Efficacy, safety, and dose-dependence of the analgesic effects of opioid therapy for people with osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of opioids for analgesic therapy for people with osteoarthritis. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials of opioid therapies for treating the pain of osteoarthritis. The primary outcome was medium term pain relief (six weeks to less than 12 months). Quality of evidence was assessed with GRADE criteria. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AMED, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry; trials published to 31 October 2020. DATA SYNTHESIS: We extracted pain, disability, health-related quality of life, and adverse events data for 36 eligible trials (overall dose range: 10-210 oral morphine milligram equivalents [MME] per day). Continuous pain and disability outcomes were converted to common 0-100-point scales; changes of less than ten points were deemed to be very small effects. Differences in dichotomous outcomes were expressed as risk ratios. Data were pooled for meta-analysis in random effects models. The evidence from 19 trials (8965 participants; dose range, 10-126 MME/day) for very small medium term pain relief (mean difference [MD], -4.59 points; 95% CI, -7.17 to -2.02 points) was low quality, as was that from 16 trials (6882 participants; dose range, 10-126 MME/day) for a very small effect on disability (MD, -4.15 points; 95% CI, -6.94 to -1.35 points). Opioid dose was not statistically significantly associated with either degree of pain relief or incidence of adverse events in a meta-regression analysis. Evidence that opioid therapy increased the risk of adverse events (risk ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.29-1.59) was of very low quality. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid medications may provide very small pain and disability benefits for people with osteoarthritis, but may also increase the risk of adverse events. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42019142813 (prospective).

Effect of Smartphone Laparoscopy Simulator on Laparoscopic Performance in Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate if a smartphone laparoscopy simulator, SimuSurg, is effective in improving laparoscopic skills in surgically inexperienced medical students. METHODS: This is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial featuring 30 preclinical medical students without prior laparoscopic simulation experience. The students were randomly allocated to a control or intervention group (n = 15 each) and 28 students completed the study (n = 14 each). All participants performed three validated exercises in a laparoscopic box trainer and repeated them after 1 week. The intervention group spent the intervening time completing all levels in SimuSurg, whereas the control group refrained from any laparoscopic activity. A prestudy questionnaire was used to collect data on age, sex, handedness, and experience with gaming. RESULTS: The total score improved significantly between the two testing sessions for the intervention group (n = 14, median change [MC] = 182.00, P = 0.009) but not for the control group (n = 14, MC = 161.50, P = 0.08). Scores for the nondominant hand improved significantly in the intervention group (MC = 66.50, P = 0.008) but not in the control group (MC = 9.00, P = 0.98). There was no improvement in dominant hand scores for either the intervention (MC = 62.00, P = 0.08) or control (MC = 26.00, P = 0.32) groups. Interest in surgery (ß = -234.30, P = 0.02) was positively correlated with the baseline total scores; however, age, sex, and experience with video games were not. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that smartphone applications improve laparoscopic skills in medical students, especially for the nondominant hand. These simulators may be a cost-effective and accessible adjunct for laparoscopic training among surgically inexperienced students and clinicians.

Indications for computed tomography angiography in limb trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography angiograms (CTAs) are useful in detecting vascular injury. There is a lack of consensus regarding the indications of CTAs in limb trauma, leading to overutilisation of CTAs in some centres and exposing patients to unnecessary harm. Thus, the aim of this study is to define the appropriate indications for CTAs in limb trauma. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive CTAs performed in a tertiary hospital from January to December 2022. Demographic and clinical factors were collected from the patients' charts including physical examination findings and arterial pressure index (API) measurements. Physical examination findings include hard signs (e.g. absent pulse) or soft signs (e.g. non-expanding haematoma). These data were analysed to detect correlation with vascular injury on the patient's CTA. RESULTS: Forty-nine CTAs were included, of which 10 (20.4%) found vascular injury. Hard signs (P < 0.001) and an API <0.9 (P = 0.02) were significantly correlated with vascular injury. Hard signs had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 82%, whereas APIs had a specificity and sensitivity of 100%. Soft signs were not correlated with vascular injury due to poor specificity but had a sensitivity of 100%. Knee dislocations were not associated with vascular injury (P = 0.5). CONCLUSION: This small study suggests that CTAs are indicated if there are hard signs of vascular compromise or an API <0.9, provided the patient is haemodynamically stable. The presence of soft signs can help identify which patients should receive an API measurement. CTAs may not be routinely indicated in knee dislocations.

From intramural ectopic pregnancy to hysterectomy: A case report.

An intramural ectopic pregnancy is one of the rarest types of ectopic pregnancy, and due to the scarcity of reported cases there are no clear guidelines regarding diagnosis and management of the condition. We report a case of a non-viable intramural ectopic pregnancy managed with intravenous methotrexate, in a patient with no previous pregnancies but a history of uterine cornual cyst excision. The patient subsequently developed a uterine arteriovenous malformation, which was embolised. Following this, she had two pregnancies, one culminating in an elective caesarean section at term, and the other a medical termination of pregnancy at 19 weeks of gestation. As a result of post-traumatic stress disorder attributed to this complicated history, the patient requested a hysterectomy. This case demonstrates the complexity of the management of intramural ectopic pregnancy and highlights the impacts the condition can have on a patient's physical and mental health.

Utility of an index metacarpal cortical thickness application as an osteoporosis screen in distal radius fracture patients aged over 50.

BACKGROUND: Following wrist fracture, it is desirable to identify patients with osteoporosis. A smartphone-based application (BoneGauge) that uses second metacarpal cortical thickness ratio (2MCP) measured on X-ray has been proposed. This study aims to validate this application using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan in a cohort of patients with distal radius fractures. METHODS: Thirty subjects aged 50 and over who sustained low-energy fractures of the radius were recruited and measurements were completed by two independent observers using the application. RESULTS: The interrater reliability as a screening tool was insufficient (κ = 0.61). Using the 2MCP threshold of 60% for detection of osteopaenia or osteoporosis, we found insufficient correlation between the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and the two sets of readings using the application (κ = 0.28 and 0.35, respectively). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, 2MCP of 60% is not sensitive enough to be used as a screening tool via a smartphone application for assessment of osteoporosis risk.

Vitamin D deficiency in proximal femur fracture patients of South-East Queensland.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in proximal femur fracture (PFF) patients and investigate whether sociodemographic factors or radiographic parameters are associated with vitamin D levels. METHODS: This is a consecutive case series of South-East Queensland patients presenting with low-energy PFFs. Vitamin D levels and sociodemographic factors (age, sex, postcode, medications and type of residence) were collected from medical records. Radiographic parameters included PFF type and cortical thickness of the femur. RESULTS: A total of 313 patients were included (mean age = 79.5 years), and 105 (34%) were deficient in vitamin D (<50 nmol/L). There was no association between vitamin D levels and sociodemographic factors or radiographic parameters. Eighty-four (84%) of vitamin D-deficient patients were not taking vitamin D supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Social and demographic factors are not correlated with vitamin D levels in this cohort. Routine vitamin D supplementation may be indicated in ageing patients although it is not always protective of low-energy fractures.