Search

Background We investigated the use of a conduit splinting technique to mitigate tension at the coaptation site of a rodent nerve defect model to determine the optimal reconstruction method for segmental nerve defects. Methods A rat sciatic nerve segmental defect model was created by excising 5mm of the sciatic nerve unilaterally. Four groups of 10 rats were each reconstructed using 1 of 4 techniques: primary repair, repair with conduit splinting, reverse isograft with conduit splinting, and reverse isograft without splinting. Functional outcomes were assessed at 6 weeks by measurement of Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), and sciatic nerves were harvested at the nonsurvival surgery. Histomorphologic measurements were reported as a value normalized to the average measurements of the control side. The primary outcomes were assessment of nerve continuity and the proportion of nerve fibers in the regenerating nerve compared with the uninjured side. Results The number of repair site rupture rates was lower when a conduit splint was used—less than half of the primary repairs under tension remained intact at 6 weeks. No difference was seen in axon number, size, and density between primary repairs and those augmented by conduit splints, but worse functional outcomes and more debris were present compared with the intact primary repairs. Conclusions Nerve conduit splinting reduced rupture rates, particularly for nerve repairs associated with a segmental defect. No significant difference was seen in the number of axons among techniques. Primary nerve repair under tension that did not rupture demonstrated superior SFI.

Background Given the modest functional outcomes seen after surgical reconstruction and subsequent therapy, increasing attention is being directed to patient satisfaction and psychological aspects of recovery after brachial plexus injury (BPI). Purpose To better understand the recovery course after surgical reconstruction for BPI, we used qualitative interviews and focused on common points of frustration for patients. Study Design Qualitative, interpretive description study Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with BPI patients who were 6+ months post-surgical reconstruction. The interview focused on the patients’ experience with BPI, focusing on emotional aspects of recovery. Interviews were transcribed and independently coded by 2 researchers. We used inductive and deductive analysis to organize codes into themes. Once thematic saturation was reached, no additional interviews were conducted. Results We interviewed 15 BPI patients at median 13 months after surgery (range: 6-43 months). Our analysis revealed: (1) BPI patients expressed variable degrees of participation during recovery, with the indeterminate state of function making it difficult to adjust to life after BPI. (2) The uncertainty while waiting for improved function is frustrating to BPI patients, with many patients expressing concern for activities and moments they are missing due to injury. (3) While many BPI patients feel left out of decision-making, those who felt engaged in the process expressed less frustration and more acceptance of their status. Conclusion Traumatic BPI patients those who felt engaged in decision-making were more receptive to adjustment to their new state of function. When coordinating multidisciplinary care, measures to encourage patients to feel agency over their outcome and to develop self-management skills have the potential to improve patient satisfaction.

This study aimed to evaluate the status of newly-hired public school teachers in terms of their TPACK Components and Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) as indicated in their e-learning readiness, perceived effectiveness, attitude, satisfaction, and anxiety. Quantitative research particularly the correlational research design was employed in this study. Thirty-four(34) purposefully selected newly hired public school teachers were the participants of the study. Results showed that among the TPACK components, those that have technology integration were among the areas where teacher-participants need major improvement. Their ERT Readiness scores showed 55.5% of the teacher-participants scored low in e-Learning Readiness, 55.9% scored moderately in perceived effectiveness, 73.5% were neutral in terms of attitude towards ERT, 58.8% moderately satisfied with ERT implementation, and 61.8% showed no anxiety. Findings showed a moderately positive and significant correlation between perceived effectiveness and attitude (r=.56, p

Background Although depressive and anxious symptoms negatively impact musculoskeletal health and orthopedic outcomes, a gap remains in identifying modalities through which mental health intervention can realistically be delivered during orthopedic care. The purpose of this study was to understand orthopedic stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of digital, printed, and in-person intervention modalities to address mental health as part of orthopedic care. Methods This single-center, qualitative study was conducted within a tertiary care orthopedic department. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and May 2022. Two stakeholder groups were interviewed using a purposive sampling approach until thematic saturation was reached. The first group included adult orthopedic patients who presented for management of ≥ 3 months of neck or back pain. The second group included early, mid, and late career orthopedic clinicians and support staff members. Stakeholders’ interview responses were analyzed using deductive and inductive coding approaches followed by thematic analysis. Patients also performed usability testing of one digital and one printed mental health intervention. Results Patients included 30 adults out of 85 approached (mean (SD) age 59 [14] years, 21 (70%) women, 12 (40%) non-White). Clinical team stakeholders included 22 orthopedic clinicians and support staff members out of 25 approached (11 (50%) women, 6 (27%) non-White). Clinical team members perceived a digital mental health intervention to be feasible and scalable to implement, and many patients appreciated that the digital modality offered privacy, immediate access to resources, and the ability to engage during non-business hours. However, stakeholders also expressed that a printed mental health resource is still necessary to meet the needs of patients who prefer and/or can only engage with tangible, rather than digital, mental health resources. Many clinical team members expressed skepticism regarding the current feasibility of scalably incorporating in-person support from a mental health specialist into orthopedic care. Conclusions Although digital intervention offers implementation-related advantages over printed and in-person mental health interventions, a subset of often underserved patients will not currently be reached using exclusively digital intervention. Future research should work to identify combinations of effective mental health interventions that provide equitable access for orthopedic patients. Trial registration Not applicable.

