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Background/importancePatient selection for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy is crucial and is traditionally performed with clinical selection followed by a screening trial. The factors influencing patient selection and the importance of trialing have not been systematically evaluated.ObjectiveWe report a narrative review conducted to synthesize evidence regarding patient selection and the role of SCS trials.Evidence reviewMedline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for reports (any design) of SCS in adult patients, from their inception until March 30, 2022. Study selection and data extraction were carried out using DistillerSR. Data were organized into tables and narrative summaries, categorized by study design. Importance of patient variables and trialing was considered by looking at their influence on the long-term therapy success.FindingsAmong 7321 citations, 201 reports consisting of 60 systematic reviews, 36 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 41 observational studies (OSs), 51 registry-based reports, and 13 case reports on complications during trialing were included. Based on RCTs and OSs, the median trial success rate was 72% and 82%, and therapy success was 65% and 61% at 12 months, respectively. Although several psychological and non-psychological determinants have been investigated, studies do not report a consistent approach to patient selection. Among psychological factors, untreated depression was associated with poor long-term outcomes, but the effect of others was inconsistent. Most RCTs except for chronic angina involved trialing and only one RCT compared patient selection with or without trial. The median (range) trial duration was 10 (0–30) and 7 (0–56) days among RCTs and OSs, respectively.ConclusionsDue to lack of a consistent approach to identify responders for SCS therapy, trialing complements patient selection to exclude patients who do not find the therapy helpful and/or intolerant of the SCS system. However, more rigorous and large studies are necessary to better evaluate its role.

Background The objective was to assess changes over time in prescriptions filled for nonopioid analgesics for older postoperative patients in the immediate postdischarge period. The authors hypothesized that the number of patients who filled a nonopioid analgesic prescription increased during the study period. Methods The authors performed a population-based cohort study using linked health administrative data of 278,366 admissions aged 66 yr or older undergoing surgery between fiscal year 2013 and 2019 in Ontario, Canada. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with new filled prescriptions for nonopioid analgesics within 7 days of discharge, and the secondary outcome was the analgesic class. The authors assessed whether patients filled prescriptions for a nonopioid only, an opioid only, both opioid and nonopioid prescriptions, or a combination opioid/nonopioid. Results Overall, 22% (n = 60,181) of patients filled no opioid prescription, 2% (n = 5,534) filled a nonopioid only, 21% (n = 59,608) filled an opioid only, and 55% (n = 153,043) filled some combination of opioid and nonopioid. The percentage of patients who filled a nonopioid prescription within 7 days postoperatively increased from 9% (n = 2,119) in 2013 to 28% (n = 13,090) in 2019, with the greatest increase for acetaminophen: 3% (n = 701) to 20% (n = 9,559). The percentage of patients who filled a combination analgesic prescription decreased from 53% (n = 12,939) in 2013 to 28% (n = 13,453) in 2019. However, the percentage who filled both an opioid and nonopioid prescription increased: 4% (n = 938) to 21% (n = 9,880) so that the overall percentage of patients who received both an opioid and a nonopioid remained constant over time 76% (n = 18,642) in 2013 to 75% (n = 35,391) in 2019. Conclusions The proportion of postoperative patients who fill prescriptions for nonopioid analgesics has increased. However, rather than a move to use of nonopioids alone for analgesia, this represents a shift away from combination medications toward separate prescriptions for opioids and nonopioids. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Currently, ketamine is used in treating multiple pain, mental health, and substance abuse disorders due to rapid-acting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Its limited short-term durability has motivated research into the potential synergistic actions between ketamine and psychotherapy to sustain benefits. This systematic review on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) summarizes existing evidence regarding present-day practices. Through rigorous review, seventeen articles that included 603 participants were identified. From available KAP publications, it is apparent that combined treatments can, in specific circumstances, initiate and prolong clinically significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while encouraging rapport and treatment engagement, and promoting abstinence in patients addicted to other substances. Despite much variance in how KAP is applied (route of ketamine administration, ketamine dosage/frequency, psychotherapy modality, overall treatment length), these findings suggest psychotherapy, provided before, during, and following ketamine sessions, can maximize and prolong benefits. Additional large-scale randomized control trials are warranted to understand better the mutually influential relationships between psychotherapy and ketamine in optimizing responsiveness and sustaining long-term benefits in patients with chronic pain. Such investigations will assist in developing standardized practices and maintenance programs.

Introduction: Distal tibial physeal fractures and talus fractures are rare injuries in children and adolescents. Even rare is a combination of these two fractures. Axial compression is an accepted mechanism of injury in talus fractures with position of foot at the point of impact determining the extended patterns. A concomitant medial malleolus fracture suggests a supinated foot at the time of impact. Case Presentation:We report a case of a 13-year-old girl child who sustained a Type IV Salter–Harris injury of distal tibial physis along with a displaced vertical (sagittal) type fracture of the talus body. The uniqueness in our case was that the talar body fracture was a vertical type and that too displaced in the same line along with medial malleolus fragment. Open reduction of both the fractures was done through anteromedial approach followed by minimal fixation with K-wires. Good results were observed at 1 year following the surgery. Conclusion: Injuries of this nature are very uncommon and even more unusual in pediatric age group. This case report emphasizes the importance of having a high suspicion of uncommon fracture patterns in pediatric age group. Early and prompt diagnosis should be made using CT/MRI as a lot of these injuries may go unnoticed on plain radiographs. Keywords: Distal tibial physeal injury, Salter–Harris IV, Sagittal fracture of talus, talar body fracture, vertical fracture.

