Why all newborn hip screening programs have same results-a mini review.

All newborns are screened for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), but countries have varying screening practices. The aim of this narrative mini review is to discuss the controversies of the screening and why it seems that all screening programs are likely to have same outcome. Different screening strategies are discussed alongside with other factors influencing DDH in this review. Universal ultrasound (US) has been praised as it finds more immature hips than clinical examination, but it has not been proven to reduce the rates of late-detected DDH or surgical management. Universal US screening increases initial treatment rates, while selective US and clinical screening have similar outcomes regarding late detection rates than universal US. This can be explained by the extrinsic factor affecting the development of the hip joint after birth and thus initial screening during the early weeks cannot find these cases.  Conclusion: It seems that DDH screening strategies have strengths and limitations without notable differences in the most severe outcomes (late-detected cases requiring operative treatment). Thus, it is important to acknowledge that the used screening policy is a combination of values and available resources rather than a decision based on clear evidence.

Intensive care unit admissions with and without COVID-19 in Finland from 2017 to 2021: a retrospective register-based study.

BACKGROUND: After the COVID-19 pandemic started, critical care resources were expanded in Finland to manage a possible surge in patients requiring intensive care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of overall ICU admissions, patient diagnoses, characteristics, and length of stay during the pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective hospital register-based study was conducted in two large and one mid-size Finnish public hospitals. The required data were collected from ICU patient information systems and all adult patients were included. Monthly and yearly incidences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were counted per 100 000 persons-years by Poisson exact method and compared by incidence rate ratios (IRR). RESULTS: A total of 4407 admissions to ICUs for any cause occurred during 2020. In 2021, this figure was 4931. During the reference years (2017-2019), the mean number of admissions to ICU was 4781. In 2020 and 2021, the proportion of patients requiring intensive care due to COVID-19 was only 3%. The incidence of all-cause ICU admissions decreased during the lockdown in 2020 when compared to the reference years. Before the start of the lockdown in February 2020, the IRR of all-cause ICU admissions was 1.02 (CI: 0.89 to 1.18). During the lockdown period, however, the IRR of all-cause ICU admissions decreased to 0.78 (CI: 0.67 to 0.90) in March. When the lockdown ended, the incidence rebounded to the same level as before the lockdown. However, in 2021, the incidence of ICU admissions remained at the same level when compared to the reference years. The most prominent changes occurred in the incidence of diseases of the nervous system, which includes epilepsy and seizures and transient cerebral ischemic attacks, in diseases of the respiratory system, and neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this study, the incidence of all-cause ICU admissions decreased after the lockdown was implemented in 2020. Furthermore, the percentage of patients requiring intensive care due to COVID-19 in Finland was only 3% in 2020 and 2021. These findings may serve to help in the planning and allocating of ICU resources during future pandemics.

Primary care visits due to mental health problems and use of psychotropic medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finnish adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: Social restrictions due to COVID-19 have impacted the everyday life of adolescents and young adults, with increased levels of stress and anxiety being reported. Therefore, we report primary care visits due to mental health problems and the use of psychotropic medication in Finland. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide register-based study and included primary care visits with mental health problems (F*-class ICD-10 diagnosis) for patients aged 15-24 years. We calculated incidence for visits and used incidence rate ratios (IRR) for comparisons. Psychotropic medication purchases for patients aged 13-24 years were included. Annual psychotropic medication user prevalence per 1000 was calculated and prevalence rate ratios (PRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for comparisons. The years 2020 and 2021 were compared to the pre-pandemic reference year 2019. RESULTS: A total of 396534 visits to primary care due to mental health problems were included. Annual visit incidences per 1000 were 151.7 in 2019, 193.6 in 2020, and 306.7 in 2021, indicating a 28% (IRR 1.28, CI 1.27-1.29) increase from 2019 to 2020 and a 102% (IRR 2.02, CI:2.01-2.04) increase from 2019 to 2021. Highest reported increases in 2020 were sleeping disorders (IRR 1.79, CI 1.72-1.87) and anxiety disorders (IRR 1.39, CI 1.37-1.42). Prevalence of antidepressant use increased by 25% (PRR 1.25, CI 1.23-1.26) in 2021. An increase was also seen in the use of antipsychotics (+ 19%, PRR 1.19. CI 1.16-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for mental health services and medication among Finnish adolescents and young adults. Our health care system needs the capacity to manage the increased number of visits, and we must be better prepared for future crises.

