Irish Journal of Medical Science最新文献

{"title":"Comparison of HACOR score and ROX index for predicting noninvasive ventilation failure in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: a prospective study.","authors":"Emin Uysal, Ismail Oymak, Suleyman Solak, Hakan Aydin","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04669-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04669-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) is commonly managed with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED), but delayed identification of NIV failure worsens outcomes. We compared the HACOR (Heart rate, Acidosis, Consciousness, Oxygenation, and Respiratory rate) score and the ROX (Respiratory rate-OXygenation) index for predicting NIV failure in ED patients with AHRF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective observational study enrolled adult patients with AHRF receiving NIV in the ED between December 2024 and December 2025. HACOR and ROX were calculated at baseline and 1 h post-NIV; score changes (ΔHACOR, ΔROX) were also assessed. The primary outcome was NIV failure requiring intubation within 24 h. Predictive performance was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and DeLong comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 127 patients, 66 (52.0%) failed NIV. Non-survivors/failures had significantly worse scores at both timepoints. The 1-hour HACOR showed the highest discriminative ability (AUC 0.878, 95% CI 0.808-0.930), outperforming baseline HACOR, all ROX parameters, and ΔROX (all p ≤ 0.05). A cut-off > 5 yielded 96.7% sensitivity and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.05.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In ED patients with AHRF treated with NIV, the 1-hour HACOR score was superior to all ROX-based metrics for predicting NIV failure. Early HACOR reassessment may enable timely escalation of respiratory support and improve clinical decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149148134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between family environment and underage drinking in Ireland.","authors":"Lenards Obeng Damoah, Jyothi Sri Sushma Nadimpalli, Kirubel Tesfaye Hailu, Emmet Major, Zubair Kabir","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04605-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04605-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mid-adolescence is a critical developmental stage for the onset of drunkenness and binge drinking. In the West of Ireland, 34.1% of adolescents reported binge drinking in the 2020 Planet Youth analysis [16], compared with 35.6% in the present 2022 study.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To estimate associations between family environment factors and underage drinking among 15-16-year-olds and to examine reported sources of alcohol access.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of Planet Youth 2022 Ireland survey (n = 4615) among 15-16 year olds. The study outcomes were binge drinking and being drunk in the last 30 days. Exposures were parental monitoring, supervision, support (continuous scales), and family structure. Continuous variables were expressed in median and interquartile ranges. Appropriate statistical tests (Mann-Whitney U test) were performed. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders for effect estimates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>28.7% reported being drunk in the last 30 days and 35.6% reported binge drinking. One standard deviation (SD) increase in parental monitoring was significantly associated with lower odds of binge drinking (OR = 0.66; 95%CI:0.57-0.76) and being drunk (OR = 0.68; 95%CI:0.58-0.80, p < 0.001). Similarly, one SD increase in parental support was associated with lower odds of binge drinking (OR = 0.80; 95%CI:0.72-0.90) and being drunk in the last 30 days (OR = 0.81; 95%CI:0.72-0.91) respectively. Parental supervision was not significant. The most common sources of alcohol products were friends/schoolmates, parents/carers, and pubs/shops.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Parental monitoring and support are protective of underage drinking. Peers, family members and retail shops were easy access to sourcing alcohol products among adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149127269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of haemoglobinopathies with adverse foetal outcomes among pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"D S Sujith Kumar, Gerard Marshall Raj, Jaison Joseph, Mamta Gehlawat, Madhu Latha Karra, Niveditha Samala, Suthanthira Kannan, Rashmi Kundapur","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04621-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04621-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hemoglobinopathies are inherited blood disorders that may adversely affect fetal outcomes among pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between hemoglobinopathies and adverse fetal outcomes in pregnant women, compared to those without hemoglobinopathies.</p><p><strong>Search strategy: </strong>A systematic search was conducted across Medline (via PubMed), Embase, and Scopus databases from inception until February 14, 2025.</p><p><strong>Selection criteria: </strong>Analytical observational studies (prospective, retrospective, cross-sectional) reporting fetal outcomes in pregnant women with hemoglobinopathies versus no hemoglobinopathies, screened by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), were included.