Scar outcomes for conservatively managed children post burn injury: A retrospective study.

Hypertrophic scarring is a significant complication post burn injury, especially for delayed healing after 3 weeks. Burn injuries healing prior to 3 weeks also have the potential to develop hypertrophic scarring, even when prescribed prophylactic conservative scar interventions. A retrospective chart audit reviewed 326 burn patients treated at a paediatric tertiary hospital from 2014 to 2019 who sustained a partial thickness burn, healed >14 days and did not receive skin grafting. A scar was deemed hypertrophic if >1 mm in height. Early hypertrophic scar prevalence was defined as 3-6 months post burn, while persistent hypertrophic scarring was defined as 12-18 months post burn. Median days to wound closure was 18. The prevalence of early and persistent hypertrophic scarring was 56.1% and 16.3%, respectively. Seventeen (5.2%) children underwent medical interventions for scar modulation. Early signs of hypertrophic scarring were seen in just over half the patients presenting to burn therapy and despite scar intervention, persistent hypertrophic scarring was seen in 16.3%. At both time points, just over half of the children presenting healed between 14 and 21 days. Therefore, children healing prior to 21 days have potential to develop hypertrophic scarring.

Feasibility of implementing a remote system for lymphoedema conservative therapy: a case study.

BACKGROUND: Poor access to lymphoedema specialists and communication between them and patients prevents appropriate lymphoedema management. Therefore, development and dissemination of remote systems is necessary to improve care in rural areas with limited medical personnel or access to medical coordination. AIMS: The authors evaluated the elements required for providing patient education on conservative therapy for lymphoedema, to determine the feasibility of remote management. METHODS: The study involved connecting a health professional in a local clinic (point A) treating a patient with lymphoedema, who was present alongside the clinician, with a specialist certified lymphoedema therapist (CLT) located remotely in a university (point B). FINDINGS: The CLT was able to greet, interview and provide guidance to the patient on conservative therapy. Direct contact with the patient was not possible, which limited visualisation, palpation, leg circumference measurement, and lymphatic drainage management. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that remote a lymphoedema management approach involving conservative therapy benefits both patients and health professionals, particularly in rural regions. Future studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this approach to confirm adequate treatment.

[Renal replacement or conservative treatment in end-stage renal disease in elder patients?] / Nierenersatz oder konservative Therapie bei chronischem Nierenversagen im Alter?

When elder individuals develop chronic kidney failure, doctors, patients, and family members are faced with the decision: Should dialysis (still) be initiated, or should a conservative-palliative therapy strategy be chosen? A prerequisite for shared decision-making is structured education about the various options, ensuring all necessary information and consequences are communicated. This article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, as well as conservative-palliative therapy. Additionally, it discusses the option of a trial dialysis and the choice to discontinue ongoing dialysis.

Surgical and/ or conservative treatment improves quality of life (EHP-30) in patients with endometriosis.

AIM: To investigate the quality of life of women with endometriosis before treatment and 3 months after the start of surgical and/or conservative treatment. SAMPLE AND METHODOLOGY: The sample comprised of 38 patients, of whom 26 underwent surgical treatment, 6 had pharmacological treatment, and 6 had both surgical and pharmacological treatment. The Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30) questionnaire in the Czech version and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were used to assess quality of life. The questionnaires were completed before treatment and 3 months into the treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: When comparing quality of life with the EHP-30 questionnaire, 3 months after the start of treatment, significantly better quality of life scores were found in all domains except the domain "Infertility." Statistically significant improvement was observed in the domains of "Control and powerlessness," "Emotional well-being," and "Pain" (P < 0.0001). Pain assessment using NRS showed subjective improvement in pain during menstruation, outside menstruation, during intercourse, micturition, and defecation. Statistically significant improvement was reported in pain during menstruation and outside menstruation (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Treatment of endometriosis improves the quality of life and also leads to a subjective reduction of pain intensity as one of the main symptoms of the disease.

