurs cliniques (MC) lors des discussions sur le rendement clinique des étudiants au milieu et à la fin de leur stage clinique. Les objectifs consistaient à déterminer l'intérêt des discussions sur l'évaluation de rendement, à explorer le rôle de chaque participant à la discussion, à cerner les défis associés à ces discussions et à explorer l'effet de l'outil d'évaluation normalisé sur la discussion. Méthodologie : la présente étude faisait appel à une méthodologie descriptive qualitative, composée de groupes de travail d'étudiants et de MC du Grand Toronto entre janvier et juin 2016. Résultats : tous les participants (n=29) ont convenu de l'importance des discussions d'évaluation du rendement en tête à tête, dans un lieu calme et privé. Les étudiants et les MC conviennent également que l'évaluation de rendement clinique de l'Association canadienne de physiothérapie contribuait à structurer et à orienter les discussions. Des discussions intéressantes avaient lieu lorsque les étudiants étaient ouverts et prêts à tenir une autoréflexion sur leur rendement et lorsque les MC étaient honnêtes et utilisaient leurs compétences pour orienter l'apprentissage. Parmi les autres caractéristiques clés, soulignons une préparation mutuelle, des commentaires bidirectionnels constructifs et tangibles et un processus d'établissement d'objectifs. Les étudiants trouvaient les aspects émotifs de ces discussions exigeants, alors que les MC éprouvaient de la difficulté lorsqu'un étudiant adoptait un rôle plus passif dans la discussion. Conclusions : selon nos observations, des discussions intéressantes peuvent favoriser des commentaires significatifs, renforcer la relation entre l'étudiant et le MC et faire participer l'étudiant à un processus d'apprentissage continu et cumulatif qui contribue à son perfectionnement professionnel.