</p><p><strong>Data collection and analysis: </strong>Two independent reviewers screened 3161 identified articles. After removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, 1107 articles underwent title and abstract screening, followed by full-text screening of 66 articles. Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria for systematic review and meta-analysis. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) were performed independently by two reviewers. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, with heterogeneity assessed via Cochran's Q and I² statistics.</p><p><strong>Main results: </strong>Pregnant women with hemoglobinopathies had significantly increased odds of adverse fetal outcomes, including preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction, and intrauterine demise, compared to controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hemoglobinopathies are associated with increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes. Screening and tailored management in pregnancy are essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Follow-up pathways, investigation utilisation, and general practitioner communication following acute medical unit assessment: A six-month retrospective service evaluation.","authors":"Amina Abdullah, Caimin More, Ellen Flynn, Aoife Rowan, Ontefetse Ntlholang","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04652-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04652-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acute Medical Units (AMUs) provide rapid assessment of acute medical presentations between the Emergency Department and inpatient services. Communication with general practitioners (GPs) at discharge underpins continuity of care, yet post-discharge processes within AMU ambulatory pathways are seldom evaluated.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate patient flow, structured follow-up arrangements, outpatient investigation use, and documented discharge communication to GPs across the acute assessment and hot clinic pathways of an AMU service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective service evaluation of 734 patient episodes (493 acute assessment; 241 hot clinic) over six months (October 2023-March 2024) at a Model 4 Irish tertiary hospital. Variables were extracted from routinely maintained AMU service records and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22, with chi-square testing for between-pathway comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Neurology was the commonest clinical category in both cohorts (232/493 [47.1%] acute; 71/241 [29.5%] hot clinic). Following acute assessment, 243/493 (49.3%) continued under AMU follow-up and 53/493 (10.8%) were admitted; in the hot clinic cohort, 125/241 (51.9%) continued under AMU follow-up and 10/241 (4.1%) were admitted. Follow-up completion was high (440/493 [89.2%]; 213/241 [88.4%]). Documented GP discharge communication among discharge-eligible episodes was low, and significantly lower in the hot clinic pathway (184/437 [42.1%] vs 47/231 [20.3%]; p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AMU ambulatory pathways achieved high follow-up completion and low admission rates, but documented discharge communication to general practice was poor, particularly in the hot clinic pathway. Integrating hot clinic encounters into electronic discharge workflows is a priority for quality improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microneedling with topical platelet-rich plasma versus triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of alopecia areata in children: a comparative study.","authors":"Mohamed Abdelshakour, Amr Mohamed Zaki, Raslan Abdullh Hamood Ali, Ahmad Saeed Aladl, Mahmoud A Rageh","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04634-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04634-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune, non-scarring hair loss disorder that presents without visible inflammation, and can substantially affect children and their families.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To compare the efficacy and tolerability of microneedling-assisted topical platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus microneedling-assisted topical triamcinolone acetonide in children with localized alopecia areata.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective comparative study included 30 children with localized AA. Participants were allocated into two equal groups using an alternate allocation method. Group I (n = 15) received microneedling with topical PRP, whereas Group II (n = 15) received microneedling with topical triamcinolone acetonide.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline index patch size (p = 0.841) and SALT (Severity of Alopecia Tool) scores (p = 0.08) did not differ significantly between groups. At week 12, Group II had a significantly lower mean SALT score than Group I (1.73 vs. 3.10; p = 0.042) and a greater mean percentage improvement in SALT score (66.4% vs. 18.5%; p < 0.001). Within-group analysis showed significant improvement in both groups (both p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in Group II (Mann-Whitney U = 39.0, p = 0.002). Both treatments were well tolerated, with no major adverse events.