Understanding local ethnic inequalities in childhood BMI through cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected local data.

Background: Local-level analysis of ethnic inequalities in health is lacking, prohibiting a comprehensive understanding of the health needs of local populations and the design of effective health services. Knowledge of ethnic disparities in child weight status is particularly limited by overlooking both the heterogeneity within ethnic groupings; and the complex ecological contexts in which obesity arises. This study aimed to establish whether there was variation in childhood BMI across ethnic groups in Coventry, and the influence of individual, school and neighbourhood contexts, using routinely collected local data.

The Natural History of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Rotator cuff tears are the most common tendon injury in the adult population, resulting in substantial morbidity. The optimum management for these patients is not known.

Purpose: To assess the overall treatment response to all interventions in full-thickness rotator cuff tears among patients enrolled in randomized clinical trials.

Comparison of hip function and quality of life of total hip arthroplasty and resurfacing arthroplasty in the treatment of young patients with arthritis of the hip joint at 5 years.

Objective: To compare the medium-term clinical effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty and resurfacing arthroplasty.

Design: Single centre, two-arm, parallel group, assessor blinded, randomised controlled trial with 1:1 treatment allocation.

Setting: A large teaching hospital in England.

A comparison of electronic and manual dynamometry and goniometry in patients with fracture of the distal radius and healthy participants.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of electronic and manual dynamometry and goniometry in healthy volunteers, and the inter-instrument reliability in the assessment of healthy volunteers and patients recovering after a fracture of the distal radius. Grip strength, grip fatigue, pinch strength and range of motion were assessed in all participants with both the manual and electronic instruments by two physiotherapists and orthopaedic specialist trainee. The measures of dynamometry demonstrated excellent reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient >0.

UK Fixation of Distal Tibia Fractures (UK FixDT): protocol for a randomised controlled trial of 'locking' plate fixation versus intramedullary nail fixation in the treatment of adult patients with a displaced fracture of the distal tibia.

Introduction: The treatment of displaced, extra-articular fractures of the distal tibia remains controversial. These injuries are difficult to manage due to limited soft tissue cover, poor vascularity of the area and proximity to the ankle joint. Surgical treatment options are expanding and include locked intramedullary nails, plate and screw fixation and external fixator systems.

Measurement properties of the Disability Rating Index in patients undergoing hip replacement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish and validate the measurement properties of the Disability Rating Index (DRI) in a population of adults undergoing hip replacement.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-six adults participating in a randomized controlled trial completed the Oxford Hip Score, Harris Hip Score, DRI and EuroQol Group-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires at four time points. The structural validity of the DRI was assessed using principal component analysis.

Total hip arthroplasty versus resurfacing arthroplasty in the treatment of patients with arthritis of the hip joint: single centre, parallel group, assessor blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty with resurfacing arthroplasty in patients with severe arthritis of the hip.

Design: Single centre, two arm, parallel group, assessor blinded, randomised controlled trial with 1:1 treatment allocation.

Setting: One large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom.

A statistical framework for quantifying clinical equipoise for individual cases during randomized controlled surgical trials.

Background: Randomised controlled trials are being increasingly used to evaluate new surgical interventions. There are a number of problematic methodological issues specific to surgical trials, the most important being identifying whether patients are eligible for recruitment into the trial. This is in part due to the diversity in practice patterns across institutions and the enormous range of available interventions that often leads to a low level of agreement between clinicians about both the value and the appropriate choice of intervention.

In-shoe plantar pressures within ankle-foot orthoses: implications for the management of achilles tendon ruptures.

Background: Advances in the management of Achilles tendon rupture have led to the development of immediate weightbearing protocols. These vary regarding which ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are used and the number of inserted heel wedges used within them.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate plantar pressure measurements and temporal gait parameters within different AFOs, using different numbers of heel wedges.