Incidence of Neonatal Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip and Late Detection Rates Based on Screening Strategy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Universal ultrasonographic screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has gained increasing popularity despite the lack of benefit in terms of reducing the rates of late-detected cases (age ≥12 weeks) in randomized clinical trials. Objective: To report the reported incidence of DDH in the English scientific literature and compare rates of late-detected cases in settings with different DDH screening strategies. Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched on November 25 and 27, 2021. No time filters were used in the search. Study Selection: All observational studies reporting the incidence of early-detected or late-detected (age ≥12 weeks) DDH were included. Non-English reports were excluded if the abstract did not include enough information to be included for analysis. Data Extraction and Synthesis: The number of newborns screened and the detection rates were extracted. Meta-analysis calculated the pooled incidence of DDH per 1000 newborns with 95% CIs using a random- or fixed-effects model. This study is reported according to the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome measures were early detection, early treatment, late detection, and operative treatment incidences. Results: A total of 1899 studies were identified, 203 full texts were assessed, and 76 studies with 16 901 079 infants were included in final analyses. The early detection rate was 8.4 (95% CI, 4.8-14.8) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with clinical screening, 4.4 (95% CI, 2.4-8.0) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with selective ultrasonographic screening, and 23.0 (95% CI, 15.7-33.4) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with universal ultrasonographic screening. Rates for nonoperative treatment were 5.5 (95% CI, 2.1-14) treatments per 1000 newborns with clinical screening, 3.1 (95% CI, 2.0-4.8) treatments per 1000 newborns with selective ultrasonographic screening, and 9.8 (95% CI, 6.7-14.4) treatments per 1000 newborns with universal ultrasonographic screening. The incidence of late-detected DDH was 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2-1.5) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with clinical screening, 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-1.3) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with selective ultrasonographic screening, and 0.2 (95% CI, 0.0-0.8) infants with DDH per 1000 newborns with universal ultrasonographic screening. The corresponding incidences of operative treatment were 0.2 (95% CI, 0.0-0.9) operations per 1000 newborns with clinical screening, 0.5 (95% CI, 0.4-0.7) operations per 1000 newborns with selective ultrasonographic screening, and 0.4 (95% CI, 0.2-0.7) operations per 1000 newborns with universal ultrasonographic screening. Conclusions and Relevance: This meta-analysis found that early detection rates and nonoperative treatments were higher with universal screening. The late detection and operative treatment rates with universal screening were similar to those among selectively and clinically screened newborns. Based on these results, universal screening may cause initial overtreatment without reducing the rates of late detection and operative treatment.

Psychometric Properties of the Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire (Version 22r) Domains Among Adults With Spinal Deformity: A Rasch Measurement Theory Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) have lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the general population. Applying Rasch measurement theory (RMT), this study tested the revised Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22r) HRQoL instrument among symptomatic adult patients with degenerative spinal disorders and varying degrees of ASD. METHODS: SRS-22r data from 637 outpatient spine clinic patients with degenerative spine conditions were investigated for unidimensionality, item/scale fit, differential item functioning (DIF), scale coverage/targeting, and person separation index (PSI) using RMT. RESULTS: Unidimensionality of the SRS-22r was not supported for either the total score or for 3 of its 5 domains. Item fit was acceptable for 11/22 items. The individual domains showed good coverage despite the degree of structural disorders. Ordered thresholds were achieved by merging response categories in some of the items. DIF towards age or sex was found in 11/22 items and in some domain items. The PSI exceeded 0.7 for the SRS-22r total score. CONCLUSION: The individual domain scores of the SRS-22r perform better than the total score providing good coverage and targeting among patients with ASD. Refinements of items and domains may improve the structural validity of the instrument to meet the criteria for measuring ASD patients, even when multidimensionality persists.

