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Context: Deficits in the hip range of motion are associated with hip and groin injuries. Accurate and reliable goniometric measurements are important in identifying those at risk of injury and determining the efficacy of treatment interventions. Smartphone goniometric applications are regularly used to assess joint ranges of motion; however, there is limited knowledge on the reliability of this method in relation to the hip, particularly between clinicians with different levels of experience. Objective: To determine the intratester and intertester reliability of a smartphone clinometer application for the assessment of hip goniometric measurements in healthy volunteers by an experienced and novice clinician. Design: Reliability study. Setting: University Athletic Therapy facility. Participants: Physically active, university students. Main Outcome Measures: The study determined the intra- and intertester (experienced vs novice clinician) reliability of goniometric measurements of the hip joint (modified Thomas test and seated hip internal and external rotation) using a smartphone goniometric application. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change at a 95% confidence interval were used to assess reliability. Results: Goniometric measurements demonstrated good to excellent relative intratester reliability for the modified Thomas test (ICC =.94), external rotation (ICC =.93–.95), and internal rotation (ICC =.80–.81). Intertester reliability for expert and novice clinicians was also excellent for the modified Thomas test (ICC =.98), external rotation (ICC =.95), and internal rotation (ICC =.92). Intratester and intertester standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change at 95% confidence interval values were similar for both testers and ranged from 1.9° to 3.6° and 5° to 10.1° and from 1.1° to 2.3° and 2.9° to 6.5°, respectively. Conclusion: Smartphone-based goniometric measurements of hip range of motion have high intratester and intertester reliability for novice and expert clinicians. It may be a useful, simple, and inexpensive resource for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents are increasingly turning to the internet to seek pediatric health information. Numerous organizations advise that patient educational materials (PEMs) should not surpass the sixth-grade reading level. We aimed to assess the readability of online pediatric orthopaedic PEMs.Methods: The readability of 176 articles pertaining to pediatric orthopaedics from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) websites was assessed with the use of 8 readability formulae: the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level, the Flesch Reading Ease Score, the Raygor Estimate, the SMOG, the Coleman-Liau, the Fry, the FORCAST, and the Gunning Fog. The mean reading grade level (RGL) of each article was compared with the sixth and eighth-grade reading levels. The mean RGL of each website's articles also was compared.Results: The cumulative mean RGL was 10.2 (range, 6.6 to 16.0). No articles (0%) were written at the sixth-grade reading level, and only 7 articles (4.0%) were written at or below the eighth-grade reading level. The mean RGL was significantly higher than the sixth-grade (95% confidence interval [CI] for the difference, 4.0 to 4.4; p < 0.001) and eighth-grade (95% CI, 2.0 to 2.4; p < 0.001) reading levels. The mean RGL of articles on the POSNA website was significantly lower than the mean RGL of the articles on the AAOS (95% CI, -1.8 to -1.0; p < 0.001) and AAP (95% CI, -2.9 to -1.1; p < 0.001) websites.Conclusions: Pediatric orthopaedic PEMs that are produced by the AAOS, the POSNA, and the AAP have readability scores that exceed recommendations. Given the increasing preference of parents and adolescents for online health information, the growing body of online PEMs, and the critical role that health literacy plays in patient outcomes, substantial work is required to address the readability of these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explores the functional recovery and rates return to play (RTP) of professional jockeys following midshaft clavicle fractures, which have been managed conservatively. The high incidence of these fractures in horse racing underscores the importance of evaluating nonsurgical recovery paths for effective RTP., Design: We used a retrospective cohort study to assess treatment outcomes., Setting: The research is set in the professional horse racing scene of Ireland., Participants: Sixteen professional Irish jockeys with conservatively managed midshaft clavicular fractures were examined. Jockeys who underwent surgery or were inactive at injury time were excluded., Interventions: The study involved no direct interventions., Main Outcome Measures: Recovery was assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures, alongside racing records to track RTP., Results: The all-male cohort had an average age of 27 years. Results showed an average 67.1-day absence from racing, with 94% returning to preinjury competition levels. Complications were minimal, and patient outcomes were positive, as indicated by a mean QuickDASH score of 2.58, suggesting minimal residual disability., Conclusions: Findings highlight the success of conservative management for midshaft clavicle fractures in professional jockeys, enabling them to return to prior competitive levels with few complications and excellent functional recovery., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)