Introduction Automated measurement of digital range of motion (ROM) may improve the accuracy of reporting and increase clinical efficiency. We hypothesize that a 3-D camera on a custom gantry will produce ROM measurements similar to those obtained with a manual goniometer. Methods A 3-D camera mounted on a custom gantry, was mechanized to rotate 200° around a platform. The video was processed to segment each digit and calculate joint angles in people with no history of any hand conditions or surgery to validate the system. A second-generation prototype was then assessed in people with different hand conditions. Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint flexion were measured repeatedly with a goniometer and the automated system. The average difference between manual and automatic measurements was calculated along with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results In the initial validation, 1,488 manual and 1,488 automated joint measurements were obtained and the measurement algorithm was refined. In people with hand conditions, 688 manual and 688 automated joint measurements were compared. Average acquisition time was 7 s per hand, with an additional 2–3 s required for data processing. ICC between manual and automated data in the clinical study ranged from 0.65 to 0.85 for the MCP joints, and 0.22 to 0.66 for PIP joints. Discussion The automated system resulted in rapid data acquisition, with reliability varying by type of joint and location. It has the potential to improve efficiency in the collection of physical exam findings. Further developments of the system are needed to measure thumb and distal phalangeal motions.

Similar to many other medical training programs, fellowship interviews for hand surgery will be conducted virtually for a second consecutive year. We provide strategies for applicants to ideally portray themselves and to learn about fellowship programs. We include approaches for fellowship programs to identify candidates that match their values as a program, as well as ways to provide useful information to applicants about the program's culture. Given that components of virtual interviewing and recruitment will likely be an ongoing part of fellowship applications, we hope this article provides a framework to guide both applicants and program faculty for the 2021 to 2022 cycle and beyond.

Foot drop is a common clinical condition which may substantially impact physical function and health-related quality of life. The etiologies of foot drop are diverse and a detailed history and physical examination are essential in understanding the underlying pathophysiology and capacity for spontaneous recovery. Patients presenting with acute foot drop or those without significant spontaneous recovery of motor deficits may be candidates for surgical intervention. The timing, mechanism, and severity of neural injury resulting in foot drop influence the selection of the most appropriate peripheral nerve surgery, which may include direct nerve repair, neurolysis, nerve grafting, or nerve transfer.

Recent efforts have been made by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand to encourage female inclusion in expert panels. We hypothesized that female representation on expert panels has increased over the past decade and that a directed intervention by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand would be associated with an increased percentage of submissions with female panelists.We performed a retrospective analysis of Instructional Course Lecture and Symposium submissions for the 2011 through 2021 American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meetings. Authorship was reviewed, and the gender of the proposed authors was recorded. Additionally, the status of "all-male panel" was attributed to panels with no proposed female authors. Submissions were reviewed and compared with meeting programs to determine the status of accepted or rejected. Longitudinal analysis was performed to determine trends in the gender composition of expert panels.In total, 1,687 submissions were reviewed, including 1,323 Instructional Course Lectures and 364 Symposia. Female authorship constituted 18% of authorship (1,170/6,663), and lead authorship was similarly distributed, with 18% being female (296/1,687). Overall, female representation has increased steadily over the past decade, with females constituting 13% (43/332) and 20% (163/818) of the submitted authors in 2011 and 2020, respectively. Similarly, all-male panels declined from 74% (76/103) to 46% (85/185) of panels over the same timeframe. Most strikingly, a sharp increase in gender representation was observed with the directed intervention noted in the 2021 Call for Abstracts, resulting in an increase in female authorship to 26% (295/1,124) and a decline in all-male panels to 29% (70/241).Gender representation among hand surgery expert panels moved toward increased equity over the past decade, which has been aided by directed interventions.Career development and trainee decision making are impacted by gender representation; directed and intentional interventions by professional organizations are effective in encouraging greater equity and diversity within the field.