IntroductionCannabis and cannabinoids continue to gain popularity as adjuncts or alternatives to opioids in pain management, with evolving evidence of effectiveness. The relationship between cannabis and opioid use has previously been investigated in smaller cohorts or ecological samples, but not yet in a nationally representative sample.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of adults in the USA was undertaken using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2009 to 2018. The primary exposure was self-reported use of at least one opioid-containing prescription medication in the 30 days prior to survey administration. The outcome of interest was self-reported cannabis use in the same period. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for sociodemographic and health-related covariates, and NHANES survey sample weights were included in modeling. Prescription opioid users were then subclassified as short-term users (ResultsA total 10,928 survey respondents were included in analyses, representing 110 million adults in the USA aged 18–59. In this weighted cohort, 5.6%±0.4% reported a recent opioid prescription. Among prescription opioid users, 18.4%±3.1% reported recent cannabis use, not significantly different from 17.7%±0.7% among non-users (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.36, p=0.714). After adjustment for covariates, opioid users were significantly less likely to have recently used cannabis (adjusted OR, aOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.97, p=0.032). When opioid users were subclassified by duration of prescription, there was no detectable difference in recent cannabis use between chronic opioid users and short-term opioid users (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.78, p=0.649).ConclusionRecent prescription opioid use was associated with decreased odds of cannabis use in this cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative cohort. These findings suggest that use of cannabis or prescription opioids may not independently promote use of the other.

Background Although cannabis is known to have cardiovascular and psychoactive effects, the implications of its use before surgery are currently unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine whether patients with an active cannabis use disorder have an elevated risk of postoperative complications. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients undergoing elective surgery in the United States using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2006 to 2015. A sample of 4,186,622 inpatients 18 to 65 yr of age presenting for 1 of 11 elective surgeries including total knee replacement, total hip replacement, coronary artery bypass graft, caesarian section, cholecystectomy, colectomy, hysterectomy, breast surgery, hernia repair, laminectomy, and other spine surgeries was selected. The principal exposure was an active cannabis use disorder, as defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic codes for cannabis dependence and cannabis abuse. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of in-hospital postoperative myocardial infarction, stroke, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, respiratory failure, and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, total hospital costs, and the individual components of the composite endpoint. Results The propensity-score matched-pairs cohort consisted of 27,206 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with (400 of 13,603; 2.9%) and without (415 of 13,603; 3.1%) a reported active cannabis use disorder with regard to the composite perioperative outcome (unadjusted odds ratio = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.42; P < 0.001; Adjusted odds ratio = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.11; P = 0.63). However, the adjusted odds of postoperative myocardial infarction was 1.88 (95% CI, 1.31 to 2.69; P < 0.001) times higher for patients with a reported active cannabis use disorder (89 of 13,603; 0.7%) compared with those without (46 of 13,603; 0.3%) an active cannabis use disorder (unadjusted odds ratio = 2.88; 95% CI, 2.34 to 3.55; P < 0.001). Conclusions An active cannabis use disorder is associated with an increased perioperative risk of myocardial infarction. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Acute pain management of patients on buprenorphine for opioid use disorder remains a challenge. The buprenorphine extended-release depot injection which lasts for 1 month and has a higher plasma concentration of buprenorphine compared to the sublingual formulation is increasingly being used in patients. Acute pain management of patients on buprenorphine depot remains a challenge because waiting for the washout of the medication is not feasible and discontinuation is challenging because it requires surgical excision. We describe here the pharmacokinetics of the buprenorphine depot formulation and the clinical implications of its long duration of action. A 39-year-old woman with a history of alcohol and opioid use disorder, on buprenorphine depot, was admitted to the hospital with a left tibial plateau fracture. Acute pain service managed her pain by utilizing a multimodal analgesia plan including femoral and popliteal nerve catheters, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia and oral opioid and nonopioid medications. The patient had a prolonged length of stay of 11 days but was successfully weaned off nerve catheters and intravenous medications and converted to an oral medication regiment such that she could be discharged from the acute care hospital.