Additional treatment after primary conservative treatment in patients with chronic subdural hematoma-A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurological condition and is typically treated with burr hole craniostomy. Nevertheless, conservative treatment may lead to spontaneous hematoma resolution in some patients. This study aims to describe the characteristics of patients who were treated conservatively without the eventual need for additional treatment. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from patients who were primarily treated conservatively in three hospitals in the Netherlands from 2008 to 2018. The Primary outcome was the nonnecessity of additional treatment within 3 months after the initial CSDH diagnosis. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with not receiving additional treatment. RESULTS: In this study, 83 patients were included and 61 patients (73%) did not receive additional treatment within 3 months. Upon first presentation, the patients had a Markwalder Grading Scale score (MGS) of 0 (n = 5, 6%), 1 (n = 43, 52%), and 2 (n = 35, 42%). Additional treatment was less often received by patients with smaller hematoma volumes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.78 per 10 mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.92). Patients using antithrombotic medication also received less additional treatment, but this association was not significant (aOR 2.02; 95% CI 0.61-6.69). CONCLUSIONS: Three quarters of the initially conservatively treated CSDH patients do not receive additional management. Typically, these patients have smaller hematoma volumes. Further, prospective research is needed to distinguish which patients require surgical intervention and in whom primary conservative treatment suffices.

A Novel Approach for Conservative Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder Cases: Experience of a Single Surgeon: PAS Disorders and Conservative Management.

Background: This study is aimed at evaluating the conservative surgical treatment of patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder and at presenting the experience of a single surgeon. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 245 patients with placenta previa accompanied by PAS disorders operated at a university hospital between June 2013 and December 2023. The diagnosis of PAS was made by a single perinatologist using a combination of transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasonography. All patients were operated with conservative surgical technique by the same surgeon. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the anesthesia and incision types used, and the details of the surgical technique were evaluated. Results: Of the patients, 165 were operated on at the scheduled time, 80 were operated on under emergency conditions, and 232 (94.69%) of them were operated on under spinal anesthesia. All patients were operated on with a Pfannenstiel incision followed by a transverse incision to the upper border of the placenta to enter into the uterus. An average of 0.52 units of red blood cells per patient was transfused to all patients. Spontaneous intra-abdominal bleeding developed in five patients, and surgical complications occurred in eight patients. No cesarean hysterectomy was performed, and no maternal mortality was detected in any of the cases. The mean time duration of surgery was 54.44 ± 11.37 (30-90) min, and the mean length of hospital stay was 1.71 ± 1.30 (1-9) days. Conclusions: We recommend this procedure as a novel technique and a robust and safe alternative to peripartum hysterectomy and other conservative surgical management procedures for cases with complete PP accompanied with PAS. This technique preserves the uterus as well as reduces blood loss, and transfusion requirement, and thus maternal morbidity and mortality in PAS cases.

Maternal outcomes of conservative management and cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean hysterectomy as a traditional therapeutic maneuver for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has been associated with serious morbidity, conservative management has been used in many institutions to treat women with PAS. This systematic review aims to compare maternal outcomes according to conservative management or cesarean hysterectomy in women with placenta accreta spectrum disorders. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and four Chinese databases (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Wanfang database and VIP database) to May 2024. Included studies were to be retrospective or prospective in design and compare and report relevant maternal outcomes according to conservative management (the placenta left partially or totally in situ) or cesarean hysterectomy in women with PAS. A risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated for categorical outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the observational studies. All analyses were performed using STATA version 18.0. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with cesarean hysterectomy, PAS women undergoing conservative management showed lower estimated blood loss [WMD - 1623.83; 95% CI: -2337.87, -909.79], required fewer units of packed red blood cells [WMD - 2.37; 95% CI: -3.70, -1.04] and units of fresh frozen plasma transfused [WMD - 0.40; 95% CI: -0.62, -0.19], needed a shorter mean operating time [WMD - 73.69; 95% CI: -90.52, -56.86], and presented decreased risks of bladder injury [RR 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.50], ICU admission [RR 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.52] and coagulopathy [RR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.74], but increased risk for endometritis [RR 10.91; 95% CI: 1.36, 87.59] and readmission [RR 8.99; 95% CI: 4.00, 12.21]. The incidence of primary or delayed hysterectomy rate was 25% (95% CI: 19-32, I2 = 40.88%) and the use of uterine arterial embolization rate was 78% (95% CI: 65-87, I2 = 48.79%) in conservative management. CONCLUSION: Conservative management could be an effective alternative to cesarean hysterectomy when women with PAS desire to preserve the uterus and are informed about the limitations of conservative management. PROSPERO ID: CRD42023484578.

Nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis caused by ligamentum flavum hypertrophy: A review.

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can cause a range of cauda equina symptoms, including lower back and leg pain, numbness, and intermittent claudication. This disease affects approximately 103 million people worldwide, particularly the elderly, and can seriously compromise their health and well-being. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is one of the main contributing factors to this disease. Surgical treatment is currently recommended for LSS caused by LFH. For patients who do not meet the criteria for surgery, symptom relief can be achieved by using oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and epidural steroid injections. Exercise therapy and needle knife can also help to reduce the effects of mechanical stress. However, the effectiveness of these methods varies, and targeting the delay in LF hypertrophy is challenging. Therefore, further research and development of new drugs is necessary to address this issue. Several new drugs, including cyclopamine and N-acetyl-l-cysteine, are currently undergoing testing and may serve as new treatments for LSS caused by LFH.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conservative management for adults with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones: the C-GALL RCT.

Background: Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in industrialised societies. The prevalence of gallstones in the adult population is estimated to be approximately 10-15%, and around 80% remain asymptomatic. At present, cholecystectomy is the default option for people with symptomatic gallstone disease. Objectives: To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of observation/conservative management compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for preventing recurrent symptoms and complications in adults presenting with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones in secondary care. Design: Parallel group, multicentre patient randomised superiority pragmatic trial with up to 24 months follow-up and embedded qualitative research. Within-trial cost-utility and 10-year Markov model analyses. Development of a core outcome set for uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease. Setting: Secondary care elective settings. Participants: Adults with symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease referred to a secondary care setting were considered for inclusion. Interventions: Participants were randomised 1: 1 at clinic to receive either laparoscopic cholecystectomy or observation/conservative management. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was quality of life measured by area under the curve over 18 months using the Short Form-36 bodily pain domain. Secondary outcomes included the Otago gallstones' condition-specific questionnaire, Short Form-36 domains (excluding bodily pain), area under the curve over 24 months for Short Form-36 bodily pain domain, persistent symptoms, complications and need for further treatment. No outcomes were blinded to allocation. Results: Between August 2016 and November 2019, 434 participants were randomised (217 in each group) from 20 United Kingdom centres. By 24 months, 64 (29.5%) in the observation/conservative management group and 153 (70.5%) in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group had received surgery, median time to surgery of 9.0 months (interquartile range, 5.6-15.0) and 4.7 months (interquartile range 2.6-7.9), respectively. At 18 months, the mean Short Form-36 norm-based bodily pain score was 49.4 (standard deviation 11.7) in the observation/conservative management group and 50.4 (standard deviation 11.6) in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. The mean area under the curve over 18 months was 46.8 for both groups with no difference: mean difference -0.0, 95% confidence interval (-1.7 to 1.7); p-value 0.996; n = 203 observation/conservative, n = 205 cholecystectomy. There was no evidence of differences in quality of life, complications or need for further treatment at up to 24 months follow-up. Condition-specific quality of life at 24 months favoured cholecystectomy: mean difference 9.0, 95% confidence interval (4.1 to 14.0), p < 0.001 with a similar pattern for the persistent symptoms score. Within-trial cost-utility analysis found observation/conservative management over 24 months was less costly than cholecystectomy (mean difference -£1033). A non-significant quality-adjusted life-year difference of -0.019 favouring cholecystectomy resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £55,235. The Markov model continued to favour observation/conservative management, but some scenarios reversed the findings due to uncertainties in longer-term quality of life. The core outcome set included 11 critically important outcomes from both patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The results suggested that in the short term (up to 24 months) observation/conservative management may be a cost-effective use of National Health Service resources in selected patients, but subsequent surgeries in the randomised groups and differences in quality of life beyond 24 months could reverse this finding. Future research should focus on longer-term follow-up data and identification of the cohort of patients that should be routinely offered surgery. Trial registration: This trial is registered as ISRCTN55215960. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 14/192/71) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 26. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