Outcomes following the operative treatment of intra-articular fracture combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction after patellar dislocation.

PURPOSE: We examine the outcomes following operative treatment of intra-articular fracture combined with medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction after patella dislocation. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified from medical records using diagnostic and surgical procedure codes. Radiological anatomical parameters and bony abnormalities of injured knees were assessed from magnetic resonance images (MRI). Inclusion criteria were traumatic patellar dislocation with chondral or osteochondral fracture and MPFL rupture, operative treatment of a chondral or osteochondral fracture combined with MPFL reconstruction, and minimum follow-up of 2 years. Outcomes were measured using the Kujala score, Tegner activity scale, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Quality-of-Life subscale (KOOS-QLS). RESULTS: During 2012 and 2015, 322 patients were treated because of patellar dislocation. Thirty-three patients had chondral or osteochondral fracture. Eleven patients (five males and six females) with a mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of 17.0 (6.5) years at the time of surgery met the inclusion criteria and were included. Five of the 11 patients had a subchondral and six an osteochondral fracture. Eight patients had a fracture in the patella and three in the femur. All patients had bony abnormalities in the knee. Nine out of 11 patients scored over 90/100 points on the Kujala scale and had good results on the Tegner scale [before surgery 5.0 (2.7) points versus after surgery 5.3 (1.6) points] and the KOOS-QLS [4.1 (4.2) points] outcome measures. CONCLUSION: The removal or fixation of the fracture fragment combined with MPFL reconstruction is a feasible option in the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral or subchondral fragment in traumatic patellar dislocation. The short-term outcomes are encouraging. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Structural and Construct Validity of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) With an Emphasis on Pain and Functionality After Foot Surgery: A Multicenter Study.

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is a patient-reported outcome measure that is available in several languages. We aim to assess the structural and construct validity of the FAAM with an emphasis on pain and functionality after foot surgery. The activities of daily living (ADL) and Sports subscales of the Finnish version of the FAAM were completed by 182 patients who underwent operative treatment for disorders of the foot. Convergent validity was assessed by principal component analysis using Spearman's correlation coefficient between the FAAM subscales and the principal components (Function-PC and Pain-PC) derived from validated patient-reported outcome measures. Subscales were studied for floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency and unidimensionality. Internal consistency was examined with Cronbach's alpha and the subscale structure with exploratory factor analysis. FAAM-ADL had high correlation with the Function-PC (r = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-0.91) and the Pain-PC (r = 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.83). FAAM-Sports had moderate correlation (r = 0.64, 95% CI 0.50-0.74) with the Function-PC and high correlation (r = 0.74, 95% CI 0.64-0.82) with the Pain-PC. No floor or ceiling effects were observed. Cronbach's alpha was 0.97 (95% CI 0.96-0.98) for the ADL and 0.93 (95% CI 0.91-0.95) for the Sports subscales. The results supported the unidimensionality of the FAAM-Sports. Within the ADL subscale, 3 factors were identified, suggesting a 3-factor model for the FAAM overall. Results highlighted the inter-relationship of pain and physical function. Further research on longitudinal validity is needed.

Validation of the Finnish FACE-Q for use in patients undergoing surgery for functional problems or malignancy.