Across virtually all orthopaedic subspecialties, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and unhelpful thinking are associated with worse patient-reported satisfaction with orthopaedic treatment and increased postoperative complications. In the orthopaedic community, there is growing interest in patients' mental health in the orthopaedic care setting, but addressing mental health is still not a focus of orthopaedic clinical training. There is a persistent awareness gap about how to address mental health in orthopaedic care in a manner that is simultaneously feasible in a busy orthopaedic practice and acceptable to patients who are presenting for treatment of a musculoskeletal condition.(1) What are orthopaedic patients' and clinical team members' current perceptions and motivators regarding addressing mental health as part of orthopaedic care? (2) What barriers do patients and clinicians face regarding addressing mental health as part of orthopaedic care? (3) What are facilitators for patients and clinicians related to addressing mental health as part of orthopaedic care? (4) What are practical, acceptable implementation strategies to facilitate addressing mental health as part of orthopaedic care?This was a single-center, qualitative study conducted from January through May 2022 in the orthopaedic department of a large, urban, tertiary care academic medical center. Semistructured interviews were conducted with members of two stakeholder groups: orthopaedic patients and orthopaedic clinical team members. We interviewed 30 adult patients (of 85 patients who were eligible and approached) who had presented to our orthopaedic department for management of neck or back pain lasting for 3 or more months. By prescreening clinic schedules, patients were purposively sampled to include representatives from varied sociodemographic backgrounds and with a range of severity of self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety (from none to severe on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression and Anxiety measures) (mean age 59 ± 14 years, 70% [21 of 30] women, 60% [18 of 30] White, median pain duration 3.3 [IQR 1.8 to 10] years). We also interviewed 22 orthopaedic clinicians and clinical support staff members (of 106 team members who were eligible and 25 who were approached). Team members were purposively sampled to include representatives from the full range of adult orthopaedic subspecialties and early-, mid-, and late-career physicians (11 of 22 were women, 16 of 22 were White, and 13 of 22 were orthopaedic surgeons). Interviews were conducted in person or via secure video conferencing by trained qualitative researchers. The interview guides were developed using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model of behavior change. Two study team members used the interview transcripts for coding and thematic analysis, and interviews with additional participants from each stakeholder group continued until two study team members independently determined that thematic saturation of the components of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model had been reached. Each participant statement was coded as a perception, motivator, barrier, facilitator, or implementation strategy, and inductive coding was used to identify themes in each category.In contrast to the perceptions of some orthopaedic clinicians, most patients with orthopaedic conditions expressed they would like their mental well-being to be acknowledged, if not addressed, as part of a thoughtful orthopaedic care plan. Motivation to address mental health was expressed the most strongly among orthopaedic clinical team members who were aware of high-quality evidence that demonstrated a negative impact of symptoms of depression and anxiety on metrics for which they are publicly monitored or those who perceived that addressing patients' mental health would improve their own quality of life. Barriers described by patients with orthopaedic conditions that were related to addressing mental health in the context of orthopaedic care included clinical team members' use of select stigmatizing words and perceived lack of integration between responses to mental health screening measures and the rest of the orthopaedic care encounter. Orthopaedic clinical team members commonly cited the following barriers: lack of available mental health resources they can refer patients to, uncertainty regarding the appropriateness for them to discuss mental health, and time pressure and lack of expertise or comfort in discussing mental health. Facilitators identified by orthopaedic clinical teams and patients to address mental health in the context of orthopaedic care included the development of efficient, adaptable processes to deliver mental health interventions that preferably avoid wasted paper resources; initiation of mental health-related discussion by an orthopaedic clinical team member in a compassionate, relevant context after rapport with the patient has been established; and the availability of a variety of affordable, accessible mental health interventions to meet patients' varied needs and preferences. Practical implementation strategies identified as suitable in the orthopaedic setting to increase appropriate attention to patients' mental health included training orthopaedic clinical teams, establishing a department or institution "mental health champion," and integrating an automated screening question into clinical workflow to assess patients' interest in receiving mental health-related information.Orthopaedic patients want their mental health to be acknowledged as part of a holistic orthopaedic care plan. Although organization-wide initiatives can address mental health systematically, a key facilitator to success is for orthopaedic clinicians to initiate compassionate, even if brief, conversations with their patients regarding the interconnectedness of mental health and musculoskeletal health. Given the unique challenges to addressing mental health in the orthopaedic care setting, additional research should consider use of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation design to identify effective methods of addressing mental health that are feasible and appropriate for this clinical setting.Orthopaedic clinicians who have had negative experiences attempting to address mental health with their patients should be encouraged to keep trying. Our results suggest they should feel empowered that most patients want to address mental health in the orthopaedic care setting, and even brief conversations using nonstigmatizing language can be a valuable component of an orthopaedic treatment plan.

Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is a surgical treatment option for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms that are unresponsive to conservative treatment. Most patients experience symptomatic relief after CTR regardless of the surgical technique. However, direct comparisons of the safety and effectiveness between CTR surgical techniques are limited. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the safety and effectiveness of CTR with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US) versus mini-open CTR (mOCTR) in subjects with symptomatic CTS.TUTOR (Trial of Ultrasound guided CTR versus Traditional Open Release) is a randomized controlled trial in which 120 subjects at up to 12 sites in the United States will be randomized (2:1) to receive CTR-US or mOCTR. The primary endpoint of the study is the percentage of patients who return to normal daily activities within 3 days of the procedure. Secondary endpoints of the study are median time to return to normal daily activities, percentage of patients who return to work within 3 days of the procedure, median time to return to work, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS) change score at 3 months, BCTQ Functional Status Scale (BCTQ-FSS) change score at 3 months, Numeric Pain Scale change score at 3 months, EuroQoL-5 Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) change score at 3 months, and the incidence of device- or procedure-related adverse events at 3 months. Patient follow-up in this trial will continue for 1 year.This study was approved by a central institutional review board and ongoing trial oversight will be provided by a data safety monitoring board (DSMB). The authors intend to report the results of this trial at medical conferences and peer-reviewed journals. The outcomes of TUTOR will have important clinical and economic implications for all stakeholders involved in treating patients with CTS.ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov): NCT05405218.1.

Reliable and robust peripheral nerve regeneration after a nerve injury and repair remains an elusive goal. A variety of strategies have been proposed to mitigate the effects of Wallerian degeneration (through molecular therapies), enhance axonal regeneration across the repair site (through electrical stimulation and gene therapy), and explore alternatives to suture coaptation (through the fusion of transected ends). Although most of these techniques are in their infancy, animal data and some clinical trials have demonstrated promise for improving the restoration of function after these devastating injuries.

The authors aimed to explore patients' perioperative experience after trapeziectomy and ligament reconstruction tendon interposition through semistructured patient interviews to identify deficiencies in preoperative patient counseling.The authors conducted semistructured interviews with 14 patients who had undergone ligament reconstruction tendon interposition either 10 to 14 weeks or 9 to 12 months postoperatively at the time of their interview. The semistructured interview guide was developed by a fellowship-trained hand surgeon and a qualitative research specialist to discuss each patient's perioperative experience. Inductive and deductive qualitative coding strategies were used to develop a codebook. All transcripts were then double-coded and discussed to develop recurrent major themes from the patient interviews.The authors' interviews identified three major themes discussed consistently on the patient perioperative experience. First, despite specific counseling about a 3- to 6-month postoperative rehabilitation period, patients were still surprised at the length of the recovery process in regaining function, range of motion, and strength. Second, patients repeatedly outlined that surgery on the dominant hand imparted specific limitations that made the postoperative course difficult. Third, patients discussed the importance of hand therapy both in rehabilitation and in guiding patient postoperative expectations.Preoperative counseling is of vital importance to set patient expectations in terms of overall expected outcomes, but also regarding early limitations, expectations, and overall recovery length. These themes have influenced how we counsel our patients about recovery after thumb carpometacarpal surgery and may help other surgeons identify areas for improvement in their discussions with patients.

There is growing interest in containing cost and decreasing waste in the operating room. As part of a quality improvement initiative, we redesigned the supply kit used for 2 common surgical procedures (carpal tunnel release and trigger finger release) performed under local anesthesia.A hand surgeon, a medical student, and an operating room nurse examined each item that would be necessary for performing carpal tunnel release and trigger finger release. A new disposable supply kit was formulated on the basis of their recommendations and was implemented over a 7-month period. Cost savings and waste avoidance were calculated.The streamlined kit ($43.40) produced a 53% cost savings relative to the standard hand pack ($92.83) per case. The local pack (2.896 kg) was 41% lighter than the standard pack (4.938 kg), translating to significant waste avoidance. The local hand pack was used for 46 cases from September 2020 to April 2021, saving a total of $2246.78 and avoiding 94 kg of waste. There have been no noted interruptions in delivery of surgical care.Our redesign of the local hand pack led to substantial cost savings and waste avoidance. We believe there are many opportunities for surgical teams to use similar strategies to decrease cost and environmental waste.