Many hospital and provincial-level recommendations now advise a tailored approach to postoperative opioid prescribing; recent trends in postoperative prescribing at the population level have not been well described.This population-based cohort study included opioid-naïve patients ≥ 18 yr of age who underwent one of 16 surgical procedures with varying anticipated postoperative pain between July 2013 and March 2020. We evaluated the rate of filled opioid prescriptions within seven days postoperatively, the total morphine milligram equivalent (MME) dose, duration, and type of the first opioid prescription. We then compared the MMEs in initial opioid prescriptions with available procedure-specific recommendations.The sample included 900,989 opioid-naïve patients (mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of 50 [17] 31 yr; 66% women). The percentage of patients filling an opioid prescription within 7 days postoperatively increased from 65% in 2013 to 69% in 2016, and returned to the baseline (65%) in 2019. The mean (SD) MMEs dispensed increased until 2015/2016 and then declined (226 [176] MMEs in 2013, 240 [202] MMEs in 2016, and 175 [175] MMEs in 2019). The most frequently prescribed opioid in 2013 was oxycodone compared with hydromorphone in 2019. Among patients who filled an opioid prescription in 2013, 67% were prescribed an opioid dose higher than those in one set of available prescribing recommendations, while in 2019, 41% were prescribed doses above those stated in recommendations.While the proportion of patients filling an opioid prescription postoperatively remained s during the study period, MMEs decreased after 2016. Opioid prescribing remained significantly higher than available prescribing recommendations, particularly among low pain procedures. These findings highlight the need to identify strategies that improve adherence to surgery-specific prescribing guidelines in North America.RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: De nombreuses recommandations à l’échelle hospitalière et provinciale préconisent aujourd’hui une approche personnalisée de la prescription d’opioïdes postopératoires; les tendances récentes de la prescription postopératoire au niveau de la population n’ont pas été bien décrites. MéTHODE: Cette étude de cohorte basée sur la population englobait des patients naïfs aux opioïdes et âgés de ≥ 18 ans ayant bénéficié de l’une de 16 interventions chirurgicales entraînant une douleur postopératoire anticipée variable entre juillet 2013 et mars 2020. Nous avons évalué le taux d’ordonnances d’opioïdes remplies dans les sept jours suivant l’opération, la dose totale d’équivalent en milligrammes de morphine (EMM), ainsi que la durée et le type de la première ordonnance d’opioïdes. Nous avons ensuite comparé les EMM des ordonnances initiales d’opioïdes avec les recommandations spécifiques à l’intervention disponibles. RéSULTATS: L’échantillon comprenait 900 989 patients naïfs aux opioïdes (âge moyen [écart type (ET)] de 50 [17] ans; 66 % de femmes). La proportion de patients remplissant une ordonnance d’opioïdes dans les 7 jours suivant l’opération est passée de 65 % en 2013 à 69 % en 2016, et est revenue à la valeur de référence (65 %) en 2019. Les EMM moyens (ET) administrés ont augmenté jusqu’en 2015-2016, puis ont diminué (226 [176] EMM en 2013, 240 [202] EMM en 2016 et 175 [175] EMM en 2019). L’opioïde le plus fréquemment prescrit en 2013 était l’oxycodone par rapport à l’hydromorphone en 2019. Parmi les patients qui ont rempli une ordonnance d’opioïdes en 2013, 67 % se sont vu prescrire une dose d’opioïdes supérieure à celle d’un ensemble de recommandations de prescription disponibles, tandis qu’en 2019, 41 % se sont vu prescrire des doses supérieures à celles indiquées dans les recommandations. CONCLUSION: Alors que la proportion de patients remplissant une ordonnance d’opioïdes en période postopératoire est restée stable au cours de la période d’étude, les EMM ont diminué après 2016. La prescription d’opioïdes est demeurée beaucoup plus élevée que les recommandations de prescription disponibles, en particulier dans le cas d’interventions à faible douleur. Ces résultats soulignent la nécessité d’identifier des stratégies pour améliorer l’adhérence aux recommandations de prescription spécifiques au type de chirurgie en Amérique du Nord.

Summary Until recently, the belief that adequate pain management was not achievable while patients remained on buprenorphine was the impetus for the perioperative discontinuation of buprenorphine. We aimed to use an expert consensus Delphi-based survey technique to 1) specify the need for perioperative guidelines in this context and 2) offer a set of recommendations for the perioperative management of these patients. The major recommendation of this practice advisory is to continue buprenorphine therapy in the perioperative period. It is rarely appropriate to reduce the buprenorphine dose irrespective of indication or formulation. If analgesia is inadequate after optimisation of adjunct analgesic therapies, we recommend initiating a full mu agonist while continuing buprenorphine at some dose. The panel believes that before operation, physicians must distinguish between buprenorphine use for chronic pain (weaning/conversion from long-term high-dose opioids) and opioid use disorder (OUD) as the primary indication for buprenorphine therapy. Patients should ideally be discharged on buprenorphine, although not necessarily at their preoperative dose. Depending on analgesic requirements, they may be discharged on a full mu agonist. Overall, long-term buprenorphine treatment retention and harm reduction must be considered during the perioperative period when OUD is a primary diagnosis. The authors recognise that inter-patient variability will require some individualisation of clinical practice advisories. Clinical practice advisories are largely based on lower classes of evidence (level 4, level 5). Further research is required in order to implement meaningful changes in practitioner behaviour for this patient group.