The aim of this study was to produce a Finnish version of the FACE-Q scales Satisfaction with Forehead and Eyebrows, Adverse effects: Forehead, Eyebrows and Scalp, and Adverse effects: Cheeks, Lower face and Neck, and assess the performance of these scales and the Satisfaction with Facial Appearance, Satisfaction with Outcome and Appearance-related Psychosocial Distress in patients who had undergone surgery for functional problems or malignancy affecting the forehead or cheeks. The general health-related outcomes instrument 15 D was used as a reference. Patients who had undergone a frontal lift, a direct brow lift, a facelift or an excision of a facial tumor in Helsinki University Hospital plastic surgery department in 2009-2019 were identified. A postal survey study was conducted with 305 patients, of whom 135 (44%) responded. Diagnoses included facial nerve dysfunction (53%), brow ptosis (21%) and skin, mucosal or salivary gland tumor (20%). The FACE-Q scales displayed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ≥0.80) and good reliability on repeat administration. The exploratory factor analysis revealed unifactorial influences for all scales except the Adverse effects: Forehead, Eyebrows and Scalp. Weak correlations with 15 D dimensions were detected. The FACE-Q scales evaluated here are suitable for use in patients with functional problems or malignancy.

Longitudinal Validity and Minimal Important Change for the Modified Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) in Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Patients.

The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) is a patient-reported outcome measure for lower extremity disorders. Aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal validity including responsiveness and test-retest reliability of the revised 15-item version, and to define the minimal important change (MIC) of the modified LEFS in a generic sample of orthopedic foot and ankle patients who underwent surgery. Responsiveness, effect size, and standardized response mean were measured by determining the score change between the baseline and 6 months administration of the LEFS from 156 patients. There was no significant difference between preoperative (median 78, interquartile range [IQR] 64.2-90.3) and postoperative (median 75.0, IQR 61.7-95.0) scores. Both effect size and standardized response mean were low (0.06 and 0.06, respectively). Test-retest reliability of the LEFS was satisfactory. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.81-0.88). MIC value could not be estimated due to the lack of significant score change. The modified LEFS presented with relatively low longitudinal validity in a cohort of generic orthopedic foot and ankle patients. The findings of this study indicate that the modified LEFS might not be the optimal instrument in assessing the clinical change over time for these patients.

Structural validity of the foot and ankle outcome score for orthopaedic pathologies with Rasch Measurement Theory.

BACKGROUND: The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) is one of the most frequently used patient-reported outcome measures for foot and ankle conditions. The aim is to test the structural validity of the Finnish version of the FAOS using Rasch Measurement Theory. METHODS: FAOS scores were obtained from 218 consecutive patients who received operative treatment for foot and ankle conditions. The FAOS data were fitted into the Rasch model and person separation index (PSI) calculated. RESULTS: All the five subscales provided good coverage and targeting. Three subscales presented unidimensional structure. Thirty-eight of the 42 items had ordered response category thresholds. Three of the 42 items had differential item functioning towards gender. All subscales showed sufficient fit to the Rasch model. PSI ranged from 0.73 to 0.94 for the subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The Finnish version of the FAOS shows acceptable structural validity for assessing complaints in orthopaedic foot and ankle patients.

Minimal important change for Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS).

BACKGROUND: Although Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for foot and ankle conditions, research on its longitudinal validity is still needed. Minimal important change (MIC) values for the FAOS were determined using predictive modeling. METHODS: Overall, 134 patients that underwent operative treatment for foot and ankle conditions were included. An anchor based predictive logistic modeling method was used for estimating the MIC values for the FAOS subscales after surgery. RESULTS: Mean score changes in the improved and the unimproved groups were 17.7 and 0.43 points for Pain, 3.9 and -3.3 points for Symptoms, 21.3 and 1.8 points for Activities and daily living (ADL), 8.7 and -2.8 points for Sport, and 12.5 and -3.3 points for quality of life subscale, respectively. MIC was successfully determined to four out of five subgroups as follows: Pain 9.5 (94% CI -6.4 to 24.6); ADL 11.7 (95% CI -19.6 to 46.6); Sport (95% CI -10.4 to 15.4); QoL 5.0 (95% CI -2.6 to 12.9). The Symptoms subgroup presented with low MIC of 0.3 (95% CI -11.7 to 13.4) fitting to the measurement error. CONCLUSION: ADL, Sports, Pain, and QoL subscales of the FAOS presented logical MIC values. The MIC can be further evaluated for specific conditions.

