Decision-making in the treatment of diaphyseal clavicle fractures: is there agreement among surgeons? Results of a survey on surgeons' treatment preferences.

Background And Hypothesis: Nonoperative treatment is standard for most diaphyseal clavicle fractures, but recent studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with operative treatment of displaced fractures. The objectives of this diagnostic study were to assess agreement of orthopaedic surgeons regarding their treatment preferences for diaphyseal clavicle fractures and to compare them with recent recommendations. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement in treatment decisions were hypothesized to be only slight.

Management of proximal humeral fractures: surgeons don't agree.

Hypothesis: The management options for proximal humeral fractures have expanded in recent years. Patients with displaced, unstable proximal humeral fractures may have improved outcomes if managed operatively. We investigated the decision making of fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons when presented with the same group of cases.

Operative treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures in the pediatric population.

Background: Calcaneal fractures in children are rare injuries, and those with displaced intraarticular fracture patterns are found even less frequently. Recent data in the adult literature have suggested operative treatment of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures leads to a more favorable outcome. Most pediatric calcaneal fractures are due to low-energy trauma and are therefore minimally displaced and extraarticular.

Biomechanical evaluation of a new technique for rotator cuff repair.

Background: In recent studies, investigators have used a cyclic loading model to investigate the efficacy of rotator cuff fixation modalities.

Hypothesis: A bioabsorbable poly-D-lactic acid screw and toothed washer implant will provide more stable fixation of rotator cuff repairs than standard suture anchor techniques.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.