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Context Fragility fractures increase risks for future fractures, morbidity, and mortality. Available pharmacotherapy for underlying osteoporosis is safe and effective but underused. Objective To improve pharmacotherapy rate representing secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Methods This single-center, observational, follow-up study included patients with fragility fractures admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital between February 2016 and December 2019. For patients admitted to the orthopedics service with fragility fracture, the Massachusetts General Hospital Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) was systematically consulted. Initial outpatient follow-up with FLS was established in conjunction with the orthopedic postoperative follow-up visit. Patients at risk for failing timely outpatient follow-up were administered zoledronic acid (ZA) during the index fracture hospitalization. The main outcome measures were percentage of patients with fragility fracture(s) started on pharmacotherapy for osteoporosis and average length of stay and 30-day readmission rate of patients treated with ZA. Results Compared with baseline (8-11%) and reference (5-20%) rates, integration of FLS to the orthopedics service, along with appropriate inpatient administration of ZA, increased the pharmacotherapy rate to 70% (412/589) among eligible patients with verified treatment status. Inpatient ZA administration neither affected the average length of stay nor 30-day readmission rate. Treatment status of 37.9% (471/1240) of the study patients remained unknown due to lack of or unknown follow-up. Conclusion Integration of a FLS and orthopedics services along with inpatient ZA administration improved the osteoporosis pharmacotherapy rate among patients with fragility fracture(s) who often had obstacles for outpatient follow-up.

Recovery and rehabilitation following surgery can take many months. Understanding what patients can do to facilitate recovery would be beneficial for spinal surgeons. This study sought to evaluate the impact of exercise practice, before and after surgery, on long-term outcomes of spine surgery in a robust clinical sample.This prospective longitudinal cohort study included adult patients undergoing spinal surgery for degenerative spinal conditions. Patients were administered a survey that included preoperative and postoperative exercise practices and the following patient-reported outcome measures: the physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Survey (Rand-36), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score for pain and the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference Short Form score. Random effects models investigated the relationship of exercise, follow-up time and their interaction in predicting each patient-reported outcome measure over time, with and without sociodemographic covariates.There were 168 patients in the study sample with up to 12 months of follow-up data. Analysis revealed modest significant main effects of exercise on PCS, MCS, ODI and PROMIS scores and main effects of time on all outcomes. The exercise-by-time interaction was significant in predicting the trajectories of the ODI and MCS scores. When full models were adjusted for education and employment status, interaction effects were no longer significant, but exercise main effects remained significant for ODI score.Patients who engage in exercise before and after spine surgery have better mental health and spine-specific recovery trajectories than those who do not. All health care providers should encourage patients to exercise while they are waiting for surgery within preoperative limitations and as soon as they are able after surgery and to continue this over the long term.Le rétablissement et la réadaptation postopératoires s’échelonnent parfois sur plusieurs mois. Comprendre ce que les patients peuvent faire pour faciliter leur rétablissement serait utile aux spécialistes de la chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale. Cette étude a voulu évaluer l’impact de la pratique d’exercices avant et après une chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale sur son issue à long terme dans un solide échantillon clinique.Cette étude de cohorte longitudinale prospective a regroupé des patients adultes qui devaient subir une chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale pour des maladies dégénératives. Les patients ont été invités à répondre à un questionnaire qui portait entre autre sur la pratique d’exercices pré- et postopératoires et sur les paramètres autorapportés suivants : scores aux composantes physique (PCS) et mentale (MCS) du questionnaire SF-36 (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Survey [Rand-36]), à l’échelle d’incapacité d’Oswestry (ODI), à une échelle d’évaluation numérique (ÉÉN) de la douleur et au questionnaire court PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) sur l’interférence de la douleur. Des modèles à effets aléatoires ont permis d’analyser les liens entre l’exercice, la durée du suivi et leur interaction pour ce qui est de prédire chacun des paramètres autorapportés au fil du temps, avec et sans les covariables sociodémographiques.L’étude a regroupé 168 patients et les données pour un suivi allant jusqu’à 12 mois. L’analyse a fait état d’effets majeurs significatifs modestes de l’exercice sur les paramètres PCS, MCS, ODI et PROMIS et d’effets majeurs du temps sur tous les paramètres. L’interaction entre exercices et durée du suivi a été significative pour prédire la trajectoire des scores ODI et MCS. Lorsque les modèles intégraux ont été ajustés pour tenir compte du niveau de scolarité et du statut professionnel, les effets de l’interaction n’étaient plus significatifs, mais les effets majeurs de l’exercice sont demeurés significatifs pour le score ODI.Les patients qui ont fait des exercices avant et après une chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale ont présenté des trajectoires plus favorables au plan de la santé mentale et du rétablissement de leur colonne vertébrale comparativement à ceux qui n’avaient pas fait d’exercices. Tous les professionnels de la santé devraient encourager les patients à faire des exercices pendant qu’ils attendent leur chirurgie en tenant compte de leurs limites préopératoires, à les reprendre le plus rapidement possible après la chirurgie et à les maintenir à long terme.

The menopause transition in women is a period of significant bone loss, with rapid declines in bone mineral density (BMD) commencing a year before the final menstrual period (FMP). Changes in menstrual bleeding patterns cannot reliably tell us if this rapid bone loss has begun or is imminent. We hypothesized that low circulating levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), which decline as women approach the FMP, would be associated with future and ongoing rapid bone loss. We used data from The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multisite, multi-ethnic, prospective cohort study of the menopause transition to test this hypothesis. Adjusted for age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, and study site, every 50% decrement in AMH level in premenopause and early perimenopause was associated with 0.14% per year faster decline over the following 3 to 4 years in lumbar spine BMD and 0.11% per year faster decline in femoral neck BMD (p 0.001 for both). AMH in late perimenopause was not associated with the rate of future BMD decline. AMH was also associated with the magnitude of ongoing bone loss, measured as percent of peak BMD lost by the end of the next 2 to 3 years. Every 50% decrement in AMH level was associated with 0.22% additional loss in spine BMD in premenopause, 0.43% additional loss in early perimenopause, and 0.50% additional loss in late perimenopause (p 0.001 for all three). If a woman will lose more of her peak BMD than the site-specific least significant change (LSC) at either the lumbar spine or femoral neck by the next 2 to 3 years, then AMH below 100 pg/mL will detect it with sensitivity of 50% in premenopause, 80% in early perimenopause, and 98% in late perimenopause. These findings suggest that AMH measurement can help flag women at the brink of significant bone loss for early intervention. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Context Most labs set the lower limit of normal for testosterone at the 2.5th percentile of values in young or age-matched men, an approach that does not consider the physiologic changes associated with various testosterone concentrations. Objective To characterize the dose-response relationships between gonadal steroid concentrations and measures regulated by gonadal steroids in older men. Design, Participants, and Intervention 177 men aged 60 to 80 were randomly assigned to receive goserelin acetate plus either 0 (placebo), 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 grams of a 1% testosterone gel daily for 16 weeks or placebos for both medications (controls). Primary Outcomes Changes in serum C-telopeptide (CTX), total body fat by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and self-reported sexual desire. Results Clear relationships between the testosterone dosage (or the resulting testosterone levels) and a variety of outcome measures were observed. Changes in serum CTX exceeded changes in the controls in men whose testosterone levels were 0 to 99, 100 to 199, 200 to 299, or 300 to 499 ng/dL, whereas increases in total body fat, subcutaneous fat, and thigh fat exceeded controls when testosterone levels were 0 to 99 or 100 to 199 ng/dL. Sexual desire and erectile function were indistinguishable from controls until testosterone levels were Conclusion Changes in measures of bone resorption, body fat, and sexual function begin at a variety of testosterone concentrations with many outcome measures remaining stable until testosterone levels are well below the stated normal ranges. In light of this variation, novel approaches for establishing the normal range for testosterone are needed.

