A non-randomised pragmatic trial for the early detection and prevention of surgical wound complications using an advanced hydropolymer wound dressing and smartphone technology: The EDISON trial protocol.

Total hip or knee arthroplasty is a highly effective intervention for treating the symptoms of degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis (OA), often an unwelcome consequence of obesity. A safe and common surgical procedure, hip and knee arthroplasty procedures are not immune to the occurrence of postoperative complications such as surgical site infection (SSI) or surgical wound dehiscence (SWD). While published rates of SSI following hip or knee arthroplasty are low, 1% to 2% in some cases, it is the resulting wound complication and its clinical management and the impact on patient well-being and return to daily life for the 1% to 2% that is of concern.

Cycle Sprint Test for the Evaluation of Lower Limb Muscle Power After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Lower limb muscle power is emerging as an important determinant of patient function after knee injury or surgery. This study tested proof of concept of a cycle sprint test for the evaluation of lower limb muscle power, as an outcome measure for patients having total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: Thirty-two patients were enrolled, of which 16 completed all follow-ups (3, 6, and 12 months).

Validation of a Patient Questionnaire Assessing Patient Satisfaction With Orthopedic Outpatient Clinic Consultation.

Previous qualitative research has identified a number of factors which influence patient satisfaction with orthopedic outpatient clinic visits. To further evaluate these factors, the authors initially generated a number of items or statements representing these factors. This cohort of items was then subjected to analysis by an expert group to assess which 3 items best represented each factor.

Identification of factors influencing patient satisfaction with orthopaedic outpatient clinic consultation: A qualitative study.

Background: In recent years, new models of health service delivery in orthopaedic outpatient clinics, including physiotherapists working in orthopaedic triage roles, have become increasingly common. Evaluation of patient satisfaction with orthopaedic clinic services is dependent on an understanding of factors influencing patient satisfaction in this clinical context.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the factors influencing patient satisfaction with orthopaedic outpatient clinic services.

Day-of-Surgery Mobilization Reduces the Length of Stay After Elective Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: To determine the effect of mobilization on the day of surgery on the readiness for discharge and length of stay after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: We devised a randomized control trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. Overall, 126 patients who underwent THA and met the criteria for mobilization on the day of surgery were randomly allocated into 2 groups; the intervention group was mobilized on the day of surgery, n = 58 and the control group was mobilized on the day after surgery, n = 68.

Huntington's Disease: Characteristics of Fallers.

Introduction: Individuals with Huntington's disease have a high prevalence of falls, but the specific factors that may increase the risk of falling have not been clearly identified in this clinical population. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of individuals with early to mid-stage Huntington's disease who had a history of falls, compared with a cohort with no history of falls.

Methods: Twenty-four participants (10 non-fallers and 14 recurrent fallers) with a diagnosis of early to mid-stage Huntington's disease were included in this study.

Symmetry of trunk and femoro-pelvic movement responses to single leg loading tests in asymptomatic females.

Single leg loading tests are used clinically to examine balance and loading strategies in individuals with lower limb pain. Interpretation of these tests is through pain responses and comparisons with the asymptomatic leg. The purpose of this study was to examine normal differences in trunk and pelvic movement between legs during the single leg stand, single leg squat, hip hitch and hip drop tests, and to compare observational and quantitative assessments of trunk movement during the single leg squat test.

Clinical and radiological investigation of thoracic spine extension motion during bilateral arm elevation.

Study Design: Single-cohort laboratory-based study.

Objectives: To measure thoracic spine extension motion during bilateral arm elevation using functional radiography and photographic image analysis.

Background: Impairment of thoracic spine extension motion may impact shoulder girdle function.

Inter-examiner agreement in clinical evaluation.

Background: The reliability of assessment is an important issue in the evaluation of competence in medical and allied health practice, particularly when assessments are conducted by multiple examiners. The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement between multiple examiners in the assessment of a postgraduate physiotherapy student using a specifically designed performance evaluation system.

Methods: Seven examiners simultaneously watched a recording of a postgraduate student's examination and treatment of one patient.

Functional radiographic analysis of thoracic spine extension motion in asymptomatic men.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to examine the range of thoracic spine extension motion in a group of young, asymptomatic subjects and compare the radiologically derived measurements with those obtained using photographic analysis, and to examine the relationship between the magnitude of the neutral thoracic kyphosis and the range of thoracic spine extension motion.

Methods: In 14 asymptomatic male subjects (mean age ± SD, 30.2 ± 7 years), the thoracic kyphosis in standing and full thoracic spine extension was measured from lateral thoracic spine radiographs and digital photographs.

