Emergency presentations for farm-related injuries in older adults residing in south-western Victoria, Australia.

Introduction: Farm workers are at high risk for injuries, and epidemiological data are needed to plan resource allocation.

Objective: This study identified regions with high farm-related injury rates in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, for residents aged ≥50 yr.

Design: Retrospective synthesis using electronic medical records of emergency presentations occurring during 2017-2019 inclusive for Local Government Areas (LGA) in the study region.

Is It Safe to Use a Lead Screen During Hip Arthroscopy?

Purpose: To assess the radiation attenuation of lead screens in comparison to lead gowns in a simulated hip arthroscopy setting.

Methods: In this quantitative laboratory study, a phantom pelvis was used to simulate the scatter produced by patients during hip arthroscopy. Radiation measurements were taken using a handheld radiation detector positioned perpendicular to the phantom pelvis at 1.

The influence of patient resilience and health status on satisfaction after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background And Purpose: Our research aimed to identify and characterise relationships between patient resilience, health status, and satisfaction following total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). A secondary aim was to compare two frequently used instruments for measuring patient satisfaction: The Satisfaction Visual Analogue Scale (Satis VAS) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Methods: 140 patients (mean age 69, 60% female) underwent primary THA or TKA at a centre in regional Australia and were recruited to complete questionnaires about their resilience, health status, and satisfaction following arthroplasty.

The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia.

Background: In order to implement intervention strategies to prevent falls from height, epidemiological data are needed. The aim of this study was to map emergency presentations for falls from height in residents aged ≥40yr of the western region of Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Emergency presentations following a fall from height (≥1m) were obtained from electronic medical records for 2014-2016 inclusive.

Mapping Cancer incidence across Western Victoria: the association with age, accessibility, and socioeconomic status among men and women.

Background: Cancer is a leading burden of disease in Australia and worldwide, with incidence rates varying with age, sex and geographic location. As part of the Ageing, Chronic Disease and Injury study, we aimed to map the incidence rates of primary cancer diagnoses across western Victoria and investigate the association of age, accessibility/remoteness index of Australia (ARIA) and area-level socioeconomic status (SES) with cancer incidence.

Methods: Data on cancer incidence in the study region were extracted from the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) for men and women aged 40+ years during 2010-2013, inclusive.

Revision joint replacement surgeries of the hip and knee across geographic region and socioeconomic status in the western region of Victoria: a cross-sectional multilevel analysis of registry data.

Background: Residents of rural and regional areas, compared to those in urban regions, are more likely to experience geographical difficulties in accessing healthcare, particularly specialist services. We investigated associations between region of residence, socioeconomic status (SES) and utilisation of all-cause revision hip replacement or revision knee replacement surgeries.

Methods: Conducted in western Victoria, Australia, as part of the Ageing, Chronic Disease and Injury study, data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (2011-2013) for adults who underwent a revision hip replacement (n = 542; 54% female) or revision knee replacement (n = 353; 54% female) were extracted.

Association between area-level socioeconomic status, accessibility and diabetes-related hospitalisations: a cross-sectional analysis of data from Western Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Hospitalisation rates for many chronic conditions are higher in socioeconomically disadvantaged and less accessible areas. We aimed to map diabetes hospitalisation rates by local government area (LGA) across Western Victoria, Australia, and investigate their association with socioeconomic status (SES) and accessibility/remoteness.

Design: Cross-sectional study METHODS: Data were acquired from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset for all hospitalisations (public and private) with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus during 2011-2014.

Assessment of acetabular version in total hip arthroplasty: an application of Widmer's technique in a regional setting.

Background: Acetabular prosthesis positioning in total hip arthroplasty is important in reducing the risk of dislocation. Assessment of version by computed tomography scan is expensive and involves a large radiation dose. We wished to assess the value of Widmer's technique, utilizing readily available radiographs, to determine cup anteversion.

Older Patients Are Immunocompromised by Cytokine Depletion and Loss of Innate Immune Function After HIP Fracture Surgery.

Purpose/introduction: We have examined the immune status of elderly patients who underwent surgery for a hip fracture, an injury associated with poor postoperative outcomes, to identify specific immune defects.