Background A test that helps predict the time to the final menstrual period (FMP) has been sought for many years. Objective To assess the ability of antimullerian hormone (AMH) measurements to predictions the time to FMP. Design Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Participants and Measurements AMH and FSH were measured in 1537 pre- or early perimenopausal women, mean age 47.5 ± 2.6 years at baseline, then serially until 12 months of amenorrhea occurred. AMH was measured using a 2-site ELISA with a detection limit of 1.85 pg/mL. Main Outcome Measure Areas under the receiver operating curves (AUC) for AMH-based and FSH-based predictions of time to FMP, stratified by age. Probabilities that women would undergo their FMP in the next 12, 24, or 36 months across a range of AMH values were assessed. Results AUCs for predicting that the FMP will occur within the next 24 months were significantly greater for AMH-based than FSH-based models. The probability that a woman with an AMH 100 pg/mL would not undergo her FMP within the next 12 months ranged from 97% in women Conclusions AMH measurement helps estimate when a woman will undergo her FMP, and, in general, does so better than FSH.

Study design: Case-control.Background: There is little information on the psychometric properties of the OSPRO-YF, used to inform treatment decision-making in patients with low back pain.Ob...

Higher fracture risk in White versus Black women is partly explained by lower BMD and worse bone microarchitecture in White women. However, whether rates of decline in bone density, microarchitecture and strength differ between postmenopausal Black and White women is unknown. Further, factors that influence rates of age-related bone microarchitecture deterioration remain ill-defined. Thus, over 6.7 years, we measured longitudinal changes in peripheral volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), microarchitecture and strength at the distal radius and tibia using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in postmenopausal Black (n=80) and White (n=137) women participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). We assessed whether age-related changes in vBMD and microarchitecture were influenced by body weight, body composition, and/or weight change. We found that at the radius, whereas White women appeared to have slightly greater rates of loss in total vBMD, cortical bone volume and porosity than Black women, those differences were attenuated after adjusting for clinical covariates. At the tibia, Black and White women had similar rates of bone loss. Independent of race and other clinical covariates, women with the lowest baseline body weight experienced the greatest decline in total and trabecular vBMD at the radius. Further, women who lost weight over the follow-up period had higher rates of bone loss, particularly at the tibia, compared to those who maintained or gained weight. Higher baseline total body fat mass was also protective of bone loss at both radius and tibia. In conclusion, these findings indicate that lower fracture risk among postmenopausal Black women is not due to slower rates of bone deterioration and highlight the importance for postmenopausal women to avoid lower body weight and excessive weight loss to avert rapid bone loss and subsequent fractures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In pre- and early perimenopausal women, prediabetes (with blood glucose ≥ 110 mg/dL) and greater insulin resistance are associated with worse trabecular bone quality (as assessed by trabecular bone score).Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with lower trabecular bone score (TBS) and fracture; less certain is whether the precursor states of prediabetes and increased insulin resistance are also related to adverse bone outcomes. We examined, in women who do not have DM, the associations of glycemic status (prediabetes vs. normal) and insulin resistance with TBS.This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected from 42- to 52-year-old, pre- and perimenopausal participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) TBS Study. Women with prediabetes were categorized as having either high prediabetes if their fasting glucose was between 110 and 125 mg/dL or low prediabetes if their fasting glucose was between 100 and 109 mg/dL. Normoglycemia was defined as a fasting glucose below 100 mg/dL.In multivariable linear regression, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, menopause transition stage, cigarette use, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, lumbar spine bone mineral density, and study site, women with high prediabetes had 0.21 (p 0.0001) standard deviations (SD) lower TBS than those with normoglycemia. Low prediabetes was not associated with lower TBS. When HOMA-IR levels were ≥ 1.62, each doubling of HOMA-IR was associated with a 0.11 SD decrement in TBS (p = 0.0001).Similar to diabetics, high prediabetics have lower TBS than normoglycemic individuals. Women with greater insulin resistance have lower TBS even in the absence of DM. Future studies should examine the associations of high prediabetes and insulin resistance with incident fracture.

Background Context Underlying cognitive factors have been found to influence patients’ symptom experience. Current evidence suggests that concomitant changes in appraisal must be taken into account to accurately interpret change as measured by standard spine patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Purpose To investigate changes in patients’ minimally important differences (MID) over recovery from spinal surgery; whether and how cognitive appraisal processes are implicated in the change trajectories. Study Design/Setting Longitudinal cohort study with up to 12 months follow-up. Patient Sample Surgical patients (n = 167) with a diagnosis of disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Outcome Measures Standard spine patient-reported PROs were used (Rand-36, Oswestry Disability Index, Numerical Rating Scale for pain, PROMIS Pain Impact). Methods This study was funded by the Feldberg Chair in Spinal Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the authors have no conflicts of interest. MID used an anchor technique and was computed by global assessment of change (GAC) grouping. Participants were binned into groups based on their GAC response patterns at all time points: Consistently better post-surgery, consistently worse post-surgery, and bouncers, whose GAC ratings fluctuate (ie, better-then-worse-then-better; or vice versa). Individuals’ longitudinal quality of life (QOL) and appraisal slope scores were computed. QOL-appraisal slopes’ correlations were computed by GAC group. Fisher's Z transformation tested the hypothesis that GAC groups differed in the QOL-appraisal relationship over time. Results Moderate to large changes are recognized as clinically important in the early stages of recovery (ie, 6 weeks post-surgery), and over time smaller and smaller changes become important. The three pattern groups emphasized and deemphasized different standards of comparison over time, with the Better group emphasizing personal goals and the Worse and Bouncers deemphasizing doctors’ input. These group differences translated to differential relationships between PRO change and appraisal changes over time. Conclusions The MID reflects increasingly subtle change over time in PROs. Appraisal may influence how patients experience the same (MID) change over time, with better outcomes associated with emphasizing long-term goals. PRO change seems to be driven by different standards of comparison. Potential avenues for clinical intervention are discussed.

Study Design: Clinical case series describing a novel surgical technique. Objective: Stabilization across the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) poses technical difficulties which make this procedure challenging. The transition from cervical lordosis to thoracic kyphosis and the orientation of the lateral masses of the cervical spine compared with the pedicles of the thoracic spine create the need to accommodate for 2 planes of alignment when placing instrumentation. A novel surgical technique for instrumentation across the cervicothoracic junction is described. Methods: The use of cortical bone trajectory (CBT) technique for pedicle fixation in the upper thoracic spine is described in combination with cervical lateral mass or pedicle screws. The application in our first 12 patients for stabilization across the CTJ is described. Two case presentations illustrate the technique. Results: All the patients had rod screw constructs without the need to skip levels, there was no requirement for transverse connectors and only 1 plane of contouring was required. Conclusions: The use of CBT technique has not been described for the upper thoracic spine. This technique avoids many technical problems associated with posterior instrumentation of the CTJ. The facility of their use in this application arises from the similar coronal plane entry points as the cervical lateral mass screws compared with the more lateral starting point of traditional thoracic pedicle screws. The technique has clinical equipoise to traditional thoracic pedicle screw insertion but with the benefits of an easier ability to perform the instrumentation and saving levels of fusion.

