This randomised methodological study sought to test the reliability of an Internet questionnaire and investigate the differences in response rates between traditional pen-and-paper questionnaires and Internet questionnaires for measuring patient-reported outcome after total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery. From the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register, 2 400 patients were chosen at random but stratified by age, sex and diagnosis for inclusion in a four-year follow-up using the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool EQ-5D and visual analogue scales for pain and satisfaction. The patients were randomized to answer the follow-up model protocol either via a password-protected Internet questionnaire or via a mailed pen-and-paper questionnaire. A reliability test for the Internet follow-up instrument showed adequate correlation. However, the Internet group and the pen-and-paper group differed significantly (p<0.001) with a 92% response rate in the latter and 49% in the former. Adjusted to the normal age distribution of the THA population, the Internet response rate was 34%. The patient-administered Internet questionnaire alone does not give a sufficient response rate in the THA population to replace the pen-and-paper questionnaire. However, the system is reliable and could be used for measuring patient- reported outcome if supplemented with traditional pen-and-paper questionnaires for Internet non-respondents. It is expected that this answer procedure will soon predominate in view of the general development of Internet functions. Register work may then become less resource-consuming and the results may be analysed in real time

Introduction. Pre-operative patient education prior to hip and knee arthroplasty is thought to be beneficial for patients in general, although the clinical effect is unproven. Pre-operative education is now standard practice in many orthopaedic units, including our own. Anecdotally, we found patients in the private sector to be more satisfied with their education than those in the public sector, despite very similar education programs. We set out to investigate this observation and establish whether there were differences in the perception of educational quality between these groups. Methods. After appropriate power calculation, 60 patients in each group (120 total) were interviewed after hip or knee arthroplasty. Satisfaction with education was assessed on a simple 5 point scale and demographic data including internet access was obtained, as well as Short-Form 12 (SF-12) data to establish physical and mental function. The education program in each group was similar, with written material provided and verbal education given at a single pre-operative session. This included specialist nursing and physiotherapy input. Results were analysed with the chi2 test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression as appropriate, with significance at P<0.05. Results. Overall, there was a high level of satisfaction in both groups but patients in the private sector were significantly more satisfied with their pre-operative education. Significant differences were identified between the groups in provision of written information, provision of internet resources, access to the internet, attendance at education sessions and the mental component score of the SF-12. Logistic regression modelling showed that factors influencing satisfaction rates were interdependent. The relationship between lower SF-12 mental component scores and lower satisfaction rates was linear. Conclusion. Private patients are more satisfied with their pre-operative education than public patients, a disparity which may be due to several demographic and educational factors including lower SF-12 mental component scores. The relationships between these factors are complex and not independent. Satisfaction in the public sector may be improved by improving attendance rates at education sessions. However, public patients may not benefit from advances in education that rely on internet access or computer use. Although the use of the internet and computers in general is gaining support, it may not be as beneficial to patients in the public sector as the private sector. This has implications for service provision and planning in arthroplasty units

Objective. To describe demographic data, clinical outcome and short-term survival after shoulder arthroplasty. Materials and Methods. The Danish Shoulder Arthroplasty Register was established in 2004. All 40 Danish hospitals and private clinics where shoulder arthroplasty are performed are participating. Since 2006 where the reporting to the register became mandatory the compliance of reporting has been 88.9%. Data are collected by an internet based clinical measuring system where the orthopaedic surgeon report data such as diagnosis, type of arthroplasty, and demographic data. The follow-up results are collected by sending a questionnaire to the patient 10–14 month after the operation. The questionnaire contains a Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index (WOOS). Each question is answered on a visual analogue scale with a possible score ranging from 0–100. There are 19 questions and the total score is ranging from 0–1900. For simplicity of presentation the raw scores is converted to a percentage of a normal shoulder. Results. 2320 Shoulder arthroplasties were reported to the register between 2006 and 2008. There were 69.4% women. Median age was 70.6, range 16.3–96.3. 699 arthroplasties (30.0%) were due to osteoarthritis, 98 (4.2%) due to arthritis, 1182 (50.9%) due to a proximal humeral fracture, 179 (7.4%) due to rotator cuff arthropaty, 62 (2.7%) due to caput necrosis and 79 (3.4%) due to other pathology condition such as cancer and revision surgery. 1352 (58.3%) were stemmed hemi arthroplasty, 77 (3.3%) total shoulder arthroplasty, 596 (25.7%) resurfacing arthroplasty and 243 (10.5%) reverse shoulder arthroplasty. 1288 patients (55.5%) returned a complete questionnaire. Median WOOS for all arthroplasties was 58.2, range 0.0–100.0. Median WOOS for arthritis was 59.3, range 13.3–99.8, osteoarthritis 67.9, range 0.0–100.0, a proximal humeral fracture 54.2, range 0.0–100.0, rotator cuff arthropaty 65.6, range 0.0–98.3 and caput necrosis 48.9, range 3.9–95.2. 171 (7.4%) operations were revisions. The most common indications of revision were luxation (2.2%), infection (1.3%), loosening (0.7%) and glenoid attrition (0.6%). Conclusion. To our knowledge there is no previous study with such a large population presenting demographic data and clinical outcome after shoulder arthroplasty. We found good results for the groups of patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, arthritis and cuff arthropaty. There were poorer results in the groups of patient diagnosed with a proximal humeral fracture and especially caput necrosis

Aims

The best method of treating unstable pelvic fractures that involve the obturator ring is still a matter for debate. This study compared three methods of treatment: nonoperative, isolated posterior fixation and combined anteroposterior stabilization.