Introduction: Physeal injuries of proximal tibia are uncommon and constitute only 1% of all physeal injuries. Major vessel injuries are also rare in children and occur in 0.6% trauma cases, out of which, injuries of popliteal artery comprise only 5%. The combination of these is an extremely rare injury pattern but is potentially limb threatening. Most of the cases of physeal injuries of proximal tibia along with popliteal artery compromise, reported in the literature include Salter Harris (SH) type II, III, and IV patterns (type II being most common) with pure type I being extremely rare. Case Report: We describe a rare posteriorly displaced pure SH I injury of proximal tibial physis with compromised vascularity of the limb. Immediate closed reduction and stabilization with Kirschner wires (K-wires) restored the vascularity of the limb and the patient went on to have a good functional recovery at the last follow-up of 1 year. Conclusion: Vascular injuries occurring in SH 1 proximal tibial physeal fractures are often overlooked or missed due to the relatively benign appearance of slip with no sharp fragments to injure major vessels. Close monitoring of neurovascular status and a low threshold for fixation, for example, with K-wires, are important to prevent limb threatening ischemia in these relatively simple appearing injuries. Keywords: Hyperextension injury, physeal injury, proximal tibia, Salter-Harris 1, vascular injury.

This Consensus Statement provides recommendations on the prescription of pain medication at discharge from hospital for opioid-naïve adult patients who undergo elective surgery. It encourages health care providers (surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses/nurse practitioners, pain teams, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and trainees) to (1) use nonopioid therapies and reduce the prescription of opioids so that fewer opioid pills are available for diversion and (2) educate patients and their families/caregivers about pain management options after surgery to optimize quality of care for postoperative pain. These recommendations apply to opioid-naïve adult patients who undergo elective surgery. This consensus statement is intended for use by health care providers involved in the management and care of surgical patients. A modified Delphi process was used to reach consensus on the recommendations. First, the authors conducted a scoping review of the literature to determine current best practices and existing guidelines. From the available literature and expertise of the authors, a draft list of recommendations was created. Second, the authors asked key stakeholders to review and provide feedback on several drafts of the document and attend an in-person consensus meeting. The modified Delphi stakeholder group included surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, fellows, nurses, pharmacists, and patients. After multiple iterations, the document was deemed complete. The recommendations are not graded because they are mostly based on consensus rather than evidence.Cette déclaration de consensus fait des recommandations pour la prescription d'analgésiques à la sortie de l'hôpital pour les patients adultes n'ayant jamais pris d'opiacés et qui subissent une intervention chirurgicale non urgente. Elle encourage les prestataires de soins de santé (chirurgiens, anesthésiologistes, infirmières et infirmiers, infirmières et infirmiers praticiens, équipes antidouleur, pharmaciens, professionnels de la santé et stagiaires) à (1) utiliser des traitements non opiacés et à réduire la prescription d'opiacés afin de réduire le nombre de pilules opiacées pouvant être détournées; et (2) à éduquer les patients, ainsi que leurs familles et soignants, sur les options de prise en charge de la douleur après l'opération afin d'optimiser la qualité des soins pour la douleur postopératoire.Ces recommandations s'appliquent aux patients adultes n'ayant jamais pris d'opioïdes et qui subissent une intervention chirurgicale non urgente. Cette déclaration de consensus est destinée à être utilisée par les prestataires de soins de santé impliqués dans la prise en charge des patients opérés et les soins qui leur sont apportés.Un processus Delphi modifié a été utilisé pour parvenir à un consensus sur les recommandations. Tout d'abord, les auteurs ont procédé à une de la portée de la littérature afin de déterminer les pratiques exemplaires actuelles et les lignes directrices existantes. À partir de la littérature disponible et de l'expertise des auteurs, une liste provisoire de recommandations a été créée. Ensuite, les auteurs ont demandé aux principales parties prenantes d'examiner et de commenter plusieurs versions préliminaires du document et d'assister à une réunion de consensus en personne. Le groupe des parties prenantes du processus Delphi modifié comprenait des chirurgiens, des anesthésiologistes, des résidents, des fellows, des infirmières et infirmiers, des pharmaciens et des patients. Après de multiples itérations, le document a été jugé complet. Les recommandations n'ont pas été notées car elles étaient fondées sur un consensus plutôt que sur des données probantes.

Purpose We sought to assess clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes following treatment of extra-articular malunions of the distal radius using a multiplanar z-corrective osteotomy. Methods Fifteen patients with extra-articular distal radius malunions (13 dorsal and 2 volar) underwent z-corrective osteotomy and volar plate fixation without bone grafting . Correction and maintenance of each deformity was evaluated in terms of various radiographic indices (radial height; volar and radial tilt); osteotomy union; pain (visual analog scale); grip strength; range of motion; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores; and Mayo wrist scores. Results The mean follow-up was 16.4 months. The mean radial height was corrected from -1.3 mm to 4.9 mm. The mean ulnar variance improved from 4.3 mm to -0.4 mm. The sagittal radial tilt and radial inclination were restored from a mean of -17.9° (dorsal) to 3.3° (volar) and from 12.0° to 17.2°, respectively. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Mayo wrist scores improved from means of 36 and 56 preoperatively to 24.8 and 73.3, respectively, at 6 months and further to 20.6 and 77.6, respectively, at the last follow-up. There were no nonunions or tendon-related problems. The mean pain score decreased from 4.1 preoperatively to 1.0 at 6 months and 0.8 at the last follow-up. The mean grip strength improved from 5.6 kg preoperatively to 15.6 kg at 6 months and 19.7 kg at the last follow-up. There was a statistically significant improvement in range of motion at the wrist. Conclusions The z-osteotomy provides correction of deformity in all 3 planes, along with restoration of radial height. It also maintains a broad area of bone contact between the 2 osteotomized bone fragments, facilitating bony union and eliminating the need for bone grafting. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.