Use of conservative therapy before and after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Conservative therapies are typically offered to individuals who experience mild or intermittent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or postoperatively to subjects who have undergone carpal tunnel release. Although long-term studies report mostly positive results for carpal tunnel release, knowledge on the need for conservative treatments following surgery is scarce. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine the use of conservative therapies before and after carpal tunnel releasing surgery. METHODS: Of 528 patients who underwent carpal tunnel release surgery in the study hospital during the study period, 259 provided sufficiently completed questionnaires (response rate 49 %). The patients completed a questionnaire battery including a sociodemographic, medical history and symptom questionnaire, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire, 6-item CTS symptoms scale and EuroQoL 5D. Frequencies of conservative therapies pre- and postoperatively were calculated. Association between Pain VAS and satisfaction with treatment were examined in patient groups according to the use of conservative therapies. RESULTS: Of all patients, 41 (16 %) reported receiving only preoperative, 18 (7 %) reported receiving only postoperative, 157 (60 %) reported receiving both pre- and postoperative conservative therapies and 43 (17 %) did not receive any therapies. Preoperative use of conservative therapies was more common in females than males (82 % vs. 64 %; p = 0.002), but postoperatively no significant gender difference was observed. The patients who received conservative therapies were younger than non-users in both the preoperative (median age 59 vs. 66; p < 0.001) and postoperative (59 vs. 66; p = 0.04) phases. The patients reported high satisfaction with their treatment and simultaneous improvement in Pain VAS scores. Those receiving conservative therapies only preoperatively reported the highest satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: While the use of conservative therapies decreased after surgery, a large proportion of the patients received these adjunct interventions. Patients reported high satisfaction with their treatment one year post surgery. Pain outcome seems to be closely related to satisfaction with treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Testing the proportional hazards assumption in cox regression and dealing with possible non-proportionality in total joint arthroplasty research: methodological perspectives and review.

BACKGROUND: Survival analysis and effect of covariates on survival time is a central research interest. Cox proportional hazards regression remains as a gold standard in the survival analysis. The Cox model relies on the assumption of proportional hazards (PH) across different covariates. PH assumptions should be assessed and handled if violated. Our aim was to investigate the reporting of the Cox regression model details and testing of the PH assumption in survival analysis in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) studies. METHODS: We conducted a review in the PubMed database on 28th August 2019. A total of 1154 studies were identified. The abstracts of these studies were screened for words "cox and "hazard*" and if either was found the abstract was read. The abstract had to fulfill the following criteria to be included in the full-text phase: topic was knee or hip TJA surgery; survival analysis was used, and hazard ratio reported. If all the presented criteria were met, the full-text version of the article was then read. The full-text was included if Cox method was used to analyze TJA survival. After accessing the full-texts 318 articles were included in final analysis. RESULTS: The PH assumption was mentioned in 114 of the included studies (36%). KM analysis was used in 281 (88%) studies and the KM curves were presented graphically in 243 of these (87%). In 110 (45%) studies, the KM survival curves crossed in at least one of the presented figures. The most common way to test the PH assumption was to inspect the log-minus-log plots (n = 59). The time-axis division method was the most used corrected model (n = 30) in cox analysis. Of the 318 included studies only 63 (20%) met the following criteria: PH assumption mentioned, PH assumption tested, testing method of the PH assumption named, the result of the testing mentioned, and the Cox regression model corrected, if required. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting and testing of the PH assumption and dealing with non-proportionality in hip and knee TJA studies was limited. More awareness and education regarding the assumptions behind the used statistical models among researchers, reviewers and editors are needed to improve the quality of TJA research. This could be achieved by better collaboration with methodologists and statisticians and introducing more specific reporting guidelines for TJA studies. Neglecting obvious non-proportionality undermines the overall research efforts since causes of non-proportionality, such as possible underlying pathomechanisms, are not considered and discussed.

