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Technological advancements, particularly in the realm of augmented reality (AR), may facilitate more accurate and precise pedicle screw placement. AR integrates virtual data into the operator's real-world view, allowing for the visualization of patient-specific anatomy and navigated trajectories. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using AR-based systems. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE database, including studies reporting the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using AR. In total, 8 studies with 163 patients and 1259 screws were included in the analysis. XVision (XVS) was the most commonly used AR system (595 screws) followed by the Allura AR surgical navigation system (ARSN) (462 screws). The overall accuracy was calculated as 97.2% (95% CI 96.2–98.1% p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy rates achieved by XVS and Allura ARSN (p = 0.092). AR enables reliable, accurate placement of spinal instrumentation. Future research efforts should focus on comparative studies, cost effectiveness, operative time, and radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Scoring systems for metastatic spine disease focus on predicting long- to medium-term mortality or a combination of perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, accurate prediction of perioperative mortality alone may be the most important factor when considering surgical intervention. We aimed to develop and evaluate a new tool, the H2-FAILS score, to predict 30-day mortality after surgery for metastatic spine disease. Methods: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified 1195 adults who underwent surgery for metastatic spine disease from 2010 to 2018. Incidence of 30-day mortality was 8.7% (n = 104). Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were used to derive the H2-FAILS score. H2-FAILS is an acronym for: Heart failure (2 points), Functional dependence, Albumin deficiency, International normalized ratio elevation, Leukocytosis, and Smoking (1 point each). Discrimination was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The H2-FAILS score was compared with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA Class), the 5-item modified Frailty Index (mFI-5), and the New England Spinal Metastasis Score (NESMS). Internal validation was performed using bootstrapping. Alpha = 0.05. Results: Predicted 30-day mortality was 1.8% for an H2-FAILS score of 0 and 78% for a score of 6. AUC of the H2-FAILS was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.72–0.81), which was higher than the mFI-5 (AUC 0.58, p < 0.001), ASA Class (AUC 0.63, p < 0.001), and NESMS (AUC 0.70, p = 0.004). Internal validation showed an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.76. Conclusions: The H2-FAILS score accurately predicts 30-day mortality after surgery for spinal metastasis. Level of Evidence: Prognostic level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudarthrosis is an exceedingly common, costly, and morbid complication in the treatment of long bone fractures and after spinal fusion surgery. Electrical bone growth stimulation (EBGS) presents a unique approach to accelerate healing and promote fusion success rates. Over the past three decades, increased experience and widespread use of EBGS devices has led to significant improvements in stimulation paradigms and clinical outcomes. In this paper, we comprehensively review the literature and examine the history, scientific evidence, available technology, and clinical applications for EBGS. We summarize indications, limitations, and provide an overview of cost-effectiveness and future directions of EBGS technology. Various models of electrical stimulation have been proposed and marketed as adjuncts for spinal fusions and long bone fractures. Clinical studies show variable safety and efficacy of EBGS under different conditions and clinical scenarios. While the results of clinical trials do not support indiscriminate EBGS utilization for any bone injury, the evidence does suggest that EBGS is desirable and cost efficient for certain orthopedic indications, especially when used in combination with standard, first-line treatments. This review should serve as a reference to inform practicing clinicians of available treatment options, facilitate evidence-based decision making, and provide a platform for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Aims: The evolving influence of social media in trauma, acute, and critical care surgery (TACCS) cannot be ignored. We sought to investigate the extent and patterns of use of social networks by major regional, national and international TACCS societies. Materials and Methods: The two leading social networking sites, Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TW), were thoroughly examined for the presence of official accounts for each of the major TACCS societies. An official FB or TW account was defined as one which has a blue verified badge and/or is linked the society's official website. For societies with confirmed official accounts, the extent and patterns of use of the two platforms were systematically examined over a 2-week period through: (1) manual inspection of the societies' FB and TW pages, (2) the SQLite database containing downloaded samples of posts, and (3) the TW analytics database, symplur.com. Standardized social media metrics were calculated for each society. Posted content was categorized as being: (1) society news updates, (2) event announcements, or (3) general medical information. Results: From a total of 64 TACCS societies, only 27 (42%) had FB and/or TW accounts. Ten out of the 12 American societies had accounts compared to 13/39 of European, 2/9 of Australasian, and 0/2 of international societies. For the societies with social media presence, the mean numbers of monthly tweets and FB posts per society were 22 and 8, respectively. We summarize the FB and TW activity of the studied TACCS societies. Most tweets/posts were society news updates and event announcements intended to the society's constituents not the general public. A text cloud was constructed to summarize the major featured topics. Conclusion: Less than half of the TACCS societies are currently using social media; those that do are arguably underutilizing its potential. Non-American societies in particular lag behind in their use of social networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]