CONTEXT: Sex steroid hormones have been linked to fractures in older women. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that hormones measured over the menopausal transition predict fractures. SETTING: Seven US clinical centers. SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Two thousand nine hundred sixty women (average age, 46.4 ± 2.7 years) who had at least two repeat hormone measures and prospective information on fractures. Fasting serum was collected annually for hormone assays. Estradiol (E(2)) was measured with a modified direct immunoassay. FSH and SHBG were measured with two-site chemiluminescence immunoassays. Hormones were lagged (visit year −1) and transformed using log base 2. Incident fractures were ascertained at each annual visit. All medications including hormone therapy were time varying covariates. Discrete survival methods were used. RESULTS: Five hundred eight (17.2%) women experienced an incident fracture over an average follow up of 8.8 ± 4.4 years. Women who experienced an incident fracture were more likely to be white, report high alcohol intake and diabetes, and less likely to report premenopausal status at baseline. A woman whose log E(2) was twice that of another had a 10% lower risk of fracture independent of covariates, relative risk (95% CI) = 0.90 (0.82, 0.98). Neither FSH nor SHBG were associated with fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Serum E(2) levels may help to identify women at higher risk of fractures over the menopausal transition. However, hormone assays must be standardized across laboratories for clinical implementation and further work is needed to define E(2) thresholds.

Context The relation between the menopause transition (MT) and changes in regional fat distribution is uncertain. Objective To determine whether the MT is associated with the development of central adiposity. Design Longitudinal analysis from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, spanning 1996-2013 (median follow-up 11.8 years). Setting Community-based. Participants 380 women with regional body composition measures by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Mean baseline age was 45.7 years; racial/ethnic composition was 16% Black, 41% Japanese and 43% White. Outcomes Changes in android, gynoid and visceral fat and waist and hip circumferences. Results Android fat increased by 1.21% per year (py) and 5.54% py during premenopause and the MT, respectively (each P Conclusions The MT is associated with the development of central adiposity. Waist or hip circumferences are less sensitive to changes in fat distribution.

OBJECTIVE Previous works investigating rates of adverse events (AEs) in spine surgery have been retrospective, with data collection from administrative databases, and often from single centers. To date, there have been no prospective reports capturing AEs in spine surgery on a national level, with comparison among centers. METHODS The Spine Adverse Events Severity system was used to define the incidence and severity of AEs after spine surgery by using data from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) prospective registry. Patient data were collected prospectively and during hospital admission for those undergoing elective spine surgery for degenerative conditions. The Spine Adverse Events Severity system defined minor and major AEs as grades 1–2 and 3–6, respectively. RESULTS There were 3533 patients enrolled in this cohort. There were 85 (2.4%) individual patients with at least one major AE and 680 (19.2%) individual patients with at least one minor AE. There were 25 individual patients with 28 major intraoperative AEs and 260 patients with 275 minor intraoperative AEs. Postoperatively there were 61 patients with a total of 80 major AEs. Of the 487 patients with minor AEs postoperatively there were 698 total AEs. The average enrollment was 321 patients (range 47–1237 patients) per site. The rate of major AEs was consistent among sites (mean 2.9% ± 2.4%, range 0%–9.1%). However, the rate of minor AEs varied widely among sites—from 7.9% to 42.5%, with a mean of 18.8% ± 9.7%. The rate of minor AEs varied depending on how they were reported, with surgeon reporting associated with the lowest rates (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The rate of major AEs after lumbar spine surgery is consistent among different sites but the rate of minor AEs appears to vary substantially. The method by which AEs are reported impacts the rate of minor AEs. These data have implications for the detection and reporting of AEs and the design of strategies aimed at mitigating complications.

Context Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance (CFTR) dysfunction may play a role in CF-related bone disease (CFBD). Ivacaftor is a CFTR potentiator effective in improving pulmonary and nutritional outcomes in patients with the G551D-CFTR mutation. The effects of ivacaftor on bone health are unknown. Objective To determine the impact of ivacaftor on bone density and microarchitecture in children and adults with CF. Design Prospective observational multiple cohort study. Setting Outpatient clinical research center within a tertiary academic medical center. Patients or Other Participants Three cohorts of age-, race-, and gender-matched subjects were enrolled: 26 subjects (15 adults and 11 children) with CF and the G551D-CFTR mutation who were planning to start or had started treatment with ivacaftor within 3 months (Ivacaftor cohort), 26 subjects with CF were not treated with ivacaftor (CF Control cohort), and 26 healthy volunteers. Interventions All treatments, including Ivacaftor, were managed by the subjects’ pulmonologists. Main Outcome Measures Bone microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone turnover markers at baseline, 1, and 2 years. Results Cortical volume, area, and porosity at the radius and tibia increased significantly in adults in the Ivacaftor cohort. No significant differences were observed in changes in aBMD, trabecular microarchitecture, or estimated bone strength in adults or in any outcome measures in children. Conclusions Treatment with ivacaftor was associated with increases in cortical microarchitecture in adults with CF. Further studies are needed to understand the implications of these findings.

Background Despite the success of total hip arthroplasty (THA), approximately 10%-15% of patients will be dissatisfied with their outcome. Identifying patients at risk of not achieving meaningful gains postoperatively is critical to pre-surgical counseling and clinical decision support. Machine learning has shown promise in creating predictive models. This study used a machine-learning model to identify patient-specific variables that predict the postoperative functional outcome in THA. Methods A prospective longitudinal cohort of 160 consecutive patients undergoing total hip replacement for the treatment of degenerative arthritis completed self-reported measures preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Using four types of independent variables (patient demographics, patient-reported health, cognitive appraisal processes and surgical approach), a machine-learning model utilizing Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) was constructed to predict postoperative Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) at 3 months. Results The most predictive independent variables of postoperative HOOS were cognitive appraisal processes. Variables that predicted a worse HOOS consisted of frequent thoughts of work (β = −0.34), frequent comparison to healthier peers (β = −0.26), increased body mass index (β = −0.17), increased medical comorbidities (β = −0.19), and the anterior surgical approach (β = −0.15). Variables that predicted a better HOOS consisted of employment at the time of surgery (β = 0.17), and thoughts related to family interaction (β = 0.12), trying not to complain (β = 0.13), and helping others (β = 0.22). Conclusions This clinical prediction model in THA revealed that the factors most predictive of outcome were cognitive appraisal processes, demonstrating their importance to outcome-based research. Level of evidence Prognostic Level 1.