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Microneedling-assisted topical triamcinolone acetonide produced greater short-term improvement in SALT scores and patient satisfaction than PRP in children with localized AA. These findings support it as an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option; however, larger randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm comparative efficacy and long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of beta-blockers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Shahrukh Mohammed, Khubaib Mohammad Murtafa, Rohit Vondivillu Srinivasan, Hasindu Avishka Arumapperuma, Arjun Anilkumar, Mennaalla Osman, Sadiya Sajad Khanday, Muhammad Rahim Arshad, Abdul Shafi","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04619-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04619-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist and together confer a substantially elevated risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Despite the widespread clinical use of beta-blockers for rate control in this population, their prognostic impact remains unresolved, with existing evidence derived predominantly from observational cohorts subject to confounding by indication.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate the association of beta-blocker therapy with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and composite outcomes in patients with coexisting HFpEF and AF through a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Online databases (MEDLINE and Scopus) were searched from inception through March 2026 for studies reporting on the effects of beta-blockers in patients with HFpEF and AF. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses and pre-specified subgroup analyses by study design and follow-up duration were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine studies were included (n = 31,888; beta-blocker group n = 24,683; control n = 7,205). Beta-blocker therapy was associated with a statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.83-0.93; P < 0.0001; I² = 44.9%) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84-0.99; P = 0.023; I² = 0%). No statistically significant differences were observed for heart failure hospitalization (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.70-1.10; P = 0.264; I² = 62.5%) or the composite outcome (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.77-1.02; P = 0.084; I² = 70.7%). In leave-one-out analyses, exclusion of Yang 2020 yielded statistically significant reductions in both all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization with elimination or reduction of heterogeneity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In patients with HFpEF and concomitant AF, beta-blocker therapy is associated with significant reductions in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. No significant benefit was observed for heart failure hospitalization or composite outcomes in primary analyses, though sensitivity analyses were supportive. These findings, derived from observational data, support a permissive clinical approach to beta-blocker use in this population, particularly for rate control in those with elevated heart rates. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials specifically targeting HFpEF with AF are urgently needed to establish causal efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of the effect of connective tissue massage and foam roller in fibromyalgia patients.","authors":"Muhammet Sahin Elbasti, Songul Baglan Yentur","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04636-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04636-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of foam roller (FR) and connective tissue massage (CTM) in pain, function, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty female participants with FMS were randomly assigned to CTM group or Foam Roller (FR) group. Both interventions were applied twice in a week for 6 weeks. The Michigan Body Map (MBM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were used to evaluate pain localization, pain, quality of life, sleep quality and function, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All measurements demonstrated significant post-treatment improvements in both groups (p < 0.001). Comparisons between groups showed that CTM led to more improvements in pain localization (p < 0.001) and function (p = 0.033). Between-group comparisons revealed that the CTM group achieved greater improvements in functional status (p < 0.001), fibromyalgia impact (p = 0.005), and pain localization (p < 0.001) compared with the FR group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study was concluded the improvement of all assesments both in CTM and FR groups. In addition, CTM demonstrated greater advantages in terms of functional independence and pain management, indicating that it might be a better treatment choice for fibromyalgia symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of social media on dental students' oral and dental health awareness.","authors":"Suleyman Varsak, Abdurrahim Yildiz, Sinan Ates","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04651-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04651-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated the relationship between social media usage patterns, social media attitudes, and online health information seeking/trust behaviors (HINTS) and oral health awareness and behaviors (OHBQ) among dental students.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Data was collected from 390 students studying at dental faculties through face-to-face surveys. Daily social media time and platform preference were recorded; Social Media Attitude Scale, OHBQ, and HINTS-based scale scores were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average age of the participants was 21.64±1.95 years, and 63.3% were female. Daily usage was most concentrated in the 1-3-hour (40.8%) and 3-5-hour (42.6%) ranges; the most frequently used platform was Instagram (69.2%). 