The RAPSODI & DIDACT Trials: Two Shoulder Surgery Studies for the Price of One!
Posted: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
This week is a 2-4-1 special! We're joined by Fi Rose and Gareth Roberts to tell us all about not one, but TWO pivotal surgical trials.
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RAPSODI investigates the definitive choice between Reverse and Anatomical Total Shoulder Replacement for patients with painful osteoarthritis.
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DIDACT compares the clinical and cost-effectiveness of immediate surgery fixation versus simple sling immobilisation for a common displaced clavicle fracture (broken collarbone).
We learn about the unique logistical challenges of organising large-scale randomised control trials (RCTs) in orthopaedics, and the tough job of asking shoulder surgeons to put their personal preferences aside for the sake of evidence-based medicine. PLUS we discover why coordinating a complex surgical trial is surprisingly similar to a high-stakes game of Ka-Plunk!
Resources from this episode:
Click to find out more abou the RAPSODI and DIDACT Trials.
Get in touch with the RAPSODI team on ytu-rapsodi@york.ac.uk or the DIDACT team on ytu-didact@york.ac.uk
Music by Matthew Bailey
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