Objectives The Global Assessment of Change (GAC) item has facilitated the interpretation of change in patient-reported outcomes, providing an anchor for computing minimally important differences. Construct validity has been documented via disease-specific patient-reported outcomes change. We examined what domains, sociodemographic characteristics, attributions of change, and cognitive-appraisal processes are reflected in GAC ratings. Methods This secondary analysis examined data from 1,481 chronically ill patients and caregivers surveyed at baseline and 17 months. Items queried change since baseline in overall disease symptoms (GAC) and in physical, emotional, and social functioning. Candidate predictors included sociodemographic factors, health-related quality-of-life domains, change attributions, and quality-of-life appraisal processes. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and bootstrapping tested 77 predictors’ effectiveness and stability. Results GAC worsening was notably associated with being disabled (β = −0.24) and having difficulty paying bills (β = −0.13). GAC was better explained by the physical domain than the emotional or social (β = 0.67, 0.10, and 0.03, respectively; R2adj = 0.63) after sociodemographic-covariate adjustment. In a separate model (R2adj = 0.18), GAC variance was explained by attributions about changing health and changing response of one’s health team, goals related to solving healthcare problems and maintaining activities, and appraisal about things getting better (β = −0.14, 0.08, −0.07, 0.05, 0.21, respectively; prange ~0.0005–0.05) after adjustment. Conclusions The GAC primarily reflects the physical domain, and the GAC reflects attributions, goals, and patterns of emphasis related to change in health and healthcare. Commonly unmeasured factors have some bearing on GAC scores and can facilitate the interpretation of change.

OBJECTIVE There is an increasing recognition of the importance of predictive analytics in spine surgery. This, along with the addition of personalized treatment, can optimize treatment outcomes. The goal of this study was to examine the value of clinical, demographic, expectation, and cognitive appraisal variables in predicting outcomes after surgery. METHODS This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed adult patients undergoing spinal decompression and/or fusion surgery for degenerative spinal conditions. The authors focused on predicting the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, based on past research finding it to be the most responsive of the spine patient-reported outcomes. Clinical data included type of surgery, adverse events, comorbidities, and use of pain medications. Demographics included age, sex, employment status, education, and smoking status. Data on expectations related to pain relief, ability to do household and exercise/recreational activities without pain, preventing future disability, and sleeping comfort. Appraisal items addressed 22 cognitive processes related to quality of life (QOL). LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) and bootstrapping tested predictors hierarchically to determine effective predictive subsets at approximately 10 months postsurgery, based on data either at baseline (model 1) or at approximately 3 months (model 2). RESULTS The sample included 122 patients (mean age 61 years, with 53% being female). For model 1, analysis revealed better outcomes with patients expecting to be able to exercise or do recreational activities, focusing on recent events, and not focusing on how others see them (mean bootstrapped R2 [R2boot] = 0.12). For model 2, better outcomes were predicted by expecting symptom relief, focusing on the positive and on one’s spinal condition (mean R2boot = 0.38). Bootstrapped analyses documented the stability of parameter estimates despite the small sample. CONCLUSIONS Nearly 40% of the variance in spine outcomes was accounted for by cognitive factors, after adjusting for clinical and demographic factors. Different expectations and appraisal processes played a role in long- versus short-range predictions, suggesting that cognitive adaptation is important and relevant to pain relief outcomes after spine surgery. These results underscore the importance of addressing how people think about QOL and surgery outcomes to maximize the benefits of surgery.

Background Evidence that trabecular bone score (TBS), an index of bone microstructure, is a risk factor for future fracture comes mainly from studies of late postmenopausal women. Objective To discern whether premenopausal TBS or early postmenopausal TBS predict fracture. Design A 22-year, prospective analysis from the Study of Women's Health Across Nation. Setting Community-based cohort. Participants 272 Black, 174 Japanese, and 364 White women. Main outcome measures Incident fractures: 292 in premenopausal sample and 141 in early postmenopausal sample. Results Separate Cox proportional hazard regressions modeled time to incident fracture as a function of TBS measured during premenopause or early postmenopause. Models were initially adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, SWAN clinical site, body mass index, use of calcium, vitamin D, bone beneficial or bone adverse medication. Next, we added lumbar spine (LS) or femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) and, finally, history of prior fracture, to the models. For each standard deviation decrement in premenopausal TBS, fracture hazard was elevated by 17% (relative hazard [RH] 1.17 [95% CI, 1.02–1.35]); after adjusting for LS or FN BMD, the relation between premenopausal TBS and fracture was no longer statistically significant. There was a similar-magnitude, marginally statistically significant, association between early postmenopausal TBS and fracture, unadjusted for BMD (RH 1.15 [0.95–1.39]). Conclusions Variation in premenopausal TBS is related to fracture risk, but this association is not independent of BMD.

Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Background: Soft-tissue complications often dictate the success of limb salvage and the overall outcome of open fractures. Based on prior work at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the authors hypothesize that wounds larger than 200 cm2 are associated with a greater likelihood of both flap-related reoperation and wound complications among patients requiring soft-tissue reconstruction with a rotational flap or free tissue transfer. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of Fluid Lavage in Open Wounds trial data that included all patients who received a rotational or free tissue flap transfer for an open fracture. The primary outcome was flap-related reoperation within 12 months of injury. The secondary outcome was wound complication, which included events treated operatively or nonoperatively. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between wound size and outcomes, adjusting for confounders. Results: Seventeen percent of the 112 patients required a flap-related reoperation. A wound size greater than 200 cm2 was not associated with reoperation in an unadjusted model (p = 0.64) or adjusting for Gustilo type (p = 0.70). The sample had an overall wound complication rate of 47.3 percent. Patients with a wound size of greater than 200 cm2 were three times more likely to experience wound complications (OR, 3.05; 95 percent CI, 1.08 to 8.62; p = 0.04) when adjusting for moderate to severe wound contamination and wound closure in the operating room. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that wound surface area is an integral determinant for wound complication following soft-tissue flap treatment, but found no association between wound surface area and flap-related reoperation rates.

Background Orthopaedic implant infections are difficult to eradicate because bacteria adhering to implant surfaces inhibit the ability of the immune system and antibiotics to combat these infections. Thermal cycling is a temperature modulation process that improves performance and longevity of materials through molecular structural reorientation, thereby increasing surface uniformity. Thermal cycling may change material surface properties that reduce the ability for bacteria to adhere to the surface of orthopaedic implants. This study aims to determine whether thermal cycling of orthopaedic implants can reduce bacterial growth. Methods In a randomized, blinded in-vitro study, titanium and stainless steel plates treated with thermal cycling were compared to controls. Twenty-seven treated and twenty-seven untreated plates were covered with 10 ml tryptic soy broth containing ~ 105 colony forming units (CFU)/ml of bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)Xen29 and incubated at 37 °C for 14d. Quantity and viability of bacteria were characterized using bioluminescence imaging, live/dead staining and determination of CFUs. Results Significantly fewer CFUs grow on treated stainless steel plates compared to controls (p = 0.0088). Similar findings were seen in titanium plates (p = 0.0048) following removal of an outlier. No differences were evident in live/dead staining using confocal microscopy, or in metabolic activity determined using bioluminescence imaging (stainless steel plates: p = 0.70; titanium plates: p = 0.26). Conclusion This study shows a reduction in CFUs formation on thermal cycled plates in-vitro. Further in-vivo studies are necessary to investigate the influence of thermal cycling on bacterial adhesion during bone healing. Thermal cycling has demonstrated improved wear and strength, with reductions in fatigue and load to failure. The added ability to reduce bacterial adhesions demonstrates another potential benefit of thermal cycling in orthopaedics, representing an opportunity to reduce complications following fracture fixation or arthroplasty.

