Minerva

Patients and their surgeons don’t always agree on the results of surgery. In a study of assessments after total knee arthroplasty, patients’ self reported American Knee Society pain and function scores were worse than those reported by their clinicians (Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Am) 2011;93:e117, doi:10.2106/JBJS.J.00850). The Oxford Knee Scores, however, were similar for both groups. The authors say that range of knee motion may reasonably be self assessed by comparison with photographs and that long term follow-up is possible with patient reported measures, alleviating the burden of repeat clinic visits.

Guidelines recommend radioactive iodine therapy in patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer at high risk of recurrence, but the treatment tends to be given to all but the very lowest risk patients with thyroid cancer. There’s a problem with this: in patients who’ve received this therapy, the incidence of second cancers (particularly salivary gland malignancies and leukaemia) is increasing. In view of this increased risk, and the lack of data showing improved survival outcomes in low risk patients …