Despite arthroscopy being the gold standard for long head of biceps pathology, the literature is seemingly lacking in any critical appraisal or validation to support its use. The aim of this study was to evaluate its appropriateness as a benchmark for diagnosis. The objectives were to evaluate whether the length of the tendon examined at arthroscopy allows visualisation of areas of predilection of pathology and also to determine the rates of missed diagnoses when compared to an open approach. A systematic review of cadaveric and clinical studies was performed. The search strategy was applied to Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. All relevant articles were included. Critical appraisal of clinical studies was performed using a validated quality assessment scale.Background
Methods
Distal radius fractures are common injuries but no clear consensus regarding optimal management of unstable fractures exists. Open reduction and internal fixation with volar plates is an increasingly popular but the associated complication rate can be 10%. Intramedullary nails are an alternative offering the potential advantages of reduced risk of tendon injury and intra-articular screw penetration. This article systematically reviews the published literature evaluating the biomechanics, outcomes and complications of intramedullary nails in the management of distal radius fractures. A systematic review of Medline and EMBASE databases was performed for studies reporting the biomechanics, functional outcome or complications following intramedullary nailing of distal radius fractures. Critical appraisal was performed with respect to validated quality assessment scales.Background
Methods