Objective To analyze relations among injury, demographic, and environmental factors on function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and life satisfaction in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Prospective observational registry cohort study. Setting Specialized acute and rehabilitation SCI centers. Participants Participants (N=340) from the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) who were prospectively recruited from 2004 to 2014 were included. The model cohort participants were 79.1% men, with a mean age of 41.6±17.3 years. Of the participants, 34.7% were motor/sensory complete (ASIA Impairment Scale [AIS] grade A). Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Path analysis was used to determine relations among SCI severity (AIS grade and anatomic level [cervical/thoracolumbar]), age at injury, education, number of health conditions, functional independence (FIM motor score), HRQoL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [Version 2] Physical Component Score [PCS] and Mental Component Score [MCS]), and life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction-11 [LiSat-11]). Model fit was assessed using recommended published indices. Results Goodness of fit of the model was supported by all indices, indicating the model results closely matched the RHSCIR data. Higher age, higher severity injuries, cervical injuries, and more health conditions negatively affected FIM motor score, whereas employment had a positive effect. Higher age, less education, more severe injuries (AIS grades A–C), and more health conditions negatively correlated with PCS (worse physical health). More health conditions were negatively correlated with a lower MCS (worse mental health), however were positively associated with reduced function. Being married and having higher function positively affected Lisat-11, but more health conditions had a negative effect. Conclusions Complex interactions and enduring effects of health conditions after SCI have a negative effect on function, HRQoL, and life satisfaction. Modeling relations among these types of concepts will inform clinicians how to positively effect outcomes after SCI (eg, development of screening tools and protocols for managing individuals with traumatic SCI who have multiple health conditions).

BACKGROUND CONTEXT In recent years, cervical disc replacement (CDR) has gained popularity for cervical degenerative disorders. The rationale for CDR over anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is preservation of segmental motion and physiological spinal kinematics, which is hoped to delay development of adjacent segment disease and reoperation rates. Superiority of CDR over ACDF in rates of secondary surgeries has not been demonstrated in long-term follow-up. PURPOSE This study compares rate of reoperation in CDR and ACDF for treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease using population-based data for the province of Ontario. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING A population-based cohort study was conducted using health administrative databases including patients undergoing ACDF or CDR between October 2005 to March 2018. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients receiving CDR vs ACDF were identified using physician service claims and hospital discharge abstracts. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was revision surgery in the cervical spine defined as an operation more than 30 days after the index procedure. Secondary outcomes were immediate/acute complications within the first 30 days after the index operation, readmissions and length of hospital stay. METHODS: Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify predictors of time to revision surgery. Predictors of the binary outcome of an immediate complication within 30 days were estimated using logistic regression. Results A total of 5,207 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 2,728 days for CDR and 2,542 days for ACDF. Among 4,937 ACDF procedures, 7.5% underwent subsequent revision surgery and among 270 CDR procedures, 8.9% had revision surgery. While the study groups did not differ in their risk of revision surgery (adjusted HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.78-1.85), CDR was associated with a lower probability of an acute complication (adjusted OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.80). Among other factors, multi-level surgery was an independent predictor of acute complication [OR= 1.33 (95% CI 1.06 – 1.66)]. CDR patients experienced shorter mean (±SD) length of hospital stay [1.42 (±0.87) vs. 2.00 ± (3.08) d for ACDF]. Conclusions This study does not demonstrate superiority of CDR over ACDF in revision surgery at the index and/or adjacent level of the cervical spine for single and multi-level procedures. CDR may have an advantage over ACDF in the acute postoperative phase, with a shorter length of hospital stay and lower probability of acute complication. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Spine surgery is increasingly scrutinized in a climate of rising health care costs given its cost per procedure compared to other specialties. Fortunately, there are many sources of inefficiency that can be addressed without compromising patient care. Surgical trays are often poorly configured and have considerable economic implications as they comprise a large portion of perioperative budgets. Instruments are typically added on an ad-hoc basis, based on surgeon request, which can result in excessively large and inefficient trays. A solution must take into account the conflicting issues of clinical need, costs, ease of batching, prevention of adverse clinical events, and minimization of wear-and-tear on instruments. Clinician review and cost-analysis of surgical trays are two methods historically used to address this challenge, although they have shortcomings. We conducted an interventional quality improvement study to determine if a customized mathematical inventory optimization model would result in greater reduction of instruments than a clinician review. METHODS This was a single-site quality improvement study conducted at a large academic hospital which performs over 750 laminectomy procedures annually. Two trays are required: 1) Laminectomy Tray (LT) and 2) Basic Neurosurgery Tray (BNT). As such, the focus of our study was to optimize these two trays. A trained observer was present in the operating room (OR) during 25 randomly selected laminectomy procedures. Processes in the MDRD and OR were observed to comprehensively quantify associated costs. The results of the observations were applied to a mathematical model to determine ideal tray configuration. In addition, a clinician review (CR) of the trays was performed for comparison. RESULTS The mathematical model produced an ideal tray size of 29 for the LT, representing a reduction of 41% from the original size of 49. For the BNT, the mathematical model produced an ideal tray size of 23 instruments, a reduction of 50% instruments from the original size of 46. Combined, this represented $20,934 in annual savings. In contrast, CR alone suggested an ideal tray size of 35 (29% reduction) for the LT and 37 (19%) for the BNT instruments, and $11,197 in annual savings. CONCLUSIONS Superior reduction of surgical trays used for laminectomy was achieved using a mathematical model when compared to CR alone. The mathematical model yielded an additional 10% instrument reduction and $9,737 in savings compared to clinician review alone. Our model comprehensively optimizes the surgical trays by incorporating several cost drivers important to major processes involved in surgical tray assembly, processing and OR utilization. This model may be generalizable to all specialties and hospitals to determine optimal tray configuration. The financial implications are broad; at our institution, application of the mathematical model to all surgical trays would result in projected costs savings of $312,476 annually. Surgeons and managers looking to manage costs should consider this evidence-based approach. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Chronic low back pain (LBP) is amongst the top ten causes for decrements in disability-adjusted life years globally. Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pathologies are well known causes of chronic LBP, however its management has been a point of debate. The effects of conservative management of SIJ pain has shown to be limited, yet open SI joint fusion (SIJF) is invasive and associated with extended hospital stays. Over the last decade, minimally invasive SIJF has been investigated as a new treatment for low back pain due to SIJ pathology. PURPOSE The goal of this study was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the effect of SI joint fusion on patient reported outcomes. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Systematic review and meta-analysis. PATIENT SAMPLE Inclusion criteria were 1) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies (PCSs), 2) primary SIJF, 3) nontraumatic SIJ pathology, 4) follow-up of at least 6 months, 5) adults, and 6) diagnostically established SIJ pathology. OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale (VAS) for lower back pain at baseline and follow-up. Secondary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline and follow-up and the incidence of adverse reactions due to intervention. For single-arm studies, treatment outcomes were analyzed using the pooled mean VAS and ODI scores. For studies comparing SIJF to conservative management (CM), treatment outcomes were analyzed using the standardized mean difference (SMD) for VAS and ODI scores. METHODS This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The Medline, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched prior to August 18, 2020 for all English-Language studies involving the treatment of SIJ pathology. RESULTS A total of 558 patients and six studies were included; 2 RCTs and 3 PCSs. Five out of the six studies were industry funded. Mean pooled VAS scores at baseline was 76.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 68.4, 84.1), at 1-month follow-up was 35.6 (95% CI 32.4, 38.8), at 3-month follow-up 31.0 (95% CI 27.8, 34.0), at 6 month follow-up 31.0 (95% CI 27.9, 34.0), and at 12 month follow-up 33.8 (95% CI 28.4, 39.2). Mean pooled ODI scores at baseline was 56.7 (95% CI 53.1, 60.2), at 1-month follow-up was 43.2 (95% CI 40.6, 45.8), at 3-month follow-up was 33.6 (95% CI 31.6, 35.6), at 6-month follow-up was 32.4 (95% CI 30.4, 34.4), and 12-month follow-up was 32.7 (95% CI 29.9, 35.6). According to VAS scores, the SMD between SIJF and CM at 1-month follow-up was -1.4 (95% CI -2.4, -0.4), at 3 months follow-up was -1.4 (95%CI -2.3, -0.6), and at 6-month follow-up was -1.5 (95% CI -1.8, -1.1). The SMD between SIJF and CM ODI scores at 3-month follow-up was -0.9 (95% CI -1.1, -0.7) and at 6 months was -1.1 (95% CI -1.6, -0.5). CONCLUSIONS SIJF shows potential as a surgical treatment option for SIJ pathology, as improvements in postoperative patient-reported VAS and ODI were shown. Compared to CM, SIJF shows potential for improved efficacy as demonstrated by patient reported outcome measures. However, there is a paucity of independent trials with long-term follow-up in this field, therefore definitive conclusions about the efficacy of SIJF are limited. This work supports further exploration into the efficacy of SIJF through multicenter comparative studies with long-term follow-up. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Excessive resident duty hours (RDH) is a recognized issue with implications in both physician well-being and patient safety. A major component of the RDH concern is on-call duty. While considerable research has been put forth to address this problem of reducing resident call workload, there is a paucity of research in optimizing resident call scheduling. Currently, call coverage is scheduled arbitrarily rather than demand-based and may lead to over-scheduling coverage in order to prevent a service gap. Machine learning and forecasting has been widely applied in other industries to prevent such issues of a service supply-demand mismatch. However, it has gained little traction in health care. We believe that forecasting principles can be used to efficiently schedule residents to optimize their time while ensuring high quality patient care. PURPOSE We test a mathematical model to determine key variables driving resident scheduling and identify potential scheduling optimization. METHODS Daily handover emails of the orthopaedics department at a major academic hospital over a 12-month period were collected. The following data was extracted: 1) spine call coverage, 2) date sent, 3) number of operating rooms (ORs) completed, 4) number of traumas, 5) number of admissions, and 6) number of consults. Combined with observation of resident responsibilities over a 12-month period, the above variables were used to calculate the demand per day in hours (demand function) required of orthopaedic residents. A linear regression model was used to determine variables that significantly contribute to the demand function. Reduction capacity was measured by determining the number of “second-call” resident shifts that were not necessary, defined by days when the daily demand was less than 20 hours. RESULTS A linear regression model determined three statistically significant variables (P CONCLUSIONS Key drivers of resident demand have been identified using a linear regression model, demonstrating potential for significant optimization of resident scheduling. Further work would involve creating a forecasting model that accurately predicts future demand based on past and current demand patterns. This work has the potential to significantly impact resident well-being while maintaining high quality patient care. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Study Design Retrospective cohort. Objectives To compare outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) vs open surgery (OPEN) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in patients with diabetes. Methods Patients with diabetes who underwent spinal decompression alone or with fusion for LSS within the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) database were included. MIS vs OPEN outcomes were compared for 2 cohorts: (1) patients with diabetes who underwent decompression alone (N = 116; MIS n = 58 and OPEN n = 58), (2) patients with diabetes who underwent decompression with fusion (N = 108; MIS n = 54 and OPEN n = 54). Modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI) and back and leg pain were compared at baseline, 6–18 weeks, and 1-year post-operation. The number of patients meeting minimum clinically important difference (MCID) or minimum pain/disability at 1-year was compared. Results MIS approaches had less blood loss (decompression alone difference 100 mL, P = .002; with fusion difference 244 mL, P < .001) and shorter length of stay (LOS) (decompression alone difference 1.2 days, P = .008; with fusion difference 1.2 days, P = .026). MIS compared to OPEN decompression with fusion had less patients experiencing adverse events (AEs) (difference 13 patients, P = .007). The MIS decompression with fusion group had lower 1-year mODI (difference 14.5, 95% CI [7.5, 21.0], P < .001) and back pain (difference 1.6, 95% CI [.6, 2.7], P = .002) compared to OPEN. More patients in the MIS decompression with fusion group exceeded MCID at 1-year for mODI (MIS 75.9% vs OPEN 53.7%, P = .028) and back pain (MIS 85.2% vs OPEN 70.4%, P = .017). Conclusions MIS approaches were associated with more favorable outcomes for patients with diabetes undergoing decompression with fusion for LSS.