The C-GALL study assessed the benefits, in terms of symptoms, quality of life and costs, of cholecystectomy versus observation (conservative management: by the patient and general practitioner that might include dietary advice and pain management and surgery if needed). Four hundred and thirty-four patients with symptomatic gallstones were randomly allocated surgery or conservative management. The main symptom of ongoing bodily pain and some other quality-of-life measures were assessed over the next 2 years using postal questionnaires. After 2 years, 70% of those allocated to surgery had been operated on and 37% of the observation group either had an operation or were waiting for one. There was no difference in bodily pain or overall quality of life between the groups. However, participants in the surgery group reported fewer ongoing problems related to their gallstone disease or after surgery than those in the conservative management group. Surgery was, however, more costly than conservative management. The C-GALL study has shown that for some patients, a conservative management approach may be a sufficient and less costly way of managing their gallstone symptoms rather than going straight on the waiting list for surgery. More research is needed to identify which patients benefit most from surgery.

Current research of Assisted Reproductive Technology for women with early endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia after conservative treatment.

As the incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) has been increasing, and has shown young trend. It is crucial to study the fertility-preserving treatment of endometrial lesions and fertility-promoting protocols. Age, obesity, and irregular ovulation are not only high-risk factors for endometrial lesions but also key factors affecting female fertility. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) can significantly improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with AEH and EC after conservative treatment. Based on the existing studies, this article reviews the progress of research on pregnancy outcomes of ART and its influencing factors in such patients. It helps physicians in providing optimal fertility guidance.

[Conservative fracture treatment in old people]. / Konservative Frakturversorgung bei alten Menschen.

The numbers of osteoporotic fractures will increase due to the demographic change, which particularly affects the proximal femur, pelvis, proximal humerus, wrist and vertebral column. Surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment of proximal femoral fractures. Non-dislocated fractures of the wrist can also be treated with a plaster cast but studies suggest that the results in the first 12 months are better after surgical treatment. The situation is similar for fractures of the proximal humerus and non-dislocated fractures in particular can also be treated conservatively. A score and classification were recently developed for making decisions on the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Fractures of the anterior and posterior pelvic ring can be treated conservatively with the patient under sufficient analgesia as long as there is no substantial dislocation. The highest priority in geriatric traumatology is fast remobilization.

Midterm survival after aortic repair versus conservative treatment in patients with penetrating aortic ulcer.

