To Örebro University

Background and aim: Hip fracture is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability in older people. The aim of thepresent study was to prospectively assess the development of physical performance in patients with hip fracture after surgery.

Setting: Prospective, observational study in a Swedish university hospital.

Methods: Assessment of 102 consecutive patients(65 females), with a mean age of 82 years (range 35-98) without specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. Seven physical functionswere assessed using the following 4 measuring methods and 3 rating scales at baseline 7 to 10 days after surgery and follow-upafter 4 months (F4): 10-m habitual walking speed (HWS), timed up and go (TUG), 30-second chair stand test (CST), handgripstrength (HGS), Berg balance scale (BBS), functional ambulation category (FAC), and general mobility.

Results: The 47% dropoutpatients were significantly older and more often lived alone or in nursing homes and used indoor walking aids. At baseline, themean HWS was 0.4/0.5 (females/males) m/s; TUG 53/30 s; CST 4/5 kg, and HGS 17.4/31.2 kg. The medians of BBS and FAC were20/20 and 4/4, respectively. There were significant mean improvements at F4 for all 4 measured functions, except for HGS inmales but for neither of the rating scales. There was a large heterogeneity in all assessed variables, both at baseline and regardingchange at 4 months. Therefore, the mean/median results are depicted in figures, showing all individual results at baseline and F4,compared to reference values and discussed in relation to degree of improvement.

Conclusion: The observed large heteroge-neity at baseline as well as F4 makes it essentially meaningless to report means and median data of functional assessment ofpatients with hip fracture. There is a strong need for individualization in both health analysis and how the treatment programis targeted, carried through, and evaluated over time in patients with hip fracture

Background Hip surgery is associated with the risk of postoperative urinary retention. To avoid urinary retention hip surgery patients undergo urinary catheterisation. Urinary catheterisation, however, is associated with increased risk for urinary tract infection (UTI). At present, there is limited evidence for whether intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation is the preferred choice for short-term bladder drainage in patients undergoing hip surgery.

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate differences between intermittent and indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients in relation to nosocomial UTI and cost-effectiveness.

Design Randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis.

Setting The study was carried out at an orthopaedic department at a Swedish University Hospital.

Methods One hundred and seventy hip surgery patients (patients with fractures or with osteoarthritis) were randomly allocated to either intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation. Data collection took place at four time points: during stay in hospital, at discharge and at 4 weeks and 4 months after discharge.

Results Eighteen patients contracted nosocomial UTIs, 8 in the intermittent catheterisation group and 10 in the indwelling catheterisation group (absolute difference 2.4%, 95% CI −6.9–11.6%) The patients in the intermittent catheterisation group were more often catheterised (p < 0.001) and required more bladder scans (p < 0.001) but regained normal bladder function sooner than the patients in the indwelling catheterisation group (p < 0.001). Fourteen percent of the patients in the intermittent group did not need any catheterisation. Cost-effectiveness was similar between the indwelling and intermittent urinary catheterisation methods.

Conclusions Both indwelling and intermittent methods could be appropriate in clinical practice. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages but by not using routine indwelling catheterisation, unnecessary catheterisations might be avoided in this patient group.

Sever's injury (apophysitis calcanei) is considered to be the dominant cause of heel pain among children between 8 and 15 years. Treating Sever's injury with insoles is often proposed as a part of a traditional mix of recommendations. Using a custom-molded rigid heel cup with a brim enclosing the heel pad resulted in effective pain relief without reducing the physical activity level in our previous two studies. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the heel cup on heel pad thickness and heel peak pressure (n=50). The difference in heel pad thickness and in heel peak pressure using a sports shoe without and with a heel cup was compared. With the heel cup the heel pad thickness improved significantly and the heel peak pressure was significantly reduced. These effects correlated with a significant reduction in pain when using the heel cup in a sports shoe, compared with using a sports shoe without the heel cup. A heel cup, providing an effective heel pad support in the sports shoe, improved the heel pad thickness and reduced heel peak pressure in Sever's injury with corresponding pain relief.

Aim: To identify groups of hip fracture patients at risk of adverse utcome by investigating interactions between previously reported risk factors.

Methods: A consecutive sample of 338 hip fracture patients was included at admission to the orthopaedic department and followed up 4 months later. Outcomes measured were mortality, failure to regain pre-injury mobility and failure to return home. Data were collected about previously reported risk factors for adverse outcomes in those respects.

Results: The highest risk of death occured in males living in institutions for the elderly before the fracture (48%). Lowest risk of death had patients admitted from their own home, without malignancy and below 80 years of age (1%). The overall risk of failure to regain pre-injury mobility at the 4 month follow up was 30%. In patients walking independently before the fracture and age above 85 years, the risk increased to 88%. In patients walking with devices before the fracture, the risk of being confined to bed or wheelchair increased from 10% to 20% if the patient was confused. Confusion also increased the risk of relocation from their own home to an institution for the elderly from 19% to 53%.

Conclusion: The results of the study can help nurses in making realistic discharge plans based on risk analyses, employing more than just age as risk factor. Using this information nurses can meet the patient’s individual needs in an improved way.

Sever's injury (apophysitis calcanei) is considered to be the dominant cause of heel pain among children. Common advice is to reduce physical activity. However, our previous study showed that application of insoles reduced pain in Sever's injury without having to reduce physical activity. The purpose of this study was to test which of the two insoles, the heel wedge or the heel cup, provided best pain relief during sport activity in boys with Sever's injury (n = 51). There was a crossover design in the first randomized part of the study. In the second part, the boys, 9-14 years, chose which insole they preferred. There was a reduction in odds score for pain to a fifth (a reduction of 80%) for the cup compared with the wedge (P<0.001). When an active choice was made, the heel cup was preferred by >75% of the boys. All boys maintained their high level of physical activity throughout. At 1-year follow-up, 22 boys still used an insole and 19 of them reported its effect on pain as excellent or good (n = 41).