Background Surgical simulation is a valuable educational tool for trainees to practice in a safe, standardized, and controlled environment. Interactive feedback-based virtual reality (VR) has recently moved to the forefront of spine surgery training, with most commercial products focusing on instrumentation. There is a paucity of learning tools directed at decompression principles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of VR simulation and its educational role in learning spinal anatomy and decompressive techniques. Methods A VR simulation module was created with custom-developed software. Orthopaedic and neurosurgical trainees were prospectively enrolled and interacted with patient-specific 3D models of lumbar spinal stenosis while wearing a headset. A surgical toolkit allowed users to perform surgical decompression, specifically removing soft tissues and bone. The module allowed users to perform various techniques in posterior decompressions and comprehend anatomic areas of stenosis. Pre- and post-module testing, and utility questionnaires were administered to provide both quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the module as a learning device. Results 28 trainees were enrolled (20-orthopaedic, 8-neurosurgery) in the study. Pre-test scores on anatomic knowledge progressively improved and showed strong positive correlation with year-in-training (Pearson's r = 0.79). Following simulation, the average improvement in post-test scores was 11.4% in junior trainees (PGYI-III), and 1.0% in senior trainees (PGYIII-Fellows). Knowledge improvement approached statistical significance amongst junior trainees (p = 0.0542). 89% of participants found the VR module useful in understanding and learning the pathology of spinal stenosis. 71% found it useful in comprehending decompressive techniques. 96% believed it had utility in preoperative planning with patient-specific models. Conclusions Our original VR spinal decompression simulation has shown to be overwhelmingly positively received amongst trainees as both a learning module of patho-anatomy and patient-specific preoperative planning, with particular benefit for junior trainees.

First Place Award Submission - CA147Category: Clinical ApplicationManagement of obesity after spinal cord injury: a systematic reviewMir Hatef Shojaei1, Mohammad Alavinia1, B. Catharine Craven1,21N...