Background: The clinical outcomes and survival of patients with penetrating aortic ulcers (PAU) were evaluated in a tertiary care hospital, comparing those who underwent aortic repair to those treated conservatively. Patients and methods: A retrospective single-centre analysis included all patients that underwent a computed tomography angiography (CT-A) scan with the diagnosis of a PAU between January 2009 and May 2019. "PAU" was identified in 1,493 of 112,506 CT-A scan reports in 576 patients. Clinical and angiomorphological data were collected. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), with secondary outcomes focusing on identifying risk factors for poor OS. Survival probabilities were analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method using the log-rank test. A Cox hazard model using survival as dependent variable with stepwise backward eliminations based on the likelihood ratios was employed. Results: 315 PAUs were identified in 278 patients. The prevalence in the cohort was 0.8%. The mean age of the patients was 74.4 years, and they were predominantly male (n = 208, 74.8%). The mean ulcer depth was 11.8 mm (range 2-50 mm). Out of the patients, 232 were asymptomatic (83.5%). Among 178 PAUs (56.5%), high-risk factors, such as ulcer depth >10 mm, aortic diameter >40 mm, and ulcer length >20 mm, were observed. Aortic repair was associated with a better mean OS compared to conservatively managed patients (72.6 versus 32.2 months, p = 0.001). The Cox hazard model showed that ulcer depth >1 mm was associated with poor OS (HR 0.67, p = 0.048), while aortic repair was related to a better OS (HR 4.365, p<0.013). Conclusions: Aortic repair is associated with better OS, but this finding should be interpreted with caution because of differences in age and comorbidities between the groups. Further evaluation is warranted through prospective studies with randomized groups. Further assessment for angiomorphological parameters is recommended to identify patients at increased risk for poor OS.

[Clinical and functional evaluation of pediatric patients with pelvic fracture treated in a third level Hospital]. / Evaluación clínica y funcional de pacientes pediátricos con fractura de pelvis tratados en un Hospital de Tercer Nivel.

INTRODUCTION: pelvic fracture in children is considered one of the most important injuries due to its high mortality. They are rare, but have a major impact on patients' functional outcomes. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the clinical evolution and functional grade in pediatric patients with pelvic fractures who have already been treated, either conservatively or surgically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: descriptive-cross-sectional-retrospective study. Sample of 24 patients, aged five to 16 years with pelvic fracture, treated from 2016 to 2021. Clinical and functional outcome was assessed using the Barthel index and hip range of motion, as well as surgical or conservative treatment, accompanying lesions and injury mechanism. RESULTS: to find out if there is an association between the Torode and Zieg classifications with the Barthel index and hip range of motion, an association analysis was performed with the 2 statistic, obtaining a 2 value = 19.213. with p = 0.004 for the Barthel index and a 2= 14.253 with p = 0.0026 for hip ranges of motion; these results indicate that there is statistically significant association. CONCLUSION: the most frequent type of pelvic fracture in pediatric patients treated is type III on the Torode and Zieg scale, which according to the Barthel index is associated with a degree of independence and complete hip mobility arches, so the clinical and functional outcome in these patients is high in severe injuries.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la fractura de pelvis en edad pediátrica es considerada de las lesiones más importantes debido a su alta mortalidad; son poco frecuentes, pero tienen gran impacto en el resultado funcional de los pacientes. OBJETIVO: evaluar la evolución clínica y grado funcional en niños con fracturas de pelvis tratados de forma conservadora o quirúrgica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo-transversal-retrospectivo. Muestra de 24 pacientes, de cinco a 16 años de edad, con fractura de pelvis, tratados del 2016 al 2021. Se valoró el resultado clínico y funcional mediante el índice de Barthel y arcos de movilidad de cadera, tratamiento quirúrgico o conservador, lesiones acompañantes y mecanismo de lesión. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el software IBM SPSS Statistics®. RESULTADOS: se realizó un análisis de asociación mediante 2 entre las clasificaciones de Torode y Zieg con el índice de Barthel y arcos de movilidad de cadera, obteniendo un valor de 2 = 19.213 con p = 0.004 para índice de Barthel y un valor de 2= 14.253 con p = 0.0026 para arcos de movilidad de cadera; estos resultados indican que hay una asociación estadísticamente significativa. CONCLUSIÓN: el tipo de fractura de pelvis más frecuente en pacientes tratados es el tipo III en la escala de Torode y Zieg, la cual, según el índice de Barthel, se asocia con un grado de independencia y arcos de movilidad de cadera completos, por lo que el resultado clínico y funcional en estos pacientes es alto en lesiones severas.