Sever's injury (apophysitis calcanei) is considered to be the dominant cause of heel pain among children between 8 and 15 years. The traditional advice is to reduce and modify the level of physical activity. Recommended treatment in general is the same as for adults with Achilles tendon pain. The purpose of the study was to find out if insoles, of two different types, were effective in relieving heel pain in a group of boys (n = 38) attending a Sports Medicine Clinic for heel pain diagnosed as Sever's injury. The type of insole was randomized, and self-assessed pain during physical activity in the treatment phase with insoles was compared with pain in the corresponding pre- and post-treatment phases without insoles. There were no other treatments added and the recommendations were to stay on the same activity level. All patients maintained their high level of physical activity throughout the study period. Significant pain reduction during physical activity when using insoles was found. Application of two different types of insoles without any immobilization, other treatment, or modification of sport activities results in significant pain relief in boys with Sever's injury.

Background and purpose Few authors have considered the outcome after acute traumatic rotator cuff tears in previously asymptomatic patients. We investigated whether delay of surgery, age at repair, and the number of cuff tendons involved affect the structural and clinical outcome. Patients and methods 42 patients with pseudoparalysis after trauma and no previous history of shoulder symptoms were included. A full-thickness tear in at least 1 of the rotator cuff tendons was diagnosed in all patients. Mean time to surgery was 38 (6-91) days. Follow-up at a mean of 39 (12-108) months after surgery included ultrasound, plain radiographs, Constant-Murley score, DASH score, and western Ontario rotator cuff (WORC) score. Results At follow-up, 4 patients had a full-thickness tear and 9 had a partial-thickness tear in the repaired shoulder. No correlation between the structural or clinical outcome and the time to repair within 3 months was found. The patients with a tendon defect at follow-up had a statistically significantly lower Constant-Murley score and WORC index in the injured shoulder and were significantly older than those with intact tendons. The outcomes were similar irrespective of the number of tendons repaired. Interpretation A delay of 3 months to repair had no effect on outcome. The patients with cuff defects at follow-up were older and they had a worse clinical outcome. Multi-tendon injury did not generate worse outcomes than single-tendon tears at follow-up.

Background: A successful clinical result is reported in 75% to 85% of impingement patients after arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The result is maintained over time, but few studies have investigated the integrity of the rotator cuff in these patients. Materials and methods: Using ultrasonography, we examined the integrity of the rotator cuff in 70 patients 15 years after arthroscopic subacromial decompression. All patients had an intact rotator cuff at the index procedure. Results: Tendons were still intact in 57 patients (82%), 10 (14%) had partial-thickness tears, and 3 (4%) had full-thickness tears. Discussion: The total number of 18% tears (partial and full thickness) in this study, including patients clinically diagnosed with subacromial impingement at a mean age of 60 years, is unexpectedly low compared with 40% degenerative tears reported in asymptomatic adults of the same age. Conclusion: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression seems to reduce the prevalence of rotator cuff tears in impingement patients. This appears attributable to elimination of extrinsic factors such as mechanical wear and bursitis. The potential effect of surgery on intrinsic cuff degeneration is unknown, but intrinsic factors may explain tears still developing despite decompression.

A consecutive series of 181 patients with clinical signs of subacromial impingement underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). All patients had the same surgical procedure, and all pathological findings at the arthroscopy were recorded. Ten to 13 years (mean, 11.2) after the procedure, 162 patients (91%) were available for follow-up consisting of clinical examination and the Constant-Murley and DASH scores. The overall mean value of the age correlated Constant score was 77 points. Men had significantly better Constant score than women. The state of the rotator cuff at the index procedure was found to affect the outcome significantly. Patients with isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tears had the best results, followed by those with partial tears, intact cuffs, or large tears involving more than 1 tendon. ASD in the treatment of subacromial impingement yields good long-term results. Small full-thickness supraspinatus tears had the best results, indicating that the ASD might prevent further cuff deterioration and that repair of these lesions may be unnecessary.

Background:  Hip surgery is associated with a risk for postoperative urinary retention. To avoid urinary retention hip surgery patients undergo urinary catheterisation. Urinary catheterisation, however, is associated with increased risk for urinary tract infection (UTI). Presently, there is limited knowledge whether intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation is the preferred choice for short-term bladder drainage in patients undergoing hip surgery.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate differences between intermittent and indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients in relation to nosocomial UTI and cost-effectiveness.

Design: Randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis.

Setting: The study was carried out at an orthopaedic department at a Swedish university hospital.

Method: One hundred seventy hip surgery patients (patients with fractures or with osteoarthritis) were randomly allocated to either intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation. Data collection took place at four time points: during stay in hospital, at discharge and at 4 weeks and 4 months after discharge.

Results: Eighteen patients contracted nosocomial UTIs, 8 in the intermittent catheterisation group and 10 in the indwelling catheterisation group (p = 0.618).  The patients in the intermittent catheterisation group were more often catheterised (p <0.001) and required more bladder scans (p <0.001) but regained normal bladder function sooner than the patients in the indwelling catheterisation group (p <0.001). Fourteen percent of the patients in the intermittent group did not need any catheterisation. Cost-effectiveness was similar between the indwelling and intermittent urinary catheterisation methods.

Conclusions: In the perspective of cost-effectiveness both indwelling and intermittent methods could be appropriate in clinical praxis. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages but by not using indwelling catheterisation routinely in this patient group unnecessary catheterisations might be avoided.