Background: Previous bisphosphonate treatment attenuates the bone-forming effect of teriparatide. We compared the effects of 12 months of romosozumab (AMG 785), a sclerostin monoclonal antibody, versus teriparatide on bone mineral density (BMD) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis transitioning from bisphosphonate therapy. Methods: This randomised, phase 3, open-label, active-controlled study was done at 46 sites in North America, Latin America, and Europe. We enrolled women (aged ≥55 to ≤90 years) with postmenopausal osteoporosis who had taken an oral bisphosphonate for at least 3 years before screening and alendronate the year before screening; an areal BMD T score of −2·5 or lower at the total hip, femoral neck, or lumbar spine; and a history of fracture. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via an interactive voice response system to receive subcutaneous romosozumab (210 mg once monthly) or subcutaneous teriparatide (20 μg once daily). The primary endpoint was percentage change from baseline in areal BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the total hip through month 12 (mean of months 6 and 12), which used a linear mixed effects model for repeated measures and represented the mean treatment effect at months 6 and 12. All randomised patients with a baseline measurement and at least one post-baseline measurement were included in the efficacy analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01796301. Findings: Between Jan 31, 2013, and April 29, 2014, 436 patients were randomly assigned to romosozumab (n=218) or teriparatide (n=218). 206 patients in the romosozumab group and 209 in the teriparatide group were included in the primary efficacy analysis. Through 12 months, the mean percentage change from baseline in total hip areal BMD was 2·6% (95% CI 2·2 to 3·0) in the romosozumab group and −0·6% (−1·0 to −0·2) in the teriparatide group; difference 3·2% (95% CI 2·7 to 3·8; p

Surgery for lumbar spine pain is indicated for specific etiologies. Given the majority of individuals referred to spine surgeons are not surgical candidates, care delivery is inefficient, with consultations being of limited value for most. Using specially trained physiotherapists in triage is a human resource strategy that may optimize surgeons' time and the patient experience.An advanced-practice physiotherapist (APP) and a surgeon assessed consecutive patients with lumbar spine pain presenting at an academic health centre's spine surgery clinic. The second assessor was blinded to the outcome of the first. We used the κ statistic to evaluate surgeon-APP level of chance-corrected agreement concerning patients' need for a surgical consultation. To assess satisfaction with the APP, patients completed a modified version of the validated Visit-specific Questionnaire.The sample included 102 participants (54 women) with a mean age of 54.3 ± 14.3 years and a mean Oswestry Disability Index score of 35.4 ± 16.6. The assessors' overall agreement was 86%. The κ coefficient for the need for a surgical consultation was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.54-0.84). The APP identified that 77% of patients did not require a surgical consultation. Twenty-one patients underwent surgery. Satisfaction scores for the APP were very high (mean score 92 out of 100).In triaging patients with lumbar spine pain, the APP and surgeon had a high level of agreement. An APP performing triage at a surgical centre can effectively reduce wait lists by 70%, reserving surgical consultations for those patients in whom they are indicated.La chirurgie pour douleur lombaire est indiquée pour certaines étiologies spécifiques. Étant donné que la majorité des patients adressés à des orthopédistes spécialistes de la colonne vertébrale ne sont pas candidats à la chirurgie, la prestation des soins s'en trouve inefficiente, les consultations se révélant pour la plupart d'une utilité restreinte. Le recours à des physiothérapeutes spécialement formés à l'étape du triage est une stratégie axée sur les ressources humaines qui pourrait libérer les chirurgiens et améliorer l'expérience des patients.Un chirurgien et un physiothérapeute ayant suivi une formation avancée (FA) ont évalué des patients consécutifs atteints de douleur lombaire à la clinique de chirurgie pour la colonne vertébrale d'un centre hospitalier universitaire. Le deuxième examinateur n'était pas au courant de l'évaluation du premier. Nous avons utilisé la statistique κ pour évaluer le degré de concordance corrigée pour tenir compte de la concordance due au hasard entre chirurgien et physiothérapeute (FA) quant à la nécessité de faire voir le patient en chirurgie. Pour évaluer leur satisfaction à l'endroit du physiothérapeute (FA), on a administré aux patients une version modifiée du questionnaire VSQ-9 (validé et spécifique à une visite donnée).L'échantillon incluait 102 participants (54 femmes) âgés en moyenne 54,3 ± 14,3 ans et ayant un score de 35,4 ± 16,6 au questionnaire Oswestry sur l'incapacité. La concordance globale entre les évaluateurs a été de 86 %. Le coefficient κ pour ce qui est de la nécessité d'une consultation en chirurgie a été de 0,69 (intervalle de confiance de 95 %, 0,54-0,84). Le physiothérapeute (FA) a jugé que 77 % des patients n'avaient pas besoin d'une consultation en chirurgie. Vingt et un patients ont subi une chirurgie. Les scores de satisfaction à l'endroit du physiothérapeute (FA) ont été très élevés (score moyen 92 sur 100).Au moment du triage des patients atteints de douleurs lombaires, les évaluations du physiothérapeute (FA) et du chirurgien ont étroitement concordé. Un physiothérapeute (FA) effectuant le triage dans un centre chirurgical peut efficacement réduire les listes d'attente de 70 %, en limitant les consultations en chirurgie aux patients chez qui elles sont indiquées.

Background and purpose Impending or pathological fractures due to bone metastases may require surgical fixation. Postoperative radiation is often recommended to reduce local progression and prevent prosthesis displacement, hence reducing the need for second surgery. The objectives of this study were to investigate the need for second surgery, and to report on rates of re-irradiation, tumor progression and prosthesis displacement following postoperative radiation. Materials and methods Data were collected from 65 patients who received postoperative radiation to 74 sites in the extremities in a palliative radiation clinic between January 2009 and January 2017. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results Only 2 patients required a second surgery (2.7%) at 9 and 10months after postoperative radiation. Increase in pain requiring re-irradiation was reported in 7 patients (9.5%), at a median time of 9.3months after the delivery of radiation. Of the 47 patients who had radiological imaging available post-radiation, local progression of bone metastases was seen in 8 patients (17.0%) and displacement of the prosthesis in 1 patient (2.1%). Conclusion Rates of prosthesis displacement and progression of bone metastases at site of surgery were low after postoperative radiation. There were few incidences of second surgery and re-irradiation observed in the cohort. These findings provide support for the benefit of postoperative radiation.

Retrospective analysis of a prospective registry and surgeon survey. To identify surgeon opinion on ideal practice regarding the timing of decompression/stabilization for spinal cord injury and actual practice. Discrepancies in surgical timing and barriers to ideal timing of surgery were explored. Canada. Patients from the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Registry (RHSCIR, 2004-2014) were reviewed to determine actual timing of surgical management. Following data collection, a survey was distributed to Canadian surgeons, asking for perceived to be the optimal and actual timings of surgery. Discrepancies between actual data and surgeon survey responses were then compared using χ2 tests and logistic regression. The majority of injury patterns identified in the registry were treated operatively. ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) C/D injuries were treated surgically less frequently in the RHSCIR data and surgeon survey (odds ratio (OR)= 0.39 and 0.26). Significant disparities between what surgeons identified as ideal, actual current practice and RHSCIR data were demonstrated. A great majority of surgeons (93.0%) believed surgery under 24 h was ideal for cervical AIS A/B injuries and 91.0% for thoracic AIS A/B/C/D injuries. Definitive surgical management within 24 h was actually accomplished in 39.0% of cervical and 45.0% of thoracic cases. Ideal surgical timing for traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) within 24 h of injury was identified, but not accomplished. Discrepancies between the opinions on the optimal and actual timing of surgery in tSCI patients suggest the need for strategies for knowledge translation and reduction of administrative barriers to early surgery.

