Follow-up after early medical abortion: Comparing clinical assessment with self-assessment in a rural hospital in northern Norway

IntroductionThe English government approved both stages of early medical abortion (EMA), using mifepristone and misoprostol under 10 weeks’ gestation, for at-home use on 30 March 2020. MSI Reproductive Choices UK (MSUK), one of the largest providers of abortion services in England, launched a no-test telemedicine EMA pathway on 6 April 2020. The objectives of this study were to report key patient-reported outcome measures and to assess whether our sample was representative of the whole population receiving no-test telemedicine EMA.MethodsA sample of all MSUK’s telemedicine EMA patients between April and August 2020 were invited to opt in to a follow-up call to answer clinical and satisfaction questions. A total of 1243 (13.7% of all telemedicine EMAs) were successfully followed-up, on average within 5 days post-procedure.ResultsPatients reported high confidence in telemedicine EMA and high satisfaction with the convenience, privacy and ease of managing their abortion at home. The sample responding were broadly equivalent to the whole population receiving telemedicine. No patient reported that they were unable to consult privately. The majority (1035, 83%) of patients reported preferring the telemedicine pathway, with 824 (66%) indicating that they would choose telemedicine again if COVID-19 were no longer an issue.ConclusionsTelemedicine EMA is a valued, private, convenient and more accessible option that is highly acceptable for patients seeking an abortion, especially those for whom in-clinic visits are logistically or emotionally challenging. Evidence that this pathway would be a first choice again in future for most patients supports the case to make telemedicine EMA permanent.

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Proximal Row Carpectomy with Total Scapoidectomy vs. Conventional Carpal Resection for ReMotion Total Wrist Arthroplasty

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10091865 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1865

Author(s):

Stefan M. Froschauer ◽

Matthias Holzbauer ◽

Dietmar Hager ◽

Oskar Kwasny ◽

Dominik Duscher

Keyword(s):

Grip Strength ◽

Clinical Assessment ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Proximal Row Carpectomy ◽

Prosthesis Implantation ◽

Total Wrist Arthroplasty ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Flexion Extension ◽

Wrist Arthroplasty

High complication rates in total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) still lead to controversy in the medical literature, and novel methods for complication reduction are warranted. In the present retrospective cohort study, we compare the outcomes of the proximal row carpectomy (PRC) method including total scaphoidectomy (n = 22) to the manufacturer’s conventional carpal resection (CCR) technique, which retains the distal pole of the scaphoid (n = 25), for ReMotion prosthesis implantation in non-rheumatoid patients. Mean follow-up was 65.8 ± 19.8 and 80.0 ± 28.7 months, respectively. Pre- and postoperative clinical assessment included wrist flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation; Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores; and pain via visual analogue scale. At final follow-up, grip strength and satisfaction were evaluated. All complications, re-operations, and revision surgeries were noted. Clinical complications were significantly lower in the PRC group (p = 0.010). Radial impaction was detected as the most frequent complication in the CCR group (n = 10), while no PRC patients suffered from this complication (p = 0.0008). Clinical assessment, grip strength measurements, and the log rank test evaluating the re-operation as well as revision function showed no significant difference. All functional parameters significantly improved compared to preoperative values in both cohorts. In conclusion, we strongly recommend PRC for ReMotion prosthesis implantation.

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Five-Year Prospective Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric and Clinical Outcomes of the BioPro MTP-1 Hemiarthroplasty

Foot & Ankle International ◽

10.1177/10711007211061366 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107110072110613

Author(s):

Vinay V. Balesar ◽

Lennard A. Koster ◽

Bart L. Kaptein ◽

Stefan B. Keizer

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Condition Number ◽

Clinical Assessment ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Metatarsal Bone ◽