We propose a paradigm for realizing the SYK model within string theory. Using the large $N$ matrix description of $c, 22 pages, 2 figures, v2: with addendum

BOOTROM is the piece of code that is hardcoded into the ROM mask of the device during manufacturing. This code is responsible for the booting of the device and to download final customer applications. This downloading and booting can be possible through multiple ways, i.e. serial download through LIN [1], UART [2], ENET interface, flash booting, SD card booting etc. As BOOT ROM code is the critical piece of firmware, so its validation becomes imp erative. As this code goes on ROM mask, so any failure detected on silicon will result in re-spin of the device, so it is must to have a robust testing of this firmware in the pre-silicon environment. In this paper, we will touch upon, one of the booting modes (Serial boot) testing in a pre-silicon environment (or framework). We will discuss the challenges and techniques to overcome them.

Introduction With increasing prevalence of coronavirus cases (including among health care providers), the current advice for orthopaedic surgeons is to favor non-operative management of most injuries and reduce face-to-face follow-up. We present our experience in managing the patients at Government-run non-COVID-19 trauma center in Delhi in an algorithmic form. Our standard operating protocols were mainly based on recommendations of Indian Orthopaedic Association and targeted to provide healthcare at a minimum risk to the treating team as well as other patients admitted to the hospital. Methodology We describe the inflow, in-hospital management and outflow of patients at our facility during the lockdown period and in the following unlock period (from 23 March to 8 July 2020). Those patients who had absolute indications for surgery were offered surgery, while conservative treatment was more favored in those with relative indications. We also highlight the changes incorporated in OT settings as well as in rehabilitative and follow-up period. Results Following the described protocol helped us maintain a balance between the safety of patients and our front line workers which was evident by very low COVID-19-positive rate in admitted patients (4.22%) and health care providers (16.67%) in the above-mentioned time period. Conclusions We need to be prepared to cohabitate with this deadly Novel Coronavirus and adapt our surgical practices according to the need of the hour by minimizing surgical indications and strengthening the training in conservative principles.

Summary In many countries, liberalisation of the legislation regulating the use of cannabis has outpaced rigorous scientific studies, and a growing number of patients presenting for surgery consume cannabis regularly. Research to date suggests that cannabis can impact perioperative outcomes. We present recommendations obtained using a modified Delphi method for the perioperative care of cannabis-using patients. A steering committee was formed and a review of medical literature with respect to perioperative cannabis use was conducted. This was followed by the recruitment of a panel of 17 experts on the care of cannabis-consuming patients. Panellists were blinded to each other's participation and were provided with rater forms exploring the appropriateness of specific perioperative care elements. The completed rater forms were analysed for consensus. The expert panel was then unblinded and met to discuss the rater form analyses. Draft recommendations were then created and returned to the expert panel for further comment. The draft recommendations were also sent to four independent reviewers (a surgeon, a nurse practitioner, and two patients). The collected feedback was used to finalise the recommendations. The major recommendations obtained included emphasising the importance of eliciting a history of cannabis use, quantifying it, and ensuring contact with a cannabis authoriser (if one exists). Recommendations also included the consideration of perioperative cannabis weaning, additional postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis, and additional attention to monitoring and maintaining anaesthetic depth. Postoperative recommendations included anticipating increased postoperative analgesic requirements and maintaining vigilance for cannabis withdrawal syndrome.

IntroductionAt the conception of this study (January 2019), a literature search by the authors found no evidence-based or consensus perioperative guidelines for patients consuming cannabis products, or for those patients in whom a cannabinoid medication could be considered for perioperative treatment. Currently, there is a large global population that consumes cannabis. The availability of cannabis has also increased this decade with greater legal access to cannabis products in some countries such as USA, Canada, Uruguay, Israel, Australia and Germany. There are recognised possible therapeutic benefits for the use of cannabis in patients with chronic pain, chronic neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. There are also potential side effects from cannabis use such as psychosis, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, misuse disorder and cannabis withdrawal syndrome. There is evidence that cannabis may also affect factors in the perioperative period such as monitoring, quality of analgesia, sleep and opioid consumption. Given the large population of persons using cannabis, the heterogeneity of cannabis products and the paucity (and heterogeneity) of perioperative literature surrounding it, perioperative guidelines for cannabis consuming patients are both lacking and necessary. In this paper, we present the design for a modified Delphi technique that has been started with the intent of deriving cannabis perioperative guidelines from the available medical literature and the consensus of multidisciplinary experts.Materials, methods and analysisThis study will use a scoping narrative literature review and modified Delphi process to generate cannabis perioperative guidelines. A scoping narrative review of cannabis in the perioperative period by the authors of this proposal was completed and provided to a panel of 17 experts. These experts were recruited for their knowledge and expertise regarding cannabis and/or perioperative medicine. They were asked to rate a series of indications and clinical scenarios in two rounds. During the first round, the expert panel was blinded to each other’s participation. During the second round of this process, the expert panel met after being provided with an analysis of the first round’s submissions so they could be discussed further and, if possible, reach a further consensus regarding them. Using the results obtained from the Delphi review process, a draft of proposed cannabis perioperative guidelines will be generated. These proposed guidelines will be returned to the expert panel for critiquing prior to their finalisation.Ethics and disseminationStudy and panellist data will be deidentified and stored as per institutional (Toronto General Hospital) guidelines. Institutional research ethics board provided a waiver for this modified Delphi protocol. Findings will be presented and published in peer-reviewed publications and conferences.

A tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a benign lesion whose presence in Hoffa's pad has rarely been reported. This unique case report discusses a 33-year-old female patient who presented with swelling and pain in her left knee. Clinical and MRI findings were used to make the diagnosis, which was confirmed on a histopathological basis. The patient had a large tumor (5 × 3 × 3 cm) in Hoffa's fat pad, which was diagnosed as TGCT and managed with open resection due to its size. At follow-up after 20 months, the patient was asymptomatic, and there was no local recurrence of the tumor.

Osteoblastomas are rare, benign, bone-forming neoplasms that represent less than 1% of all bone tumors and occur mostly in people aged 10 to 30 years. In long bones, the metadiaphyseal region tends to be most commonly affected. However, to the best of our knowledge, only 11 cases have been reported to occur in the distal radius. We present the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of an osteoblastoma of the right distal radius in a 42-year-old woman for whom an open excisional biopsy with nidus removal comprised the treatment and produced a good outcome.

An increasing number of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are treated with opioid agonist-antagonists such as buprenorphine/naloxone. Perioperative management of patients on buprenorphine/naloxone is inconsistent and remains a controversial topic with mismanagement posing a significant risk to the long-term health of these patients. We performed a systematic literature search involving Medline, Medline In-Process, Embase, Cochrane Central, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, Web of Science (Clarivate), Scopus (Elsevier), CINAHL (EbscoHosst), and PubMed (NLM). Eighteen studies were included in the final sample, including one controlled study and four observational studies . Neither the controlled study nor the observational studies assessed addiction treatment retention, harm reduction, or long-term mortality rates as primary or secondary outcomes. Of the observational studies, authors showed equivalent peri- and postoperative pain control among buprenorphine continued patients. All but one authors described adequate analgesia among the case reports in which buprenorphine ≤ 16 mg sublingually (SL) daily was continued during the perioperative period. Long-term harm reduction was not reported with only three case reports including any long-term abstinence or relapse rates. The current understanding of the risks and benefits of continuing or stopping buprenorphine perioperatively is limited by a lack of high-quality evidence. Observational studies and case reports indicate no evidence against continuing buprenorphine perioperatively, especially when the dose is < 16 mg SL daily. In patients with significant potential for relapse, such as those with a recent history of OUD, the discontinuation of buprenorphine should have a strong rationale supported by patient and surgical preferences. Future studies require standardized reporting of median doses, details on the route of delivery, dosing schedules and any dosing changes, and rates of addiction relapse, including long-term morbidity and mortality where possible.

Heavy cannabis use is known to have an adverse impact on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes in the general population and in patients presenting for surgery. However, there have been no studies that have focused on patients undergoing vascular surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to determine the perioperative risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD), primarily cardiovascular risk, in perioperative vascular surgery patients.Using the National Inpatient Sample from 2006 to 2015, we conducted a retrospective cohort study involving those undergoing one of six elective and emergent vascular surgical procedures (carotid endarterectomy [CEA], infrainguinal bypasses, open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortobifemoral bypass, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, or peripheral arterial endovascular procedures). Patients with CUD identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, were matched with patients without CUD in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores. The primary outcome was perioperative myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary outcomes include stroke, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, respiratory failure, in-hospital mortality, total cost, and length of stay.We identified a total cohort of 510,007 patients. Over the study period, the recorded prevalence of CUD increased from 1.3/1000 to 10.3/1000 admissions (P .001). After propensity score matching the cohort consisted of 4684 patients. Those with CUD had a higher incidence of perioperative MI (3.3% vs 2.1%; odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.24; P = .016) and perioperative stroke (5.5% vs 3.5%; OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.20-2.12; P = .0013) than patients without CUD. In a sensitivity analysis, where the risk was evaluated separately by type of procedure, the higher incidence of perioperative stroke was primarily seen among those undergoing CEA. Patients with CUD had a lower incidence of sepsis (3.3% vs 5.1%; OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85; P = .0024). We obtained similar results in a sensitivity analysis that included all patients in the complete unmatched cohort and adjusted for confounding using logistic regression models accounting for the survey design, although the findings of sepsis and stroke failed to reach statistical significance after correcting for multiple testing (MI P = .001; stroke P = .031; sepsis P = .009).CUD was associated with a significantly higher incidence of perioperative MI in vascular surgery patients. Those with CUD had a greater incidence of diagnosis of acute perioperative stroke when undergoing CEA. Owing to limitations in administrative data, it is unclear if this represents a true effect or selection bias. These findings warrant further investigation in a prospective cohort.

