The effect of coronal plane angulation on patient reported outcome measures of operatively treated distal femur fractures: A multi-center prospective evaluation.

Objectives: The goal of this trial was to determine whether coronal plane angulation affects functional and clinical outcomes after the fixation of distal femur fractures.

Design: Multicenter, randomized controlled trial SETTING: 20 academic trauma centers PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: 156 patients with distal femur fractures were enrolled. 123 patients were followed 12 months.

Locked Plating versus Nailing for Proximal Tibia Fractures: A Multicenter RCT.

Objectives: The main 2 forms of treatment for extraarticular proximal tibial fractures are intramedullary nailing (IMN) and locked lateral plating (LLP). The goal of this multicenter, randomized controlled trial was to determine whether there are significant differences in outcomes between these forms of treatment.

Design: Multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Locked Lateral Plating Versus Retrograde Nailing for Distal Femur Fractures: A Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Objectives: The 2 main forms of treatment for distal femur fractures are locked lateral plating and retrograde nailing. The goal of this trial was to determine whether there are significant differences in outcomes between these forms of treatment.

Design: Multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Timing of Flap Coverage With Respect to Definitive Fixation in Open Tibia Fractures.

Objectives: We conducted a large, U.S wide, observational study of type III tibial fractures, with the hypothesis that delays between definitive fixation and flap coverage might be a substantial modifiable risk factor associated with nosocomial wound infection.

Design: A retrospective analysis of a multicenter database of open tibial fractures requiring flap coverage.

Optimal arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures: is total hip arthroplasty the answer?

Although there is little doubt that arthroplasty of one form or another is appropriate treatment for many patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture, there is ongoing controversy about the relative merits of different types of arthroplasty among specific groups of patients. In particular, total hip arthroplasty is infrequently recommended because of concerns about the perceived high initial cost, increased risk of dislocation, and the anticipated low functional demands and life expectancy of the typical hip fracture patient. When viewed in this traditional context, the merits of total hip arthroplasty are not believed to outweigh the risks, except in the rare instance of a patient with preexisting symptomatic hip arthritis that sustains a hip fracture.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies.

Many clinical trials have evaluated the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating patients with chronic tendinosis of the supraspinatus, lateral epicondylitis, and plantar fasciitis. Although extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been reported to be effective in some trials, in others it was no more effective than placebo. The multiple variables associated with this therapy, such as the amount of energy delivered, the method of focusing the shock waves, frequency and timing of delivery, and whether or not anesthetics are used, makes comparing clinical trials difficult.