Application of the FACE-Q rhinoplasty module in a mixed reconstructive and corrective rhinoplasty population in Finland.

The FACE-Q Rhinoplasty module is a patient-reported outcome instrument developed for the assessment of primarily aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty. The aim of our study was to produce a Finnish version of the instrument and validate it for use in patients undergoing nasal reconstruction as well as those treated with a rhinoplasty. Finnish versions of the FACE-Q scales Satisfaction with Nose, Satisfaction with Nostrils and Adverse Effects: Nose, were translated following established guidelines. Patients undergoing nasal resection, reconstruction or rhinoplasty in Helsinki University Hospital plastic surgery department in 2009-2019 were identified using theatre records. A total of 240 Finnish-speaking patients 18-85 years old were approached with a postal survey questionnaire. The questionnaire included the translated FACE-Q modules and those for Satisfaction with Facial Appearance, Appearance-Related Psychosocial Distress and Satisfaction with Outcome, as well as the general health-related quality of life instrument 15 D. The FACE-Q scales translated readily to Finnish. Eighty-three patients (35%) responded to the survey. Most FACE-Q scales performed well with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas 0.87-0.92) and repeatability. Only the Adverse Effects: Nose scale displayed poor consistency and a floor effect with 18% of the patients reporting no adverse outcomes. Answers to the Appearance-Related Psychosocial Distress scale were skewed towards no experienced stress. Answers to the other scales were normally distributed with weak correlation with 15 D dimensions. The Finnish translations of the FACE-Q Rhinoplasty scales perform well at assessing a diverse group of patients including those undergoing nasal reconstruction as well as those undergoing rhinoplasty.

Team-to-team transmission of COVID-19 in ice hockey games - a case series of players in Finnish ice hockey leagues.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic suspended nearly all team sports globally. The pro series have resumed playing by creating safe bubbles or massive testing protocols. Amateur level sports have also restarted seasons without possibility for such precautions. Our aim was to report the epidemiology of COVID-19 in an amateur ice hockey team and the team-to-team transmission during two games. METHODS: A descriptive brief report based on public statements by the local health authorities and the teams involved. RESULTS: An asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 in a U-20 ice hockey team infected 22 of 28 team mates. The day before the first players had symptoms, the team had returned from a two games away trip. A few days later COVID-19 was detected in both opposing teams and they were ordered to quarantine. During the two weeks quarantine a total of 24 players from the two opposing teams tested positive. Some of these players were training with senior teams and three additional infected players were detected in two senior teams. In total, 49 infections were detected in five ice hockey teams, and six teams were in quarantine for two weeks. CONCLUSION: An asymptomatic player can potentially endanger the whole season of a team and put opponents in danger as well. We report massive team-to-team transmission of COVID-19 in the U-20 Finnish National Hockey League. In order to prevent spread of COVID-19 in amateur-level team sports, suitable protocols should be established and adopted into daily use.

Validity of five foot and ankle specific electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) instruments in patients undergoing elective orthopedic foot or ankle surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are widely accepted measures for evaluating outcomes of surgical interventions. As patient-reported information is stored in electronic health records, it is essential that there are valid electronic PRO (ePRO) instruments available for clinicians and researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of electronic versions of five widely used foot and ankle specific PRO instruments. METHODS: Altogether 111 consecutive elective foot/ankle surgery patients were invited face-to-face to participate in this study. Patients completed electronic versions of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), the modified Lower Extremity Function Scale (LEFS), the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), and the Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA) on the day of elective foot and/or ankle surgery. Construct validity, coverage, and targeting of the scales were assessed. RESULTS: Based on general and predefined thresholds, construct validity, coverage, and targeting of the ePRO versions of the FAAM, the FAOS, the MOXFQ, and the VAS-FA were acceptable. Major issues arose with score distribution and convergent validity of the modified LEFS instrument. CONCLUSIONS: The ePRO versions of the FAAM, the FAOS, the MOXFQ, and the VAS-FA provide valid scores for foot and ankle patients. However, our findings do not support the use of the modified LEFS as an electronic outcome measure for patients with orthopedic foot and/or ankle pathologies.

