Comparison of Hard and Soft Cervical Collars for the Management of Odontoid Peg Fractures in the Elderly.

Introduction: Odontoid peg fractures (OF) are the most common cervical spine fracture in the elderly. This retrospective analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of older patients with OF who had been managed non-operatively with either a hard or soft cervical collar.

Materials And Methods: We analysed the retrospective data of the clinical and radiographic records of patients 60 years or older who presented over a 10-year period with OF and were treated non-operatively with a cervical collar.

Counting the cost of major infection and sepsis in New Zealand: an exploratory study using the National Minimum Data Set.

Aim: To explore the population-at-risk and potential cost of a sepsis episode in New Zealand.

Method: Retrospective analysis of the National Minimum Data Set using two code-based algorithms selecting (i) an inclusive cohort of hospitalised patients diagnosed with a 'major infection' with the potential to cause sepsis and (ii) a restricted subset of these patients with a high likelihood of clinical sepsis based on the presence of both a primary admission diagnosis of infection and at least one sepsis-associated organ failure.

Results: In 2016, 24% of all inpatient episodes were associated with diagnosis of a major infection.

Advanced Choice Employment (ACE) factors influencing PGY-1 workplace selection and future career intentions of a cohort of doctors in Waikato.

Aim: To assess whether or not a sample of PGY-1 doctors in the Waikato region remained satisfied with the ACE system for employment 12 years after its inception.

Method: An anonymous paper-based survey was completed by a cohort (n=60) of 2015 and 2016 PGY-1 doctors based at the Waikato DHB. Questions were based around reasons for selecting the DHB, satisfaction with the ACE process and future career intentions.

Rural women's perspectives of maternity services in the Midland Region of New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION Rural women face many challenges with regards to maternity services. Many rural primary birthing facilities in New Zealand have closed. The Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) model of maternity care, introduced in 1990, has moved provision of rural maternity care from doctors to independent midwifery services.