Overprescribing of opioids to patients following surgery is a public health concern, as unused pills may be diverted and contribute to opioid misuse and dependence. The objectives of this study were to determine current opioid-prescribing patterns for common surgical procedures, factors that affect surgeons’ prescribing behaviour and their perceived ability to manage patients with opioid use disorder.Survey participants included all consultant and trainee surgeons at the University of Toronto. The survey, which was administered electronically, included 52 multiple-choice, rank-order and open-text questions eliciting information on current prescribing patterns, prescribing of adjunct pain medications, and education and other factors related to opioid prescribing. Staff surgeons were also asked about how they manage patients with a suspected opioid issue.Eighty surgical trainees and 40 staff surgeons responded to the survey (response rate 32%). Five staff surgeons (12%) felt adequately educated to prescribe pain medications (including opioids) at discharge. Staff surgeons prescribed Tylenol 3 more frequently than other opioids. Twenty (51%) of 39 staff surgeons reported that they sought further help for their patients when an opioid use disorder was suspected.Our results support existing studies showing a large degree of variability in postoperative opioid prescribing. Institutional guidelines have been shown to be effective in curbing excessive opioid prescribing without increasing unnecessary emergency department visits for uncontrolled pain. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop institutional guidelines to educate surgical teams in the prescribing of opioids and about services available for patients with a substance use disorder.La surprescription d’opioïdes aux patients après une chirurgie représente un problème de santé publique car il y a un risque que les comprimés inutilisés soient détournés et utilisés à mauvais escient, voire qu’ils causent la dépendance. Cette étude avait pour objectif d’identifier les modes actuels de prescription des opioïdes pour les chirurgies courantes, les facteurs qui influent sur les habitudes de prescription des chirurgiens et leur capacité perçue à prendre en charge les cas de mésusage des opioïdes.Les participants au sondage étaient tous les chirurgiens en poste et en formation à l’Université de Toronto. Ce sondage administré par voie électronique comprenait 52 questions (choix multiples, échelles ordinales et ouvertes) qui visaient à recueillir des renseignements sur les modes actuels de prescription, la prescription d’analgésiques d’appoint, l’enseignement au patient et autres éléments relatifs à la prescription des opioïdes. Les chirurgiens en poste ont aussi été interrogés sur leur gestion des cas présumés de mésusage des opioïdes.Quatre-vingt chirurgiens en formation et 40 chirurgiens en poste ont répondu au sondage (taux de réponse, 32 %). Cinq chirurgiens en poste (12 %) se sont estimés adéquatement renseignés sur la façon de prescrire les analgésiques, (y compris les opioïdes) au moment du congé. Les chirurgiens en poste prescrivaient Tylenol 3 fois plus souvent que d’autres opioïdes. Vingt (51 %) chirurgiens en poste sur 39 ont dit consulter s’ils avaient besoin d’aide pour la prise en charge de patients soupçonnés de présenter un problème de mésusage des opioïdes.Nos résultats viennent étayer les conclusions d’études existantes selon lesquelles les modes de prescription des opioïdes en postopératoire varient grandement. Il a été démontré que l’adoption de lignes directrices institutionnelles permet de limiter efficacement la surprescription des opioïdes sans accroître indument le nombre de consultations aux urgences pour douleur non maîtrisée. Il y a donc là une possibilité d’adopter à plus grande échelle les lignes directrices institutionnelles pour sensibiliser les équipes chirurgicales à l’utilisation judicieuse des opioïdes et à l’existence des services à l’intention des patients qui présentent un problème de mésusage.

We analyze the cosmological solutions to the recently proposed nonlocal quantum effective action for gravity with a cosmological term. We show that the vacuum energy decays with a slow-roll parameter proportional to the anomalous gravitational dressings., 19 pages

As countries progressively embrace the legalization of both medicinal and recreational cannabis, there remains a significant knowledge gap when it comes to the perioperative uses of cannabis, as well as the management of cannabis users. This review summarizes the information available on the subject based on existing published studies. Articles outlining the physiological changes occurring in the human body during acute and chronic use of cannabis (outside the context of anesthesia) are also taken into consideration as understanding these changes allows a more calculated approach to better anticipate patients' needs in the perioperative setting. Common questions facing the anesthesiologist at each phase of the perioperative period will be addressed and a systematic approach to the effect of cannabinoids on various organ systems will also be presented. Issues unique to cannabis use such as cannabis withdrawal syndrome and alterations in post-operative pain processing will also be discussed. To date, the number of studies available for guidance is small and study designs are markedly heterogenous, if not limited, making conclusions challenging. While the currently available information can assist in making decisions, further studies of larger scale are eagerly anticipated to help guide future patient care.

