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Summary Background Patients with Achilles tendon rupture who have non-operative treatment have traditionally been treated with immobilisation of the tendon in plaster casts for several weeks. Functional bracing is an alternative non-operative treatment that allows earlier mobilisation, but evidence on its effectiveness and safety is scarce. The aim of the UKSTAR trial was to compare functional and quality-of-life outcomes and resource use in patients treated non-operatively with plaster cast versus functional brace. Methods UKSTAR was a pragmatic, superiority, multicentre, randomised controlled trial done at 39 hospitals in the UK. Patients (aged ≥16 years) who were being treated non-operatively for a primary Achilles tendon rupture at the participating centres were potentially eligible. The exclusion criteria were presenting more than 14 days after injury, previous rupture of the same Achilles tendon, or being unable to complete the questionnaires. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a plaster cast or functional brace using a centralised web-based system. Because the interventions were clearly visible, neither patients nor clinicians could be masked. Participants wore the intervention for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was patient-reported Achilles tendon rupture score (ATRS) at 9 months, analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population (all patients in the groups to which they were allocated, excluding participants who withdrew or died before providing any outcome data). The main safety outcome was the incidence of tendon re-rupture. Resource use was recorded from a health and personal social care perspective. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN62639639. Findings Between Aug 15, 2016, and May 31, 2018, 1451 patients were screened, of whom 540 participants (mean age 48·7 years, 79% male) were randomly allocated to receive plaster cast (n=266) or functional brace (n=274). 527 (98%) of 540 were included in the modified intention-to-treat population, and 13 (2%) were excluded because they withdrew or died before providing any outcome data. There was no difference in ATRS at 9 months post injury (cast group n=244, mean ATRS 74∙4 [SD 19∙8]; functional brace group n=259, ATRS 72∙8 [20∙4]; adjusted mean difference –1∙38 [95% CI –4∙9 to 2∙1], p=0·44). There was no difference in the rate of re-rupture of the tendon (17 [6%] of 266 in the plaster cast group vs 13 [5%] of 274 in the functional brace group, p=0·40). The mean total health and personal social care cost was £1181 for the plaster cast group and £1078 for the functional bract group (mean between-group difference –£103 [95% CI –289 to 84]). Interpretation Traditional plaster casting was not found to be superior to early weight-bearing in a functional brace, as measured by ATRS, in the management of patients treated non-surgically for Achilles tendon rupture. Clinicians may consider the use of early weight-bearing in a functional brace as a safe and cost-effective alternative to plaster casting. Funding UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme.

Neglected infantile Tibia Vara is a very challenging clinical problem with many technical problems including distorted joint line secondary to the medial tibial plateau depression, obesity leading to difficulty in exposure, performing osteotomies and difficulty in osteotomy fixation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of treatment of severe neglected infantile Tibia Vara using a new osteotomy to elevate the depressed medial tibial plateau in conjunction with the Ilizarov technique. Seven tibias in five patients were included in this study. These were all Stage V and VI according to Langenskiold and Riska classification. The average age at surgery was 11.6 years (ranging from 8 to 15), and the average follow-up was 6.2 years (ranging from 3 to 10). A new double osteotomy technique was used to elevate the depressed medial tibial plateau and correct the varus deformity. Correction was done gradually using the Ilizarov Frame. The results were assessed clinically and radiologically. The femoral shaft -- tibial shaft angle improved from an average of 36 degrees of varus preoperatively to 4 degrees of varus. The femoral condyle-tibial shaft angle improved from an average of 58 degrees to 83 degrees. The angle of depressed medial tibial plateau improved from an average of 53 degrees to 10 degrees. We believe that our new double elevating osteotomy in conjunction with Ilizarov technique is an excellent modality for patients with stage V and VI according to the Langenskiold and Riska classification. The advantages of this technique include correction of the deformity with simultaneous correction of the joint architecture, immediate weight bearing, and avoidance of excessive dissection needed for internal fixation.