90.3% of the participants reported being exposed to content related to teeth whitening, 23.6% tried the product/method they saw, and 57.4% reported an increased need for aesthetic/whitening after exposure. The most engaging content was on smile design/aesthetics (57.4%), dentist recommendations (35.1%), and teeth whitening products (33.1%). OHBQ was positively correlated with HINTS (ρ=0.345, p<0.001) and showed a weaker but significant correlation with social media attitude (ρ=0.221, p<0.001). In the multivariate model, 23.4% of the OHBQ variance was explained (R²=0.234): HINTS (B=0.277) and social media attitude (B=-0.131) positively predicted the OHBQ; male gender (B=-0.262) and daily usage time (B=-0.039) negatively predicted it (p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Online health information search/verification behaviors and positive social media attitudes appear to be associated with better oral health behaviors among dental students. It is recommended that digital health literacy and content verification skills be integrated into undergraduate education. This is important for clinical training.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149109623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Atopic dermatitis management: integrating disease mechanisms with precision medicine and nanotechnology-based targeted therapies.","authors":"Iqra Nazeer, Hira Mubeen, Sabiya Azam","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04620-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04620-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic, multi-factorial skin inflammation disorder characterized by immune dysregulation, skin barrier dysfunction, microbial imbalance and environmental triggers. Despite advances in conventional and biological therapies, challenges persist in early diagnosis, disease classification, treatment personalization and long-term management. Emerging technologies integrating precision medicine and nanotechnology offer promising solutions to address these limitations.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This review aims to highlight the integration of precision medicine and advanced nanocarrier systems into the prediction, diagnosis and targeted treatment of atopic dermatitis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This review identifies key gaps in clinical, translational and personalized dermatological research. The review gives deep insights into current evidence on clinical practices and multi-omics approaches for AD phenotyping, biomarker discovery, disease severity assessment, and prediction of advanced therapeutic approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The integration of multi-omics data approaches and translational research methods significantly enhance the classification of disease severity, and provides wonders in discovery of potential biomarkers for measuring response and suggesting treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Integrating these multidisciplinary approaches has the potential to optimize patient stratification, improve treatment outcomes, and advance sustainable dermatological care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Outcomes of volar locking plates for scaphoid fractures- A single surgeon case series.","authors":"Lauren Tiedt, Aoife O'Halloran, Olivia Flannery","doi":"10.1007/s11845-026-04630-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04630-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Surgical management of scaphoid fractures has traditionally been with headless compression screws.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>Our primary aim was to establish the non-union rate in our series of patients whose scaphoid fractures were managed with volar locking plating. Our secondary aims were to assess; post-operative range of motion, post-operative grip strength, functional outcome and the removal of metal rate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We underwent a retrospective review of 35 continuous patients who underwent surgery between June 2018 and August 2023 under a single surgeon for a scaphoid fracture using a Medartis volar locking plate for their primary surgery. Non-union was assessed radiographically on plain radiograph, or on a CT scan if union wasn't clear on the plain radiograph. Range of motion was measured bilaterally using a goniometer, and grip strength with a dynamometer. Functional outcome was assessed with a PRWHE score.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We had a non-union rate of 2.75%. There was a significant decrease in range of motion compared to the contra-lateral side. There was a significant decrease in grip strength compared to the contralateral side. Average reported PRWHE was 10.9. There was a 34% removal of metal rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our series demonstrated excellent union rates. Range of motion and grip strength were decreased in the operative side compared to the contralateral side. PRWHE scores were relatively low and comparable to the scores in the published literature. The volar locking plate demonstrates increased stability compared to one headless screw, particularly rotational stability. However, there is a higher risk of needing a second operation for removal of symptomatic metalwork compared to when using headless compression screws.</p>","PeriodicalId":14507,"journal":{"name":"Irish Journal of Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149074852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}