A prospective randomized trial of 100 patients using trochanteric support plates; worth their mettle?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To compare the radiological and clinical results of sliding hip screw (SHS) fixation with or without a Trochanteric Support Plate (TSP) on unstable three-or-more-part trochanteric fractures. METHODS: A randomized prospective non blinded study of one hundred patients with trochanteric fractures; Evans-Jensen type 3, 4 and 5, reduced and fixed with SHS. Patients were randomized into two study groups; with or without TSP supplementation ('TSP' and 'NoTSP' groups). Radiologic measurements of the hip in the frontal plane (primary outcome), including fracture movement, nonunion and loss of fixation were measured, as well as pain, ambulation, mobility, institution residence, complications and death, twelve months post operatively (secondary outcomes). RESULTS: At one-year follow-up four patients in the TSP and ten patients in the NoTSP group had either died or been lost in follow-up. Within this period, forty-three fractures healed and three had a loss of fixation in the TSP group; thirty-nine fractures healed and one had a loss of fixation in the NoTSP group. Frontal X-rays showed fracture subsidence on average 1 mm less in the TSP group compared to the NoTSP group. This difference was negligible, as was the difference in all subgroups, in fixation failure/cutout, modified Merle d'Aubigne Postel scores (measuring function and pain), institution residence, complications and death between the groups. INTERPRETATION: This study cannot confirm that TSP has any beneficial effects on unstable three-or-more-part trochanteric fractures. If any effect at all, the difference is most likely slight and clinically irrelevant.

Prospective randomized study of chevron osteotomy versus Mitchell's osteotomy in hallux valgus.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare the most popular osteotomy types of operative treatment of hallux valgus (HV) used in Norway, Mitchell's osteotomy (MO) and chevron osteotomy (CO). METHODS: One hundred twenty adult female patients were prospectively randomized to treatment with either MO or CO. All operative procedures were performed with ankle block and with tourniquet applied. None of the patients received any antibiotic or antithrombotic prophylaxis. The follow-up period was 3 years. Clinical results were rated according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Clinical Rating System (CRS). RESULTS: HV in the MO group was reduced from 30 (range, 20 to 44) to 15 (range, 8 to 24) degrees and IM angle from 11 (range, 6 to 14) to 7 (range, 4 to 11) degrees. HV in the CO group was reduced from 31 (range, 22 to 42) to 16 (range, 6 to 24) degrees and IM angle from 14 (range, 8 to 20) to 6 (range, 2 to 10) degrees. Transfer metatarsalgia occurred in 36 (60%) patients and hammertoe in 6 (10%) patients in the MO group. In the CO group, metatarsalgia occurred in 5 patients. The median loss of postoperative HV correction was 4 (range, 2 to 10) degrees in mild deformity and 6 (6 to 10) degrees in moderate deformity. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with CO had significantly better results for AOFAS CRS, number of postoperative complications, patient satisfaction, and length of sick leave for the employed patients. Based on our results, we consider that in female patients CO should be regarded as the first-line procedure for treatment of mild and moderate HV. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, prospective randomized study.