Operative intervention for distal radius fractures is typically reserved for patients with displaced fractures that may result in bothersome compromises in function, although patient-specific factors (age, activity level, and preference) are considered. Operative intervention is associated with earlier improvement in function but exposes the patient to the risk of anesthesia and surgery. Although surgery is associated with an initial increase in cost of care, the benefits of earlier return to activity may offset these increases. Efforts to contain cost through implant selection, use of ambulatory surgical centers, and judicious referrals for postoperative therapy can aid surgeons in delivering high-value care.

Foot drop is a common condition that may impact physical function and health-related quality of life. A detailed clinical history and physical examination are critical components of the initial evaluation of patients presenting with foot drop. Patients with refractory foot drop without spontaneous recovery of motor deficits, delayed presentation greater than 12 months from injury, or neural lesions that are not amenable to or have failed nerve reconstruction may be candidates for tendon transfers to restore active ankle dorsiflexion. The modified Bridle procedure is a dynamic tendon transfer that has demonstrated excellent functional outcomes in patients with refractory foot drop.

Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are relatively rare but potentially devastating injuries with substantial functional, psychological, and economic consequences.Prompt referral (ideally within 6 weeks of injury) to a center with a team of experts experienced in the diagnosis and management of these injuries is helpful to achieving optimal outcomes.Preoperative and intraoperative decision-making to diagnose and plan reconstructive procedures is complex and must take into account a number of factors, including the time from injury, concomitant injuries, preservation of cervical nerve roots, and the availability of intraplexal and extraplexal donor nerves for nerve transfer.A team approach is essential to ensure accurate localization of the pathology before surgery and to maximize rehabilitation after surgery, necessitating close contact between the surgical team, physiatrists, radiologists, and therapists.

Electrodiagnostic studies, may help orthopaedic surgeons to identify and confirm nerve pathology, determine severity of disease, localize the lesion, identify concomitant or alternative pathology, and prognosticate potential outcomes with non-operative or operative treatment. Surgeons should recognize the indications for electrodiagnostic studies, principles of their performance, and how to assess the primary data generated by the examination and how it can inform their treatment plans.

BACKGROUND The expansion of state Medicaid programs under the U.S. Affordable Care Act has led to a dramatic increase in the number of Americans with health insurance coverage. Prior analyses of a limited number of states have suggested that greater utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) should be expected after Medicaid expansion. The purpose of our study was to examine whether increased utilization of THA and TKA occurred across a broader range of states after Medicaid expansion. METHODS We analyzed administrative data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 9 states (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Vermont) that expanded Medicaid in 2014 and 2 states that did not expand Medicaid (Florida and Missouri). We included patients who were 18 to 64 years of age and had a primary THA or TKA from 2012 to 2015 with Medicaid as the primary payer. Other payers (including dual-eligible Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries) were excluded. We performed multivariable regression modeling with the number of Medicaid-insured THAs or TKAs as the dependent variable and the interaction between the state Medicaid expansion status and year as the main policy independent variable, with adjustment for community characteristics. RESULTS Among all 11 states, there were 39,452 total joint arthroplasties (42% THA and 58% TKA) funded by Medicaid from 2012 to 2015. After adjusting for community characteristics, within expansion states, compared with 2013, THA and TKA increased 15% in 2014 (p < 0.0001) and 23% in 2015 (p < 0.0001) within expansion states. Within non-expansion states, compared with 2013, there were significant utilization decreases of 18% in 2014 (p < 0.0001) and 11% in 2015 (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS Medicaid expansion was associated with significant increases in Medicaid-funded THA and TKA utilization in 9 states. As additional states consider expanding Medicaid programs and as alternative health reforms that increase insurance eligibility are debated, surgeons, administrators, and policymakers should prepare for a surge in the utilization of THA and TKA.

Purpose Brachial plexus injury (BPI) patients use on-line groups for peer support, often seeking information from Facebook groups devoted to BPI. We hypothesized that a qualitative thematic analysis of posts from BPI Facebook groups would demonstrate the areas in which patients were seeking information regarding treatment of BPI and reveal potential sources of misinformation that patients may encounter. Methods We identified the 2 most popular public Facebook groups for BPI by searching key words “traumatic brachial plexus injury.” We selected posts containing comments regarding BPI from November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019. We excluded posts regarding brachial plexus birth injury. We used iterative inductive and deductive thematic analysis for the qualitative data to identify recurring topics, knowledge gaps, potential roles of patient educational interventions, and patient interaction dynamics. Two investigators independently coded all posts and resolved discrepancies by discussion. Results A total of 7,694 posts from 2 leading Facebook support groups were analyzed. Three themes emerged: (1) When discussing pain management, there was recurring anti-opioid sentiment. Posters who currently used opioids or supported those who did discussed perceived effects of the opioid epidemic on their treatment, on their relationships with care providers, and on availability of the medication. (2) Posters advocated for alternatives to traditional approaches to pain management, referring to prescribers as pill pushers and touting cannabinoids as a safer and more effective replacement. (3) There was strong anti-gabapentinoid sentiment owing to reported adverse effects and a perceived lack of efficacy, despite its role as a first-line treatment for neuropathic pain. Conclusions Examination of posts from Facebook support groups for BPI revealed recurring themes, questions, misinformation, and opinions from posters with regard to treatment of neuropathic pain. These findings can help clinicians who care for BPI patients identify areas to focus on during patient encounters to address neuropathic pain that commonly occurs with BPI. Clinical relevance Brachial plexus injury surgeons should be aware of information, misinformation, and opinions on social media, because these may influence patient–surgeon interactions.

