Dataset Information

Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine the efficacy of an outside-the-boot parachute ankle brace (PAB) in reducing risk of ankle injury to army paratrooper trainees and to identify inadvertent risks associated with PAB use.

Design

The authors compared hospitalization rates for ankle, musculoskeletal, and other traumatic injury among 223,172 soldiers trained 1985-2002 in time periods defined by presence/absence of PAB use protocols. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for injury outcomes, comparing pre and post brace periods to the brace protocol period.

Setting

A research database consisting of training rosters from the US Army Airborne training facility (Fort Benning, GA) occupational, demographic, and hospitalization information.

Main outcome measures

Injuries were considered training related if they occurred during a five week period starting with first scheduled static line parachute jump and a parachuting cause of injury code appeared in the hospital record.

Results

Of 939 parachuting related hospitalizations during the defined risk period, 597 (63.6%) included an ankle injury diagnosis, 198 (21.1%) listed a musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury, and 69 (7.3%) cited injuries to multiple body parts. Risk of ankle injury hospitalization was higher during both pre-brace (adjusted OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.92 to 2.95) and post-brace (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.32) periods compared with the brace protocol period. Odds of musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury or injury to multiple body parts did not change between the brace and post-brace periods.

Conclusion

Use of a PAB during airborne training appears to reduce risk of ankle injury without increasing risk of other types of traumatic injury.

SUBMITTER: Schmidt MD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1730230 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries.

Schmidt M D MD Sulsky S I SI Amoroso P J PJ

Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention 20050601 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine the efficacy of an outside-the-boot parachute ankle brace (PAB) in reducing risk of ankle injury to army paratrooper trainees and to identify inadvertent risks associated with PAB use.<h4>Design</h4>The authors compared hospitalization rates for ankle, musculoskeletal, and other traumatic injury among 223,172 soldiers trained 1985-2002 in time periods defined by presence/absence of PAB use protocols. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated adjusted odds rati ...[more]

PMID: 15933409

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Project description:ObjectivesTo estimate the cost-effectiveness of using a removable boot versus a cast following ankle fracture from the National Health Service and Personal Social Services (NHS+PSS) payer and societal perspectives and explore the impact of both treatments on participants' activities of daily living.DesignCost-effectiveness analyses and qualitative interviews performed alongside a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial.SettingEight UK NHS secondary care trusts.Participants243 participants (60.5% female, on average 48.2 years of age (SD 16.4)) with ankle fracture. Qualitative interviews with 16 participants. Interventions removable air boot versus plaster cast 2 weeks after surgery weight bearing as able with group-specific exercises.Primary and secondary outcome measuresQuality-adjusted life years (QALYs) estimated from the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, costs and incremental net monetary benefit statistics measured 12 weeks after surgery, for a society willing-to-pay £20 000 per QALY.ResultsCare in the boot group cost, on average, £88 (95% CI £22 to £155) per patient more than in the plaster group from the NHS+PSS perspective. When including all societal costs, the boot saved, on average, £676 per patient (95% CI -£337 to £1689). Although there was no evidence of a QALY difference between the groups (-0.0020 (95% CI -0.0067 to 0.0026)), the qualitative findings suggest participants felt the boot enhanced their quality of life. Patients in the boot felt more independent and empowered to take on family responsibilities and social activities.ConclusionsWhile the removable boot is slightly more expensive than plaster cast for the NHS+PSS payer at 12 weeks after surgery, it reduces productivity losses and the need for informal care while empowering patients. Given that differences in QALYs and costs to the NHS are small, the decision to use a boot or plaster following ankle surgery could be left to patients' and clinicians' preferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN15497399, South Central-Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee (reference 14/SC/1409).

Project description:BackgroundOperating theatre personnel are at increased risk for transmission of blood borne pathogens when passing sharp instruments. The hands-free technique, whereby a tray or other means are used to eliminate simultaneous handling of sharp instruments, has been recommended.AimsTo prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of the hands-free technique in reducing the incidence of percutaneous injuries, contaminations, and glove tears arising from handling sharp instruments.MethodsFor each of 3765 operations carried out in main and surgical day care operating theatres in a large urban hospital, over six months, circulating nurses recorded the proportion of use of the hands-free technique during each operation, as well as other features of the operation. The hands-free technique, considered to be used when 75% or more of the passes in an operation were done in this way, was used in 42% of operations. The relative rate of incidents (percutaneous injuries, contaminations, and glove tears) in operations where the hands-free technique was used and not used, with adjustment via multiple logistic regression for the different risk profiles of the two sets of operations, was calculated.ResultsA total of 143 incidents (40 percutaneous injuries, 51 contaminations, and 52 glove tears) were reported. In operations with greater than 100 ml blood loss, the incident rate was 4% (18/486) when the hands-free technique was used and 10% (90/880) when it was not, approximately 60% less. When adjusted for differences in type and duration of surgery, emergency status, noisiness, time of day, and number present for 75% of the operation, the reduction in the rate was 59% (95% CI 23% to 72%). In operations with less than 100 ml blood loss, the corresponding rates were 1.4% (15/1051) when the hands-free technique was used and 1.5% (19/1259) when it was not used. Adjustment for differences in risk factors did not alter the difference.ConclusionsAlthough not effective in all operations, use of the hands-free technique was effective in operations with more substantial blood loss.

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Dataset Information

Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries.

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