Methods: In a cohort observational study, 16 patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures had immune function evaluation prior to surgery, and then at 3 and 7 days postoperatively, using flow cytometry for phenotype and for monocyte and granulocyte phagocytic function and respiratory burst. Serum samples were stored and batch analyzed using a human cytokine 25-plex panel.

Patients presenting with fractures are likely to be vitamin D deficient: are we getting enough sun?

Background: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D serves a crucial role in bone metabolism through its role on osteoclast and osteoblastic function. To assess the implication of vitamin D and its relationship to bone fracture and fracture force, we have examined vitamin D levels in patients requiring inpatient fracture management.

Methods: We performed serological testing of vitamin D levels, calcium, parathyroid hormone and liver function tests on patients admitted to our rural institution in southeastern Australia for inpatient fracture management.

Does knee replacement surgery lead to chronic limb ischemia?

Total knee replacement (TKR) may be associated with chronic limb ischemia (CLI) due to arterial injury intraoperatively. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of CLI after TKR surgery. Patients who received a unilateral TKR in 2003-2004 were identified from our database.

The mind continues to matter: psychologic and physical recovery 5 years after musculoskeletal trauma.

Objectives: Posttraumatic psychopathology may complicate recovery from musculoskeletal injury. This article details the 5-year follow-up of a cohort study examining the relationship between posttraumatic psychopathology and recovery after musculoskeletal trauma.

Design: A prospective cohort study of patients with musculoskeletal injuries (Grampian Trauma Outcomes Study) assessed 5 years after their injury.

Upright MRI in kinematic assessment of the ACL-deficient knee.

The ability to quantify in vivo femoro-tibial relations in the knee holds great advantage to further patient care. There is little consensus on the optimal weight-bearing environment and measurement method for MRI assessment of in vivo knee kinematics. This study set out to establish the optimal method of measuring femoro-tibial relations in an upright, weight-bearing environment in normal individuals and those with ACL deficiency.

Proinflammatory markers in prediction of posttraumatic psychological symptoms: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Posttraumatic psychopathology (PTP) describes the spectrum of conditions that can complicate the recovery from commonly occurring musculoskeletal trauma. There is a clear association with the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA), and we wished to examine the predictive value of proinflammatory markers of the HPAA and of the GABA, which acts as an inhibitory regulator.

Methods: Levels of proinflammatory markers and GABA were measured in 84 patients who had suffered musculoskeletal injuries requiring hospitalisation.

The mind does matter: Psychological and physical recovery after musculoskeletal trauma.

Background: Posttraumatic psychopathology (PTP) is important to the orthopedic surgeon because it appears to be much more common than might have been suspected and may complicate the recovery from musculoskeletal injury. We have investigated the relationship between physical and psychological recovery in victims of musculoskeletal trauma.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 200 patients with musculoskeletal injuries were studied, correlating development of psychopathology (measured by the General Health Questionnaire) and functional outcome (measured by Short Form-36, Sickness Impact Profile, and Musculoskeletal Function Assessment) 2 and 6 months after their injuries.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in females: a comparison of hamstring tendon and patellar tendon autografts.

This study compared hamstring (HS) and patellar tendon (PT) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in females. Sixty-five patients (43 HS, 22 PT) were evaluated at a mean 3.8-year postoperatively.

Proximal femoral geometry and hip fractures.

There is increasing evidence that proximal femoral geometry has an important role in the aetiology of hip fractures. We performed a simple radiological study to investigate the relationship between proximal femoral geometry and intracapsular and extracapsular fractures of the proximal femur. Measurements of proximal femoral geometry were made on pelvic radiographs on the contralateral hip of 50 consecutive patients with intracapsular and 50 with extracapsular fractures.

The new injury severity score: better prediction of functional recovery after musculoskeletal injury.

Objectives: Injury Severity Score (ISS) is the most widely used method of assessing severity of injury in blunt trauma. It has been recognized that, by only allowing the score to consider the worst injury for each body system, ISS underestimates the problems of multiple musculoskeletal injuries. The New ISS (NISS) allows the three most severe injuries to be scored, irrespective of region affected, and may give better prediction of functional recovery in these patients.

Recovery after musculoskeletal trauma in men and women.

Background: Recent work has suggested that women are more at risk of impaired outcome after traumatic injuries. This would suggest that resources should be targeted at female trauma patients to optimize their outcomes. We wished to explore the physical and psychological outcomes of women treated in our trauma unit.