Pain of lumbar facet-joint origin is a common cause of low back pain in adults, and may lead to chronic pain and disability. At present, there is no definitive research to support the use of targeted lumbar facet-joint injections to manage this pain. The study's objective was to assess the feasibility of carrying out a definitive study to evaluate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of lumbar facet-joint injections compared to a sham procedure. This was a blinded parallel two-arm pilot randomised controlled trial. Adult patients referred to the pain and orthopaedic clinics at Barts Health NHS Trust with non-specific low back pain of at least three months' duration were considered for inclusion. Participants who had a positive result following diagnostic single medial branch nerve blocks were randomised to receive either intra-articular lumbar facet-joint injections with steroid or a sham procedure. All participants were invited to attend a combined physical and psychological programme. Questionnaires were used to assess a range of pain and disability-related issues. Healthcare utilisation and cost data were also assessed. Of 628 participants screened for eligibility, 9 were randomised to receive the study intervention and 8 participants completed the study.Purposes of the study and background
Summary of methods and results
Dislocation is one of the most common complications following total hip arthroplasty. The literature suggests a frequency of 1–3% for primary total hip replacement (THR) and 7–10% for revision procedures. No definitive treatment algorithm exists for their management, with some surgeons attempting to constrain hip motion with casting or bracing initially. The evidence for this practice is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the current practice for managing THR dislocation within our unit, and to determine the effectiveness of abduction bracing. A retrospective case-note analysis was performed on all patients admitted with a dislocated THR between 01/01/08 and 31/12/10. Patients were categorised into three groups: first time dislocators, recurrent dislocators, or dislocation occurring following revision surgery. The following data was collected; time from original surgery, closed or open reduction, surgical approach, prescription of abduction brace post-operatively, and the number of subsequent dislocations. Any patients who underwent open reduction were excluded from the study.Introduction
Method
