This preliminary study suggests that the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill can reliably and validly assess surgical skills. Global ratings are a better method of assessment than task-specific checklists. Bench model simulation gives equivalent results to use of live animals for this test format.

This preliminary study suggests that the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill can reliably and validly assess surgical skills. Global ratings are a better method of assessment than task-specific checklists. Bench model simulation gives equivalent results to use of live animals for this test format.

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Among patients who received 5 days of rivaroxaban prophylaxis after total hip or total knee arthroplasty, extended prophylaxis with aspirin was not significantly different from rivaroxaban in the prevention of symptomatic venous thromboembolism. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01720108 .).

Summary Background Reoperation rates are high after surgery for hip fractures. We investigated the effect of a sliding hip screw versus cancellous screws on the risk of reoperation and other key outcomes. Methods For this international, multicentre, allocation concealed randomised controlled trial, we enrolled patients aged 50 years or older with a low-energy hip fracture requiring fracture fixation from 81 clinical centres in eight countries. Patients were assigned by minimisation with a centralised computer system to receive a single large-diameter screw with a side-plate (sliding hip screw) or the present standard of care, multiple small-diameter cancellous screws. Surgeons and patients were not blinded but the data analyst, while doing the analyses, remained blinded to treatment groups. The primary outcome was hip reoperation within 24 months after initial surgery to promote fracture healing, relieve pain, treat infection, or improve function. Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00761813. Findings Between March 3, 2008, and March 31, 2014, we randomly assigned 1108 patients to receive a sliding hip screw (n=557) or cancellous screws (n=551). Reoperations within 24 months did not differ by type of surgical fixation in those included in the primary analysis: 107 (20%) of 542 patients in the sliding hip screw group versus 117 (22%) of 537 patients in the cancellous screws group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.63–1.09; p=0.18). Avascular necrosis was more common in the sliding hip screw group than in the cancellous screws group (50 patients [9%] vs 28 patients [5%]; HR 1.91, 1.06–3.44; p=0.0319). However, no significant difference was found between the number of medically related adverse events between groups (p=0.82; appendix); these events included pulmonary embolism (two patients [<1%] vs four [1%] patients; p=0.41) and sepsis (seven [1%] vs six [1%]; p=0.79). Interpretation In terms of reoperation rates the sliding hip screw shows no advantage, but some groups of patients (smokers and those with displaced or base of neck fractures) might do better with a sliding hip screw than with cancellous screws. Funding National Institutes of Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Stichting NutsOhra, Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, Physicians’ Services Incorporated.

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Since 1970, when the concept of continuous passive motion (CPM) was originated by one of the authors (R.B.S.), he and a succession of his research fellows have investigated its biological effects on the healing and regeneration of articular tissues in a wide variety of experimental models in rabbits. From this basic research he concluded that CPM is well tolerated, seems to be painless, stimulates the healing and regeneration of articular tissues, prevents joint stiffness, and permits the normal healing of arthrotomy incisions. Beginning in 1975, one of the authors (H.W.H.), and in 1978, the remaining authors, (from two additional Canadian cities) applied the knowledge from the basic research on CPM to the orthopaedic care of human patients. The CPM devices for humans (CPM Mobilimbs), which have been designed in collaboration with University of Toronto engineers, include, to date, devices for the ankle-knee-hip, the elbow, and the finger. Indications for CPM in patients have been the immediate postoperative management following such operative procedures as open reduction and internal fixation of fractures, arthrotomy and arthrolysis for post-traumatic arthritis, synovectomy, surgical drainage for septic arthritis, release of extraarticular contractures, metaphyseal osteotomies, total joint replacement, and ligamentous reconstruction. The case reports of nine selected patients are presented as examples of the clinical application of CPM. These patients have been relatively free of pain, have maintained the increased motion gained at operation, and have accepted the application of CPM well. There have been no complications of CPM; the operative wounds have healed well and the period of hospitalization has not been prolonged. The authors believe that the clinical application of CPM is feasible and that the clinical and radiographic results of CPM in these patients are encouraging. Long-term, prospective clinical investigations (including control patients in whom CPM is not used) will be required to assess the efficacy of CPM in relation to the various stated indications.

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