Bone and Joint 360 - EITS 2023: Upper Limb Essential Trauma Papers

Description

In this informative presentation by Andrew Duckworth, the discussion focuses on recent advancements and trends in the management of upper limb trauma, particularly emphasizing clavicle and humerus fractures, distal biceps tendon ruptures, and distal radius fractures. Duckworth highlights the evolving perspectives on surgical interventions for clavicle fractures backed by recent meta-analyses illustrating that surgery improves union rates, although functional differences post-treatment are minimal. He explores the complexities of treating distal humerus fractures in elderly patients and indicates a shift towards arthroplasty, despite limited high-level evidence supporting this approach. Duckworth also touches on radial head fractures, advocating for non-operative management based on existing retrospective studies, and introduces the Rambo trial, which attempted to compare surgical and non-surgical methods but faced recruitment challenges. Finally, he examines the implications of economic analyses in surgical decision-making, using the DRAFFT2 study as a case in point, emphasizing the balance between clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness within the healthcare system.

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