Minimal important change for the visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA).

BACKGROUND: Visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS-FA) is a patient-reported outcome measure for foot and ankle disorders. The VAS-FA is validated into several languages and well adopted into use. Nonetheless, minimal important change (MIC) for the VAS-FA has not been estimated thus far. METHODS: The VAS-FA score was obtained from 106 patients undergoing surgery for various foot and ankle complaints. MIC was estimated using an anchor-based predictive method. RESULTS: The adjusted MIC was 6.8 for total VAS-FA score, and 9.3 for the Pain, 5.8 for the Function, and 5.7 for the Other complaints subscales. The VAS-FA score was found to separate improvement and deterioration in patients' foot and ankle condition. CONCLUSIONS: MIC was successfully defined for the VAS-FA in the current study. The VAS-FA can be used to evaluate foot and ankle patients' clinical foot and ankle status and its change. Further research on estimating disease-specific MICs is recommended.

Further validation of the Toronto extremity salvage score for lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma based on Finnish patients.

The most widely used patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients is the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS). The aim of the study was to validate and test the reliability of the TESS for patients with lower extremity STS based on Finnish population data. Patients were assessed using the TESS, the QLQ-C30 Function and Quality of life (QoL) modules, the 15D and the Musculoskeletal tumour Society (MSTS) score. The TESS was completed twice with a 2- to 4-week interval. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for test-retest reliability. Construct validity was tested for structural validity and convergent validity. Altogether 136 patients completed the TESS. A ceiling effect was noted as 21% of the patients scored maximum points. The ICC between first and second administration of the TESS was 0.96. The results of exploratory factor analysis together with high Cronbach's alpha (0.98) supported a unidimensional structure. The TESS correlated moderately with the MSTS score (rho = 0.59, p< 0.001) and strongly with the mobility dimension in the 15D HRQL instrument (rho = 0.76, p < 0.001) and the physical function in QLQ-C30 (rho = 0.83, p< 0.001). The TESS instrument is a comprehensive and reliable PRO measure. The TESS may be used as a validated single index score, for lower extremity STS patients for the measurement of a functional outcome. The TESS seems to reflect patients' HRQoL well after the treatment of lower extremity soft tissue sarcomas.

Surgery for patellar dislocation has evolved towards anatomical reconstructions with assessment and treatment of anatomical risk factors.

PURPOSE: Increasing knowledge on the treatment of patellar dislocation has resulted in the development of new surgical techniques for patella stabilisation. National incidence and trends in surgery for patellar dislocation were examined using data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR). The hypothesis was that an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of patellar instability has increased the popularity of reconstructing damaged structures and modification of anatomical risk factors. METHODS: Data from the years 1997-2016 were collected from the NHDR database using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and the Nomesco Classification of Surgical Procedures (NCSP) codes. Surgical procedures were categorised into subgroups representing the main surgical approaches of patellar dislocation. Total incidence of surgery for patellar dislocation and change in incidence during the study period were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 9702 operations for patellar dislocation were performed during the study period. Median (IQR) patient age at time of primary surgery was 23 (18-34) years. The total incidence of surgeries remained stable across the study period at of 8.9 per 100,000 person-years. Incidences of ligament reconstruction, femoral osteotomies and osteochondral fragment reimplantation operations multiplied during the study period. Ligament reconstruction procedures were the most performed operations at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: The incidence of surgical procedures for patellar dislocation remained unchanged during the years 1997-2016. Ligament reconstruction procedures increased in popularity. Surgical techniques have shifted towards the reconstruction of damaged structures and the modification of congenital anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation. Diversified surgical techniques have enabled the tailoring and combining of stabilizing procedures according to the patient's individual anatomy.