Factors determining the short-term clinical outcomes of conservative treatment in patients with supraspinatus tear.

INTRODUCTION: To identify factors influencing the better and worse changes in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index of patients undergoing conservative treatment for supraspinatus tendon tear. METHODS: The study included 30 patients with supraspinatus tendon tear who underwent conservative treatment. The average duration of intervention was 35.4 days. The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, shoulder range of motion, isometric muscle strength, supraspinatus tendon thickness, thickness of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles, and acromiohumeral interval were assessed before and after the intervention. In the statistical analyses, change in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index was the dependent variable, and the amount of change in each measurement variable before and after the intervention was the independent variable. RESULTS: The average Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index improved from 1067 at pre-treatment to 997 at post-treatment, but without a significant difference (p = 0.29). A multiple regression analysis revealed that supraspinatus tendon thickness and muscle strength in shoulder external rotation at 90° scaption had a significant effect on the change in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (R2 = 0.44, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Supraspinatus tendon thickness and muscle strength in shoulder external rotation at 90° scaption were important factors for the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index score in the early stages of conservative treatment for patients with supraspinatus tendon tear.

Early rehabilitation vs. conventional immobilization in nonoperative treatment of proximal humeral fracture: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Fractures of the proximal humerus (PHF) are commonly treated conservatively. Evidence suggests that a period of immobilization of one week or less may lead to some advantages compared to a traditional 3-4 weeks of immobilization. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the clinical and radiological results in the case of early rehabilitation vs. delayed rehabilitation after PHF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In July 2023, a literature search was carried out on the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases to identify all the randomized trials comparing early rehabilitation vs. delayed rehabilitation after PHF. The following data were extracted from each included study: patients' demographics, study design and level of evidence, follow-up times, treatment groups, evaluation scores adopted, and overall clinical and radiological findings. The quality of the trials was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment. RESULTS: A total of 5 studies, including 378 patients and dealing with early vs. delayed rehabilitation in case of conservative treatment of PHF, were included in this study. Early rehabilitation was started within 1 week and consisted mainly of pendulum exercise and progressive passive mobilization. Early rehabilitation was associated with better pain and functional scores within the first 3 months in 3 studies. No difference in pain or function was reported at 6 months or longer follow-up, and no differences in complications rate were observed between early vs. delayed rehabilitation groups. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggests that early mobilization within one week in case of conservative treatment of PHF leads to improved function recovery and reduced pain, especially in the first months of rehabilitation, without differences at longer follow-up and without increasing complications rate. Reducing immobilization time could accelerate function recovery and regaining independence in daily life activities.

Non-surgical management of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction- a UK survey.

BACKGROUND: Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) is commonly seen within musculoskeletal care. The condition's prevalence and management is poorly understood. This study aims to demonstrate current practice by multi-professional clinicians across the United Kingdom within the National Health Service. METHODS: A national (UK) cross-sectional online survey was conducted among multi-professionals who treat PTTD within their NHS practice. The survey covered assessment, management and evaluation. This was shared via social media and professional groups. RESULTS: Two hundred thirteen surveys were completed, with 153 matching the eligibility criteria. The main respondents were Physiotherapists (48%) and Podiatrists (38%). Ultrasound scanning was used most frequently when considering initial imaging (67%). Many different treatment modalities were used, but a core set of education/advice, foot orthoses, and foot specific as well as general exercise were most commonly chosen. Outcome measures routinely used were pain scale (96/269) and single leg heel raise (84/269), but patient reported outcome measures were not routinely used. The most frequent reason to escalate care was failure to manage symptoms with conservative management (106/123; 86.2%), followed by fixed deformity (10/123; 8.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides evidence on current non-surgical management for PTTD from UK NHS practice. It provides a valuable marker for clinicians to use to compare their own practice and can be used in further research as a comparator.

Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment of Z-Type Comminuted Clavicle Fractures in Adolescents: A Prospective Substratified Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes of nonoperative and operative treatment of adolescents with comminuted "Z-type" midshaft clavicle fractures. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort. SETTING: Eight tertiary care pediatric centers. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients aged 10-18 years who were treated either operatively or nonoperatively for a diaphyseal clavicle fracture between 2013 and 2017 were screened/enrolled at the time of injury. The current subcohort analysis was derived from a larger adolescent clavicle study population of 907 patients. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND COMPARISONS: Complications and validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROs):(ASES, QuickDASH, Marx Shoulder Activity Score, EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and patient satisfaction score) were compared between operative and nonoperative cohorts. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (69 male [85.2%], 12 female; average age 15 years [11.1-18.7]; 78 with sports participation [96.2%]) were followed through bony healing and return to sports, while 59 patients (73%) completed 2-year follow-up with PROs, 26 of whom were treated nonoperatively and 33 treated operatively. All demographic and fracture characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) between the 2-year follow-up cohorts except for fracture shortening, which was greater in the operative cohort (23 vs. 29 mm, P = 0.01). After controlling for this potential confounder through both regression and propensity matched subgroup analysis, nonoperative versus operative cohorts showed no difference in rates of nonunion (0%), delayed union (0% vs. 2.3%, P = 1.0), symptomatic malunion (2.7% vs. 0%, P = 0.4), refracture (2.7% vs. 2.2%, P = 1.0), unexpected subsequent surgery (5.4% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.45), or clinically significant complications (5.4% vs. 16%, P = 0.17). There were no differences in any PROs between cohorts, both before and after controlling for the difference in fracture shortening (all P-values >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective comparison of complications and 2-year PROs in adolescents with comminuted Z-type clavicle fractures, nonoperative and operative treatment yielded similar outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Role of Botulinum Neurotoxin A in the Conservative Treatment of Fractures: An Experimental Study on Rats.

This paper explores the role of botulinum neurotoxin in aiding fracture recovery through temporary muscle paralysis. Specifically, it investigates the effects of botulinum neurotoxin-induced paralysis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on clavicle fractures in rats. The research aims to assess safety, effectiveness, and the impact on fracture healing. Healthy male Albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups: clavicle fracture, botulinum neurotoxin injection, both, and control. Surgeries were conducted under anaesthesia, and postoperatively, animals were monitored for 28 days. Euthanasia and radiological assessment followed, examining fracture healing and muscle changes, while tissues were histopathologically evaluated. The modified Lane-Sandhu scoring system was used for the radiographic evaluation of clavicle fractures, and the results varied from complete healing to nonunion. Histopathological examination at 28 days postfracture showed fibrous tissue, mesenchymal cells, and primary callus formation in all groups. Despite varied callus compositions, botulinum neurotoxin administration did not affect clavicle healing, as evidenced by similar scores to the control group. Several studies have explored botulinum neurotoxin applications in fracture recovery. Research suggests its potential to enhance functional recovery in certain types of fractures. Theoretical benefits include managing muscle spasticity, aiding reduction techniques, and preventing nonunion. However, botulinum neurotoxin's transient effect and nonuniversal applications should be considered. The present study found that botulinum toxin had no clear superiority in healing compared to controls, while histological evaluation showed potential adverse effects on muscle tissue. Further research is essential to understand its risk-benefit balance and long-term effects.

The effects of conservative and surgical approaches in tubal ectopic pregnancy on fertility.

