UK survey of occupational therapist’s and physiotherapist’s experiences and attitudes towards hip replacement precautions and equipment

Background: Total hip replacement (THR) is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures in the United Kingdom (UK). Historically, people following THR have been provided with hip precautions and equipment such as: raised toilet seats and furniture rises, in order to reduce the risks of dislocation post-operation. The purpose of this study was to determine current practices in the provision of these interventions in the UK for people following primary THR. Methods: A 27-question, self-administered online survey was developed and distributed to UK physiotherapists and occupational therapists involved in the management of people following primary THR (target respondents). The survey included questions regarding the current practices in the provision of equipment and hip precautions for THR patients, and physiotherapist’s and occupational therapist’s attitudes towards these practices. The survey was disseminated through print and web-based/social media channels. Results: 170 health professionals (87 physiotherapists and 83 occupational therapists), responded to the survey. Commonly prescribed equipment in respondent’s health trusts were raised toilet seats (95%), toilet frames and rails (88%), furniture raises (79%), helping hands/grabbers (77%), perching stools (75%) and long-handled shoe horns (75%). Hip precautions were routinely prescribed by 97% of respondents. Hip precautions were most frequently taught in a pre-operative group (52% of respondents). Similarly equipment was most frequently provided pre-operatively (61% respondents), and most commonly by occupational therapists (74% respondents). There was variability in the advice provided on the duration of hip precautions and equipment from up to six weeks post-operatively to life-time usage. Conclusions: Current practice on hip precautions and provision of equipment is not full representative of clinician’s perceptions of best care after THR. Future research is warranted to determine whether and to whom hip precautions and equipment should be prescribed post-THR as opposed to the current ‘blanket’ provision of equipment and movement restriction provided in UK practice

Plantar fibromatosis: a review of primary and recurrent surgical treatment.

Plantar fibromatosis can be quite disabling to the patient, as well as a technical challenge to the surgeon. Patients who undergo previous local excisions and in whom aggressive recurrences develop are difficult to manage successfully. We present a consecutive series of five primary procedures on patients with painful plantar fibroma and seven revision operations on patients with recurrent plantar fibroma. The average follow-up was 47 months (range, 22-66 months) in the primary group and 40 months (range, 21-78 months) in the revision group. The overall results were satisfactory in four of the five primary operations, with only one recurrence. In the revision group, five of seven results were satisfactory with no recurrences. The major complication that led to unsatisfactory results was the development of a postoperative neuroma. In this article, we outline our present surgical techniques of wide primary excision and a staged revision procedure with delayed split-thickness skin graft closure. These techniques can be used successfully to manage this disabling, progressive disease

Continuous passive motion after total knee arthroplasty. Analysis of cost and benefits.

The authors report the results of a prospective study examining the benefits of daily continuous passive motion combined with physical therapy, compared with physical therapy alone, in 103 consecutive osteoarthritic patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty. The first 51 patients received continuous passive motion initiated in the recovery room and the next 52 patients did not receive continuous passive motion. Both groups underwent an identical physical therapy protocol starting on the first postoperative day. At discharge, there was a significant increase in active flexion in the continuous passive motion group. There were no significant differences regarding pain, wound healing, knee swelling, wound drainage, pulmonary embolism, or length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. At 2 years, there were no clinical differences in the motion or knee scores. Knee manipulation was done for \u3c 50 degrees flexion after the tenth postoperative day. There were 5 manipulations in the noncontinuous passive motion group and none in the continuous passive motion group. The entire costs associated with the 5 manipulations was $48,274 or$937 per patient not receiving continuous passive motion. The average daily inpatient rental of the machine was $60 per day. Continuous passive motion is efficacious in increasing short-term flexion and decreasing the need for knee manipulation without increasing costs

Cohort profile: the ESC EURObservational Research Programme Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (NSTEMI) Registry

Aims The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Registry aims to identify international patterns in NSTEMI management in clinical practice and outcomes against the 2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without ST-segment-elevation. Methods and results Consecutively hospitalised adult NSTEMI patients (n = 3620) were enrolled between 11 March 2019 and 6 March 2021, and individual patient data prospectively collected at 287 centres in 59 participating countries during a two-week enrolment period per centre. The registry collected data relating to baseline characteristics, major outcomes (inhospital death, acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, bleeding, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, and 30-day mortality) and guideline-recommended NSTEMI care interventions: electrocardiogram pre- or in-hospital, prehospitalization receipt of aspirin, echocardiography, coronary angiography, referral to cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation advice, dietary advice, and prescription on discharge of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibition, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), beta-blocker, and statin. Conclusion The EORP NSTEMI Registry is an international, prospective registry of care and outcomes of patients treated for NSTEMI, which will provide unique insights into the contemporary management of hospitalised NSTEMI patients, compliance with ESC 2015 NSTEMI Guidelines, and identify potential barriers to optimal management of this common clinical presentation associated with significant morbidity and mortality