Purpose Increasing emphasis has been placed on multidisciplinary care for patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury (BPI), and there has been a growing appreciation for the impact of psychological and emotional components of recovery. Because surgeons are typically charged with leading the recovery phase of BPI, our objective was to build a greater understanding of surgeons’ perspectives on the care of BPI patients and potential areas for improvement in care delivery. Methods We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 14 surgeons with expertise in BPI reconstruction. The interview guide contained questions regarding the surgeons’ practice and care team structure, their attitudes and approaches to psychological and emotional aspects of recovery, and their preferences for setting patient expectations. We used inductive thematic analysis to identify themes. Results There was a high degree of variability in how surgeons addressed emotional and psychological aspects of recovery. Whereas some surgeons embraced the practice of addressing these components of care, others felt strongly that BPI surgeons should remain focused on technical aspects of care. Several participants described the emotional toll that caring for BPI patients can have on surgeons and how this concern has affected their approach to care. Surgeons also recognized the importance of setting preoperative expectations. There was an emphasis on setting low expectations in an attempt to minimize the risk for dissatisfaction. Surgeons described the challenges in effectively counseling patients about a condition that is prone to substantial injury heterogeneity and variability in functional outcomes. Conclusions Our results demonstrate wide variability in how surgeons address emotional, psychological, and social barriers to recovery for BPI patients. Clinical relevance Best practices for BPI care are difficult to establish because of the relative heterogeneity of neurologic injury, the unpredictable impact and recovery of the patient, and the substantial variability in physician approach to the care of these patients.

Purpose Enthusiasm for peripheral nerve transfers increased over the past several years, but further studies are still needed to establish the role of these procedures in peripheral nerve reconstruction. The primary goal of this study was to describe the frequency of nerve transfer surgery among newly trained orthopedic surgeons. Methods We queried the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II case log database for all nerve reconstruction Current Procedural Terminology codes for examination years 2004 to 2018 for surgeries performed between 2003 and 2017. Information collected for each patient included examination year, year of surgery, surgeon fellowship training subspecialty, geographic region (as defined by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II case log database), patient age, and patient sex. Results A total of 3,359 nerve reconstruction cases were logged by 1,542 individual candidates from examination years 2004 to 2018. Of the nerve reconstruction codes, 2.1% were nerve transfer codes. There was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of nerve transfer codes over the study period, from 0% of nerve reconstruction codes in examination years 2004 to 2006 to 4.1% of nerve reconstruction codes in examination years 2016 to 2018 (Z = –6.82; P Conclusions There has been an increase in the number of nerve transfer procedures relative to all nerve reconstruction codes for peripheral nerve conditions. Clinical relevance There is a modest but significant increase in nerve transfer procedures over time among newly trained orthopedic surgeons, which suggests the need for long-term outcomes studies for nerve transfers procedures performed in the setting of peripheral nerve conditions.

The gut microbiome and its interactions with the host have been shown to affect several aspects of human health and disease. Investigations to elucidate these mechanisms typically involve sequence analysis of fecal samples. To support these studies, we present methods to design RNA toehold switch sensors to detect microbial and host transcripts. The sensors are embedded in paper-based, cell-free reactions that enable affordable and rapid analysis of microbiome samples.