Migration Patterns ◽

Patient Questionnaires

Background: Mixed results for functional outcomes and long-term fixation have been reported for first metatarsophalangeal arthroplasty. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the migration of the BioPro metatarsophalangeal-1 (MTP-1) joint hemiprosthesis with Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA). Migration patterns of the prosthesis, prosthesis-induced erosion of the metatarsal bone, and clinical outcomes were evaluated sequentially to 5 years postoperation (PO). Methods: Eleven female patients received the BioPro-1 hemiprosthesis. Prosthesis translation and metatarsal erosion were measured with RSA at immediately PO, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, 36, and 60 months postoperatively. Clinical assessment was done by patient questionnaires. Results: RSA data of 9 patients were available for analysis. Median (range) number of markers used in RSA analysis, condition number, and mean error of markers around the prosthesis were 4 (3-7), 320 (208-862), and 0.13 (0.02-0.28), respectively. Progressive subsidence was seen up to 3 years PO (mean 2.1 mm, SE 0.32). Progressive metatarsal erosion was found from 1 year PO (mean 0.49 mm, SE 0.15). Pain, function, and quality scores improved after surgery and did not deteriorate at later follow-up moments. Conclusion: Model-based RSA of the BioPro-1 prosthesis shows nonstabilizing medial and distal translation and metatarsal erosion. Despite the measured migration and erosion, clinical outcomes improved and remained similar up to 5 years postoperation.

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Clinical assessment and follow-up of functional capacity in patients with chronic congestive cardiomyopathy

The American Journal of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/0002-9149(82)90199-0 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 49 (8) ◽

pp. 1832-1837 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Robert Engler ◽

Richard Ray ◽

Charles B. Higgins ◽

Catherine McNally ◽

Wendy Hansen Buxton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Capacity ◽

Clinical Assessment ◽

Congestive Cardiomyopathy

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Mobility improvement in the first 6 postoperative weeks in orthogeriatric fracture patients

European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00068-021-01856-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander M. Keppler ◽

Jenny Holzschuh ◽

Daniel Pfeufer ◽

Johannes Gleich ◽

Carl Neuerburg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Daily Living ◽

Step Length ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Postoperative Rehabilitation ◽

Femur Fractures ◽

Prospective Study Design

Abstract Background Physical activity is a relevant outcome parameter in orthopedic surgery, that can be objectively assessed. Until now, there is little information regarding objective gait parameters in the orthogeriatric population. This study focuses on the first 6 weeks of postoperative rehabilitation, and delivers objective data about gait speed and step length in typical orthogeriatric fracture patterns. Methods Thirty-one orthogeriatric fracture patients [pertrochanteric femur fractures (PFF), femoral neck (FN), and proximal humerus fractures (PHF)] were consecutively enrolled in a maximum care hospital in a prospective study design. All patients wore an accelerometer placed at the waist during the postoperative stay (24 h/d) and at 6-week follow-up, to measure real gait speed and step length. In addition, self-assessment of mobility (Parker mobility score) and activities of daily living (Barthel index) were collected at baseline, during the inpatient stay, and at 6-week follow-up. Results During postoperative hospitalization, significantly higher gait speed (m/s) was observed in the PHF group (0.52 ± 0.27) compared with the FN group (0.36 ± 0.28) and PFF group (0.19 ± 0.28) (p < 0.05). Six weeks postoperatively, gait speed improved significantly in all groups (PHF 0.90 ± 0.41; FN 0.72 ± 0.13; PFF 0.60 ± 0.23). Similarly, step length (m) differed between groups postoperatively [FN 0.16 ± 0.13; PFF 0.12 ± 0.15; PHF 0.31 ± 0.05 (p < 0.005)] and improved over time significantly (FN 0.47 ± 0.01; 0.39 ± 0.19; 0.50 ± 0.18). Self-assessment scores indicate that the majority of the patients had minor restrictions in mobility before the fracture. These values decreased immediately postoperatively and improved in the first 6 weeks, but did not reach the initial level. Conclusions Gait speed, step length, and self-assessment in terms of mobility and activities of daily living improve significantly in the first 6 postoperative weeks in orthogeriatric fracture patients. As very low postoperative mobility during hospitalization was observed, this collective shows great potential in postoperative rehabilitation regardless of their fracture pattern. For this reason, specific aftercare concepts similar to the “fast track” concepts in primary arthroplasty are crucial for orthogeriatric patients in clinical practice. Level of evidence Prospective cohort study, 2.

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