Perioperative diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has important resource implications as screening questionnaires are overly sensitive, and sleep studies are expensive and time-consuming. Ultrasound (US) is a portable, noninvasive tool potentially useful for airway evaluation and OSA screening in the perioperative period. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the correlation of surface US with OSA diagnosis and to determine whether a point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) for OSA screening may help with improved screening in perioperative period.A search of all electronic databases including Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted from database inception to September 2017. Inclusion criteria were observational cohort studies and randomized controlled trials of known or suspected OSA patients undergoing surface US assessment. Article screening, data extraction, and summarization were conducted by 2 independent reviewers with ability to resolve conflict with supervising authors. Diagnostic properties and association between US parameters (index test) and OSA diagnosis using sleep study (reference standard) were evaluated. The US parameters were divided into airway and nonairway parameters. A random-effects meta-analysis was planned, wherever applicable.Of the initial 3865 screened articles, 21 studies (7 airway and 14 nonairway) evaluating 3339 patients were included. Majority of studies were conducted in the general population (49%), respirology (23%), and sleep clinics (12%). No study evaluated the use of US for OSA in perioperative setting. Majority of included studies had low risk of bias for reference standard and flow and timing. Airway US parameters having moderate-good correlation with moderate-severe OSA were distance between lingual arteries (DLAs30 mm; sensitivity, 0.67; specificity, 0.59; 1 study/66 patients); mean resting tongue thickness (60 mm; sensitivity, 0.85; specificity, 0.59; 1 study/66 patients); tongue base thickness during Muller maneuver (MM; sensitivity, 0.59; specificity, 0.78; 1 study/66 patients); and a combination of neck circumference and retropalatal (RP) diameter shortening during MM (sensitivity, 1.0; specificity, 0.65; 1 study/104 patients). Nonairway US parameters having a low-moderate correlation with moderate-severe OSA were carotid intimal thickness (pooled correlation coefficient, 0.444; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.320-0.553; P value = .000, 8 studies/727 patients) and plaque presence (sensitivity, 0.24-0.75; specificity, 0.13-1.0; 4 studies/1183 patients).We found that a number of airway and nonairway parameters were identified with moderate to good correlation with OSA diagnosis in the general population. In future studies, it remains to be seen whether PoCUS screening for a combination of these parameters can address the pitfalls of OSA screening questionnaires.

IntroductionThe ongoing opioid epidemic has necessitated increasing prescriptions of buprenorphine, which is an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder, and also shown to reduce harms associated with unsafe opioid administration. A systematic review of perioperative management strategies for patients taking buprenorphine concluded that there was little guidance for managing buprenorphine perioperatively. The aim of this project is to develop consensus guidelines on the optimal perioperative management strategies for this group of patients. In this paper, we present the design for a modified Delphi technique that will be used to gain consensus among patients and multidisciplinary experts in addiction, pain, community and perioperative medicine.Methods and analysisA national panel of experts identified by perioperative, pain and/or addiction systematic review authorship established an international profile in perioperative, pain and/or addiction research, community clinical excellence and by peer referral. A steering group will develop the first round with a list of indications to be rated by the panel of national experts, patients and allied healthcare professionals. In round 1, the expert panel will rate the appropriateness of each individual item and provide additional suggestions for revisions, additions or deletions. The definition of consensus will be seta priori. Consensus will be gauged for both appropriateness and inappropriateness of treatment strategies. Where an agreement is not reached and items are suggested for addition/deletion/modification, round 2 will take place over teleconference in order to obtain consensus.Ethics and disseminationInstitutional research ethics board provided a waiver for this modified Delphi protocol. We plan on developing a national guideline for the management of patients taking buprenorphine in the perioperative period that will be generalisable across three sets of preoperative diagnoses including opioid use disorder and/or co-occurring pain disorders. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm generally located in the epiphysis and metaphysis of the long bones. Its occurrence in the bones of the hand is rare. Giant cell tumors occurring in the hand account for only 2% of all the GCTs reported. The epimetaphyseal region of short long bones is a common site of GCTs in the hand; however, a phalangeal GCT originating in the distal phalanx is extremely rare. We present the clinical, radiological and histopathological findings of a case of GCT of the distal phalanx of the left ring finger presenting with a fungating mass and treated with en bloc resection by disarticulation of the distal interphalangeal joint.

Cervical epidural analgesia (CEA) is an analgesic technique, potentially useful for surgeries involving the upper body. Despite the inherent technical risks and systemic changes, it has been used for various surgeries. There have been no previously published systematic reviews aimed at assessing its clinical utility. This systematic review was performed to explore the perioperative benefits of CEA. The review was also aimed at identifying the rationale of its use, reported surgical indications and the method of use. We performed a literature search involving PubMed and Embase databases, to identify studies using CEA for surgical indications. Out of 467 potentially relevant articles, 73 articles were selected. Two independent investigators extracted data involving 5 randomized controlled trials, 17 observational comparative trials, and 51 case reports (series). The outcomes studied in most comparative studies were on effects of local anaesthetics and other agents, systemic effects, and feasibility of CEA. In one randomized controlled study, CEA was observed to decrease the resting pain scores after pharyngo-laryngeal surgeries. In a retrospective study, CEA was shown to decrease the cancer recurrence after pharyngeal-hypopharyngeal surgeries. The limited evidence, small studies, and the chosen outcomes do not allow for any specific recommendations based on the relative benefit or harm of CEA. Considering the potential for significant harm, in the face of better alternatives, its use must have a strong rationale mostly supported by unique patient and surgical demands. Future studies must aim to assess analgesic comparator effectiveness for clinically relevant outcomes.