Thoracic spine extension mobility in young adults: influence of subject position and spinal curvature.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To examine extension mobility of the thoracic spine in young, asymptomatic adults, with particular reference to the influence of subject position and magnitude of the thoracic kyphosis.

Background: Impairment of thoracic extension motion is commonly associated with mechanical pain disorders in this region of the spine.

Changes in mechanical load and extensor muscle activity in the cervico-thoracic spine induced by sitting posture modification.

The influence of whole body sitting posture on cervico-thoracic posture, mechanical load and extensor muscle activity was examined in 23 asymptomatic adults. Cervical and upper thoracic extensor muscle activity measured in guided slouched and lumbo-pelvic neutral postures was normalised to that measured in a self-selected habitual posture. Head and neck posture and gravitational load moment measurements were obtained in each posture.

Endurance and fatigue characteristics of the neck flexor and extensor muscles during isometric tests in patients with postural neck pain.

Sustained postural loading of the cervical spine during work or recreational tasks may contribute to the development of neck pain. The aim of this study was to compare neck muscle endurance and fatigue characteristics during sub-maximal isometric endurance tests in patients with postural neck pain, with asymptomatic subjects. Thirteen female patients with postural neck pain and 12 asymptomatic female control subjects completed timed sub-maximal muscle endurance tests for the neck flexor and extensor muscles.

Validity of the Neck Disability Index and Neck Pain and Disability Scale for measuring disability associated with chronic, non-traumatic neck pain.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct and content validity of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) in patients with chronic, non-traumatic neck pain. Twenty patients (mean age=64.5 years) completed a patient-specific questionnaire, the Problem Elicitation Technique (PET), followed by the NDI and NPAD.

Reliability of isometric muscle endurance tests in subjects with postural neck pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of 3 isometric muscle endurance tests in subjects with postural neck pain.

Methods: Twenty-one subjects with chronic postural neck pain performed 3 submaximal muscle tests twice on the first occasion and once at the second session 3 days later. The tests examined isometric neck flexion, neck extension, and scapular muscle endurance.

Physical therapy treatment dose for nontraumatic neck pain: a comparison between 2 patient groups.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To classify patients with nonacute, nontraumatic neck pain according to the dominant impairment of spinal function, and to determine whether there were differences in the amount of treatment sessions required (treatment dose) to achieve a significant change in the patients disorder.

Background: Classification of patients with mechanical neck pain may be an important process in optimizing treatment prescription and evaluating treatment response.

Postural neck pain: an investigation of habitual sitting posture, perception of 'good' posture and cervicothoracic kinaesthesia.

Impairments of cervico-cephalic kinaesthesia and habitual forward head posture have been considered important in the aetiology of postural neck pain, yet these factors have not been specifically examined in a homogeneous clinical population. The objective of this study was to compare the habitual sitting posture (HSP), perception of good posture and postural repositioning error (PRE) of the cervico-thoracic (CT) spine in individuals with postural neck pain, with a matched group of asymptomatic subjects. Twenty-one subjects with postural neck pain and 22 asymptomatic control subjects were recruited into the study.

Variability in pain intensity, physical and psychological function in non-acute, non-traumatic neck pain.

Background And Purpose: Variability in clinical presentation among patients with neck pain disorders, in relation to symptom severity and the effect of the disorder on their physical and psychological function, has not been well documented. The present study examined the variability in pain intensity, physical and emotional or cognitive function in patients with non-acute, non-traumatic neck pain, and the extent to which these factors are associated at the time of referral for physiotherapy treatment.

Method: The study utilized a survey of patients referred for physiotherapy treatment for non-acute, non-traumatic neck pain.

Age-related changes in collagen, pyridinoline, and deoxypyridinoline in normal human thoracic intervertebral discs.

Human thoracic discs were analyzed for collagen and collagen cross-links to determine the distribution due to segmental, age, and gender influences. Thoracic discs from 26 cadaveric spines (1 to 90 years old) were graded macroscopically, then separated into anular and nuclear samples. Only grade I (i.

Accuracy and reliability of a new, protractor-based neck goniometer.

Objectives: To assess the reliability of the SpinT, a new protractor-based device, for measuring active cervical spine ranges of motion. In addition, to compare the accuracy of the Cervical Ranges of Motion (CROM) instrument and SpinT measurements of rotation about the Y axis with and without tilt, the former motion occurring during natural rotation of the head.

Study Design: Interexaminer reliability, intraexaminer reliability, and accuracy trials were conducted.