Contains fulltext : 249977.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: It is important to evaluate whether a new treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) provides additive benefit to background foundational treatments. As such, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with HFrEF in addition to baseline treatment with specific doses and combinations of disease-modifying therapies. METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis of the EMPEROR-Reduced randomised, double-blind, parallel-group trial, which took place in 520 centres (hospitals and medical clinics) in 20 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification II-IV with an ejection fraction of 40% or less were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive the addition of either oral empagliflozin 10 mg per day or placebo to background therapy. The primary composite outcome was cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation; the secondary outcome was total heart failure hospital admissions. An extended composite outcome consisted of inpatient and outpatient HFrEF events was also evaluated. Outcomes were analysed according to background use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), as well as β blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) at less than 50% or 50% or more of target doses and in various combinations. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03057977. FINDINGS: In this post-hoc analysis of 3730 patients (mean age 66·8 years [SD 11·0], 893 [23·9%] women; 1863 [49·9%] in the empagliflozin group, 1867 [50·1%] in the placebo group) assessed between March 6, 2017, and May 28, 2020, empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary outcome (361 in 1863 participants in the empagliflozin group and 462 of 1867 in the placebo group; HR 0·75 [95% CI 0·65-0·86]) regardless of background therapy or its target doses for ACE inhibitors or ARBs at doses of less than 50% of the target dose (HR 0·85 [0·69-1·06]) and for doses of 50% or more of the target dose (HR 0·67 [0·52-0·88]; p(interaction)=0·18). A similar result was seen for β blockers at doses of less than 50% of the target dose (HR 0·66 [0·54-0·80]) and for doses of 50% or more of the target dose (HR 0·81 [0·66-1·00]; p(interaction)=0·15). Empagliflozin also reduced the risk of the primary outcome irrespective of background use of triple therapy with an ACE inhibitor, ARB, or ARNI plus β blocker plus MRA (given combination HR 0·73 [0·61-0·88]; not given combination HR 0·76 [0·62-0·94]; p(interaction)=0·77). Similar patterns of benefit were observed for the secondary and extended composite outcomes. Empagliflozin was well tolerated and rates of hypotension, symptomatic hypotension, and hyperkalaemia were similar across all subgroups. INTERPRETATION: Empagliflozin reduced serious heart failure outcomes across doses and combinations of disease-modifying therapies for HFrEF. Clinically, these data suggest that empagliflozin might be considered as a foundational therapy in patients with HFrEF regardless of their existing background therapy. FUNDING: Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company.

Background The influence of exercise after spinal cord injury (SCI) is a topic important to both clinicians and researchers. The impact of exercise for individuals with SCI is often studied quantitively, with a large focus on the physiological adaptations to exercise intervention. Objectives This study explores individualized experiences of exercise for people with SCI. Methods A phenomenological approach was utilized to qualitatively study the experiences of exercise for 16 individuals with SCI. Results Participants described multiple benefits of exercise, including increased independence, improved mental health, and increased engagement in social activity. Conclusion This study provides novel information about attitudes toward exercise held by individuals with SCI and a more thorough understanding of concepts that are well researched.

Many studies on spinal cord injury and sexuality have been conducted over the years. However, to date, no one has studied the influence of exercise on sexuality for individuals with spinal cord injury. This project examined the impact of an 8-week exercise intervention on sexual interest and sexual satisfaction for individuals with SCI. Participants were surveyed prior to the exercise intervention (pre-test), after the 8-week intervention (post-test), and at 3 month follow up. There was little change between the three time-points which may indicate that exercise does not impact sexual interest and sexual satisfaction for individuals with SCI. Further research on the subject is needed.

Decline in skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity (MOC) is associated with reduced aerobic capacity and increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Measuring skeletal muscle MOC may be an alternative method to assess aerobic capacity, especially for individuals unable to perform a whole-body maximum oxygen uptake protocol. In this study, linear regression analysis in two leg muscles was performed to determine whether MOC values could be used to predict whole-body peak oxygen uptake. MOC was measured with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles of 26 participants (age, 27.1 ± 5.8 years old). Whole-body peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) was determined by indirect calorimetry during a continuous ramp protocol on a cycle ergometer. VO2 peak values were significantly correlated with the muscle recovery rate constant (k) of the MG (kMG, r = 0.59; p

