IntroductionDifferent methods are used to fix a sliding calcaneal osteotomy for hindfoot varus and valgus deformity. However, information about the effectiveness and limitations of each method is limited. In this metaanalysis, we compare the hardware removal rate, union rate, and complications of three different methods of fixation: plate, headed screw, and headless screw. MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of published articles were carried out, following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We investigated diverse databases, Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), to search articles reporting the use of different calcaneal osteotomy fixations from database inception to October 2021. The primary outcome was the hardware removal rate, and the secondary outcomes of interest were the union rate and complications. ResultsOf 1,903 articles identified, eight met the inclusion criteria. The highest risk ratio (RR) of the hardware removal rate was detected in the headed screw method (RR: 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.26-0.58). However, the highest RR of nonunion was detected in the plate method (RR: 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01-0.07). Regarding complications (infections), the headed screw method presented the highest RR of infection (RR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.06-0.97). ConclusionThis comprehensive review and meta-analysis revealed that the headless screw method may be the most effective fixation option for calcaneal osteotomy with the lowest risk of hardware removal rate, nonunion rate, and complications. Obviously, further studies are needed on a larger number of patients to confirm this finding.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on daily life. Restrictions imposed to help minimise virus transmission have limited both population movement and employment, as well as altering the potential mechanisms of high-energy trauma. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pelvic and acetabular trauma. Materials and methodsA retrospective observational study of the incidence, causality, patient profile, fracture morphology, and treatment strategy of pelvic and acetabular trauma managed in a national tertiary referral specialist pelvic and acetabular centre between the 1 st of March and 1 st of August 2020 was undertaken and compared to corresponding time periods in the two preceding years. ResultsA total of 78 patients were referred for management following pelvic and acetabular trauma during the study period with a mean age of 52 years (SD +/-24.2). Overall, 45% and 42% of patients were referred following isolated pelvic or acetabular fractures respectively. The most frequent mechanism of injury was a fall from height (>1m) (42%), with 53% of patients suffering from concomitant injuries and 32% requiring surgical management. While there was a statistically significant difference in mechanism of injury (P=0.026), there was no significant difference in overall incidence, fracture types, incidence of concomitant injuries, or overall proportion requiring surgical intervention during the study period when compared to previous years. ConclusionWhile some variation in the mechanisms of injury have been observed, the overall incidence, patient, fracture, and injury profiles associated with pelvic and acetabular trauma appear to have remained consistent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the number and proportion of those requiring surgical treatment of these fractures have remained stable. Understanding the continued burden of these potentially severe injuries may help guide injury prevention, treatment, and resource allocation as the pandemic continues.

No abstract

The World Wide Web has brought about an unprecedented explosion in the amount of information available on-line, largely in the form of Web pages. The fact that anyone can publish anything has ultimately led to pages with varying degrees of quality. This paper aims at investigating means for assessing the quality of a random web page and provides a quantitative approach for selecting high quality-content pages. The work was motivated by the need to locate pages that may be considered as candidates for translation.

No abstract