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment, expectant approaches, and surgical treatment options are available in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Regardless of the treatment, in addition to its effectiveness, the main concern is to limit the risk of relapse and preserve fertility. OBJECTIVES: Determine the impact of medical or surgical treatment for ectopic pregnancy on future fertility. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Department of obstrtrics and gynecolgy at Ankara Etlik Zübeyde Hanim Women's Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were treated for ectopic pregnancy between June 2016 and November 2019 were allocated into two groups. Expectant approach or medical treatment by methotrexate constituted the conservative treatment group while salpingectomy by laparoscopy indicated the surgical treatment group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertility rates within two years following treatment were evaluated according to treatment options. SAMPLE SIZE: 202 patients. RESULTS: Of the 202 patients, 128 had medical treatment and 74 patients had surgical treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Of 272 diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy, 70 were excluded for various reasons. Parity and unemployment rate was significantly higher in the surgical treatment (P=.006 and P=.12, respectively). Moreover, ectopic mass size and serum ß-hCG levels were significantly higher in the surgical treatment group (P<.001 and P<.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between the conservative and surgical treatment groups in time to pregnancy (17.0 months vs 19.0 months, P=.255). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the conservative and surgical treatment groups with respect to history of infertility (P=.12). There were no significant differences between the conservative and surgical treatment groups in terms of live birth (51.6% vs 44.6%) and ectopic pregnancy (2.3% vs 1.4%) (P=.72 for both). There was no significant difference between the conservative and surgical treatment groups with respect to infertility rate (35.9% vs 41.9%, P=.72) and admittance to the IVF program (3.9% vs 6.8%, P=.39) following ectopic pregnancy treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Reproductive outcomes did not differ significantly in women undergoing expectant management, medical treatment, and surgery for ectopic pregnancy. This finding suggests that clinicians should not hesitate to act in favor of surgical treatment for ectopic pregnancy even if there were concerns for future fertility. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study.

Outcomes of Bypass Surgery in Adult Moyamoya Disease by Onset Type.

Importance: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare chronic cerebrovascular disease, and the outcomes of bypass management in adult patients remain controversial. Objective: To categorize adult MMD based on asymptomatic, ischemic, and hemorrhagic onset and compare the outcomes (death, hemorrhagic stroke [HS], and ischemic stroke [IS]) of bypass surgery (direct or indirect) with those of conservative management. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, nationwide, population-based longitudinal cohort study used Korean National Health Insurance Research data to identify adults (aged ≥15 years) with MMD who were diagnosed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2020, and followed up until December 31, 2021 (median follow-up, 5.74 [IQR, 2.95-9.42] years). A total of 19 700 participants (3194 with hemorrhagic, 517 with ischemic, and 15 989 with asymptomatic MMD) were included. Data were analyzed from January 2 to April 1, 2023. Exposures: Bypass surgery and conservative management. Main Outcomes and Measures: Death constituted the primary outcome; secondary outcomes consisted of HS or IS. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were applied. The propensity score-matching and stratified analyses were performed to control covariate effects. Results: A total of 19 700 patients (mean [SD] age, 45.43 [14.98] years; 12 766 [64.8%] female) were included. Compared with conservative management, bypass was associated with a reduced risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.50 [95% CI, 0.41-0.61]; P < .001) and HS (AHR, 0.36 [0.30-0.40]; P < .001) in hemorrhagic MMD; reduced risk of IS (AHR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.37-0.81]; P = .002) in ischemic MMD; and reduced risk of death (AHR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.66-0.84]; P < .001) in asymptomatic MMD. However, bypass was associated with an increased risk of HS (AHR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.56-2.00]; P < .001) in asymptomatic MMD. Both direct and indirect bypass demonstrated similar effects in hemorrhagic and asymptomatic MMD, except only direct bypass was associated with a reduced risk of IS (AHR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.33- 0.83]; P = .01) in ischemic MMD. After stratification, bypass was associated with a reduced risk of death in patients younger than 55 years with ischemic (AHR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.13- 0.88]; P = .03) and asymptomatic (AHR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.60-0.79]; P < .001) MMD, but an increased risk of HS in patients 55 years or older with ischemic MMD (AHR, 2.13 [95% CI, 1.1-4.16]; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study of bypass outcomes for patients with MMD emphasize the importance of tailoring management strategies in adult patients based on onset types.