BACKGROUND The utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) increased after Medicaid expansion under the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA), suggesting a potential unmet need for THA and TKA. We examined the timing of THA and TKA in patients after obtaining Medicaid expansion insurance coverage. We hypothesized that patients with Medicaid expansion insurance would undergo a surgical procedure sooner than patients in traditional Medicaid populations. METHODS We used administrative data from a Medicaid managed care company to determine the timing of primary THA and TKA in patients who were 18 to 64 years of age in 4 states with Medicaid expansion (Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington) and 4 states without Medicaid expansion (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Wisconsin) from 2008 to 2015. The insurance types were Medicaid expansion, Medicaid plans for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Roughly, these 3 groups correspond to relatively healthy childless adults, relatively unhealthy disabled adults, and parents of children with Medicaid insurance. The main outcome measure was time from enrollment to the surgical procedure. The primary exposure of interest was insurance type. We used a generalized linear regression model to adjust for patient age, sex, social deprivation, surgeon supply and reimbursement, and state-level Medicaid enrollment. RESULTS In the unadjusted analysis of 4,117 patients, there was a significantly shorter time from enrollment to THA and TKA for the expansion group (median, 7.5 months) relative to the SSI group (median, 16.1 months; p < 0.0001) and the TANF group (median, 12.2 months; p < 0.0001). In the adjusted analysis, the time from enrollment to THA and TKA was significantly shorter in the expansion group (β, -1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), -1.35 to -1.07]; p < 0.001) compared with the TANF group (β, -0.27 [95% CI, -0.38 to -0.17]; p < 0.001) and the SSI group (reference). Compared with the SSI group, these coefficients are equivalent to a 70% shorter time to the surgical procedure in the expansion group and a 24% shorter time to the surgical procedure in the TANF group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest an unmet need for THA and TKA among newly enrolled Medicaid expansion beneficiaries. This need should be considered by surgeons, hospitals, and policymakers in ensuring access to care. Furthermore, consideration should be given to existing insurance-based disparities in access to orthopaedic care, as these may be exacerbated by an increased demand for THA and TKA from Medicaid expansion beneficiaries.

Illness and injury often entail lasting health and social consequences beyond the acute event. During the immediate and long-term recovery period, consequences of illness or injury can often be mitigated and addressed. As patients and their clinicians discuss care decisions, whether for initial or ongoing management of illness or injury, they must consider patients' personal goals of recovery alongside possible clinical outcomes to choose the best path forward. Understanding the recovery process and patients' and clinicians' decision making requires clarifying the concept of recovery and its significance. This article will describe how shared decision making can support the recovery process using a case example of brachial plexus injury.

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted the delivery of health care, both through direct care associated with COVID-19 and through more pervasive effects. Our goal was to evaluate whether the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries differed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same period in prior years. We hypothesized that the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with the same period in prior years, would have a higher number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries and a lower rate of outpatient follow-up after consultations.A prospectively collected database of orthopaedic trauma consultations at a level-I trauma center was queried for firearm injuries. We compared the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injury during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 23, 2020, to September 30, 2020, referred to as the pandemic group) with identical dates from 2017 to 2019 (referred to as the pre-pandemic group). Outpatient follow-up rates, ZIP codes (and associated Area Deprivation Index), and demographic data were compared between the pandemic group and the pre-pandemic group.During the entire study period, 552 orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries were identified. There was a 63% increase in the daily mean number of firearm injury consultations in the pandemic group, to 1.01, compared with the pre-pandemic group, 0.62 (p0.001). There was no difference in the rate of outpatient follow-up: 66% for the pandemic group and 72% for the pre-pandemic group. There was no difference in the percentage of patients from the most socially deprived decile: 45.3% in the pandemic group and 49.5% in the pre-pandemic group. Patients presenting during the pandemic were more often uninsured (75.8%) relative to the pre-pandemic group (67.9%), with a lack of health insurance significantly decreasing the likelihood of outpatient follow-up (p0.01).Compared with the same period in prior years, there was a significant increase in the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community. Patient race, socioeconomic status, and outpatient follow-up were similar between the pandemic group and the pre-pandemic group. There was a higher proportion of uninsured patients within the pandemic group and a lower rate of follow-up among those without insurance.

Power Doppler ultrasonography has been used as an adjunct in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve compression neuropathy. To better characterize its sensitivity and specificity, the authors performed a systematic review of its use in carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome diagnosis.The authors systematically reviewed published literature on the use of power Doppler ultrasound to diagnose peripheral compression neuropathy using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase.com, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Health Technology Assessment Database, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Repository Platform, and Clinicaltrials.gov. No filters for language, date, or publication type were used.After reviewing 1538 identified studies, 27 publications were included involving 1751 participants with compression neuropathy (2048 median and 172 ulnar). All but three studies examined patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Heterogeneity between study design and methodology was a noted limitation. Sensitivity and specificity of power Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome ranged from 2.2 to 93.4 percent, and 89 to 100 percent, respectively, whereas sensitivity for cubital tunnel syndrome was 15.3 to 78.9 percent. There was variability in power Doppler signal detection based on location, with higher sensitivities at the carpal tunnel inlet and in areas of increased nerve swelling.Power Doppler ultrasound is unreliable as a screening test but appears to increase diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in compression neuropathies. It is most beneficial in moderate to severe disease and may be valuable in detecting early cases and in disease surveillance.