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PURPOSE The issue of rising healthcare costs and limited resources is a topic of worldwide discussion over the last several decades. We hypothesized that failure of proximal humeral fracture osteosynthesis is presumed to be an important determinant in healthcare resources and related costs. The aim of this study was to calculate the total hospital-related healthcare cost of proximal humeral fracture osteosynthesis over one  year focusing on failure. METHODS A total of 121 patients with a proximal humeral fracture treated by angular stable osteosynthesis were included in this retrospective study. All hospital-related healthcare costs were investigated. Five main hospital-related cost categories were defined hospitalization cost, honoraria, day care admission, materials, and pharmaceuticals. RESULTS A total healthcare cost of € 1,139,448 was calculated for the whole patient group. Twelve patients needed revision surgery due to complications or fixation-related failure. This failure rate alone costed € 190,809 of the healthcare resources. In other words, failure after proximal humeral fracture osteosynthesis costed 17% of the total healthcare expenditure inone year. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that a high amount of hospital-related healthcare resources is spent because of failure after proximal humeral fracture osteosynthesis. Further research is necessary and should investigate on how to prevent failure. This is not only in the patient’s interest, but it is also of great importance for maintaining a healthy healthcare system.PURPOSE Defining a Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) value for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) is crucial for determining the effectiveness of a procedure and calculating the sample size for trial planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the MCID of several PROMs (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Knee Society Score (KSS) and the SF-12) in patients who underwent medial opening-wedge High-Tibial Osteotomy (owHTO) with Patient-Specific Cutting Guides (PSCGs), using anchor-based methods. METHODS Patients undergoing isolated medial owHTO with PSCGs between January 2013 and January 2017 were enrolled in this single-center, prospective, observational study. Three outcome scores were collected pre-operatively and at the 2 years follow-up evaluation KOOS, KSS and SF-12. The MCIDs were calculated using anchor-based method at 2 years postoperatively “Compared with before surgery, how would you rate operated joint now?” The responses were recorded using a five-point mponent and 6.3 for PCS mental component. CONCLUSION This study determined the MCIDs of common used PROMs in patients undergoing owHTO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prospective Cohort Study, Level II.PURPOSE The aim of this manuscript is to review the available strategies in the international literature to efficiently and safely return to both normal orthopaedic surgical activities and to normal outpatient clinical activities in the aftermath of a large epidemic or pandemic. This information would be beneficial to adequately reorganize outpatient clinics and hospitals to provide the highest possible level of orthopaedic care to our patients in a safe and efficient manner. METHODS A literature search was performed for relevant research articles. In addition, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the EU CDC and other government health agency websites were searched for any relevant information. In particular, interest was paid to strategies and advise on managing the orthopaedic patient flow during outpatient clinics as well as surgical procedures including the necessary safety measures, while still providing a high-quality patient experience. The obtained information is provided as a narrative review. RESULTS There was not any specific literature concerning the organization of an outpatient clinic and surgical activities and the particular challenges in dealing with a high-volume practice, in the afterwave of a pandemic. CONCLUSION As the COVID-19 crisis has abruptly halted most of the orthopaedic activities both in the outpatient clinic and the operating room, a progressive start-up scenario needs to be planned. The exact timing largely depends on factors outside of our control. After restrictions will be lifted, clinical and surgical volume will progressively increase. This paper offers key points and possible strategies to provide the highest level of safety to both the orthopaedic patient and the orthopaedic team including administrative staff and nurses, during the start-up phase. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Review, Level V.PURPOSE To investigate the effects of including balance training in a preoperative strengthening intervention on balance and functional outcomes in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) and compare these effects to those induced by preoperative strengthening and no intervention. METHODS Eighty-two subjects scheduled for TKR were randomly allocated into the strengthening (ST, n = 28) group a preoperative lower limb strengthening intervention; the strengthening + balance (ST + B, n = 28) group same intervention augmented with balance training; and the control group (n = 26). The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the function in daily living subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-ADL) were the primary outcomes. The secondary measures included balance and mobility, self-reported status, and knee function. The outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1 week before surgery, and 2, (primary endpoint), 6 and 52 weeks after surgery. RESULTS Compared with the controls, the participants in the ST and ST + B groups presented significant improvements from baseline to the end of the preoperative intervention in BBS (p = 0.005) and KOOS-ADL (p  less then  0.001). At 6 weeks post-surgery, the knee extensor strength values were similar in the two treatment groups and significantly higher than that in the controls. Overall, the participant outcomes in all groups stabilized at 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION A preoperative strengthening intervention, regardless of whether it is complemented with balance training, enhances strength but not balance or functional outcomes at 6 weeks after surgery. Patients are expected to present similar performance at 1 year postoperatively, but adequately statistically powered trials are needed to confirm the findings. read more LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02995668.