Context Menstrual cycle hormone patterns in women approaching menopause are inadequately studied. Objective To describe day-to-day menstrual cycle hormones in women as they approach menopause from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Daily Hormone Study (DHS). Design DHS enrollees collected daily urine for one entire menstrual cycle or up to 50 days, whichever came first, annually, up to the final menstrual period (FMP) or for up to 10 years. Setting Seven sites across the United States. Participants A total of 511 premenopausal or early perimenopausal women at enrollment, within 10 years before menopause. Intervention Time-to-FMP measurement. Main outcome measures Evidence of luteal activity (ELA), determined using objective algorithms. Menstrual cycle/segment length; whole cycle, and segment integrated urinary luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estrone conjugates, and pregnanediol glucuronide (Pdg) for each year, organized around the FMP. Results Mean menstrual cycle length was remarkably preserved at 26 to 27 days in ELA cycles; non-ELA cycles had greater variability. The percentage of cycles that were ELA remained high until 5 years before the FMP (87.9%); only 22.8% of cycles within 1 year of the FMP were ELA. Whole cycle hormones remained relatively stable up to 3 years before the FMP, when gonadotropins began to increase. Pdg excretion declined slowly with progress to the FMP, but Pdg patterns of ELA cycles remained distinguishable from non-ELA. Conclusions Menstrual cycle hormone patterns in perimenopausal women resemble those of midreproductive-aged women until 5 years before menopause, and presumably ovulatory cycles retain a potentially fertile pattern up to the end of reproductive life.

The development of pain is common in midlife, resulting in increased health care utilization and costs. The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal trajectory of overall bodily pain among women during the transition between the reproductive years and menopause. We conducted analyses on a community-based, longitudinal cohort of women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. One thousand four hundred ninety-five women met inclusion criteria, including: 1) defined date of the final menstrual period (FMP), and 2) complete data on Short Form-36 bodily pain. The primary exposure was time to/from the FMP. The primary outcome was the rate of change in Short Form-36 bodily pain, measured on a scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being the most severe pain. We performed within-person trajectory analyses using piecewise regression following nonparametric modeling of functional forms. Mean bodily pain score at the time of the FMP was 29. Mean bodily pain increased at a rate of .26 per year during the transmenopause (the interval spanning 4.5 years before the FMP through .5 years after the FMP), and decreased at a rate of .23 per year after that. Depression and sleep problems were associated with greater increases in pain during the late reproductive years, whereas abdominal cramps at baseline predicted greater decreases in pain during the late reproductive years. Perspective This article shows that bodily pain increases during the transmenopause and then diminishes during postmenopause. These differences may reflect differences in underlying mechanisms of pain in the 2 periods. Although mean changes were small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful, the magnitude of change varied across subgroups of women.

Black women have lower fracture risk compared with white women, which may be partly explained by improved volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microarchitecture primarily within the cortical bone compartment. To determine if there are differences in trabecular microstructure, connectivity, and alignment according to race/ethnicity, we performed individual trabecular segmentation (ITS) analyses on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans of the distal radius and tibia in 273 peri- and postmenopausal black (n = 100) and white (n = 173) women participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation in Boston. Unadjusted analyses showed that black women had greater trabecular plate volume fraction, plate thickness, plate number density, and plate surface area along with greater axial alignment of trabeculae, whereas white women had greater trabecular rod tissue fraction (p < 0.05 for all). Adjustment for clinical covariates augmented these race/ethnicity-related differences in plates and rods, such that white women had greater trabecular rod number density and rod-rod connectivity, whereas black women continued to have superior plate structural characteristics and axial alignment (p < 0.05 for all). These differences remained significant after adjustment for hip BMD and trabecular vBMD. In conclusion, black women had more plate-like trabecular morphology and higher axial alignment of trabeculae, whereas white women had more rod-like trabeculae. These differences may contribute to the improved bone strength and lower fracture risk observed in black women. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Resume Introduction La mucoviscidose s’accompagne d’un risque accru d’osteoporose et d’une augmentation consequente du risque fracturaire. Le but de ce travail etait d’analyser les facteurs independants predictifs, au depart et a deux ans de suivi, d’une modification de la densite minerale osseuse (DMO) chez les adultes mucoviscidosiques. Methodes Soixante-quatre patients adultes atteints de mucoviscidose, âges de 18 a 57 ans, ont ete recrutes dans la clinique de mucoviscidose du Massachussets General Hospital. Une absorptiometrie biphotonique a rayons X (DXA) a ete realisee au rachis et au radius a l’inclusion puis a deux ans (chez 39 sujets). L’indice de masse maigre (IMM) et l’indice de masse grasse (IMG) ont ete estimes a partir du poids, de la taille et de l’impedancemetrie bioelectrique tetrapolaire. Tous les sujets ont ete soumis a une spirometrie pulmonaire dans un delai d’un mois a compter de la visite de suivi. Des modeles de regression lineaire ont permis d’evaluer les variables predictives du Z score de DMO au depart et les modifications du Z score au rachis AP a 2 ans. Deux definitions d’une DMO basse ont ete etudiees a partir du Z score (≤ −1,0 et ≤ −2,0). Resultats Un defaut de mineralisation osseuse a ete retrouve chez 52 % des sujets. Ces derniers etaient majoritairement des hommes (67 % vs. 32 %, p = 0,009), sous traitement par glucocorticoides (21 % vs. 0 %, p Conclusions Le sexe masculin, la petite taille et une insuffisance de masse maigre sont correles a une DMO basse dans la mucoviscidose. L’adiposite elevee et les troubles respiratoires sont predictifs d’une modification negative du Z score de DMO a deux ans de suivi.

OBJECTIVEOver the past 2 decades, spine outcome research has become more standardized in response to recommendations from Deyo and others. By using the same generic and condition-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures across studies, results are more easily compared. Given the challenges of maintaining high-quality data in clinical research studies, it would be important to evaluate the contribution of each PRO to confirm that it merits the respondent burden. This study aimed to examine the spine PROs’ association with clinically important change and relative responsiveness in explaining variance in patients’ global assessment of change (GAC).METHODSThis prospective longitudinal cohort study included adults recruited from 4 active spine surgery practices at a Toronto-based hospital. Patients were diagnosed with a degenerative lumbar spinal condition and underwent spinal decompression and/or fusion surgery. Participants completed the RAND-36 (to generate the physical component score [PCS] and mental component score [MCS]), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain interference, and a GAC item. Random-effects models were used to investigate the sensitivity of PROs to the GAC and their responsiveness over time (i.e., PRO main effects and PRO-by-time interactions, respectively).RESULTSThe study sample included 168 patients (mean age 61 years, 50% female) with preoperative and up to 12 months of postoperative data. Random-effects models revealed significant main effects for all PROs. Significant time-by-PRO interactions were detected for the PCS, PROMIS, ODI, and NRS (p < 0.0005 in all cases), but not for the MCS. Further examination revealed different sensitivity of the PROs to the GAC at different times. The NRS, PROMIS, and PCS showed higher sensitivity early after surgery, and the PCS evinced a marked drop in sensitivity to the GAC at about 8 months postsurgery.CONCLUSIONSAll PROs currently included in the spine outcome core measures are associated with patients’ subjective assessment of a clinically important change, and all but the MCS scores are responsive to such change. Based on these findings, the core spine PROs could be reduced to include fewer estimates of pain. The authors suggest replacing the less responsive measures with tools that help to characterize factors that are driving the patients’ subjective assessment of change and that meaningfully address some of the higher levels in the hierarchy of quality-of-life outcomes.

OBJECTIVE 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is critical for bone mineralization and may prevent fractures. Understanding vitamin D deficiency trends in midlife women is particularly important given their concurrent menopausal changes that increase risk for fracture. We aimed to evaluate changes in mean 25(OH)D over time and their determinants in a racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort of midlife women. DESIGN A multi-centre prospective cohort study. PATIENTS 1585 women ages 42-52 years at baseline. MEASUREMENTS We measured serum 25(OH)D at 2 time points (1998-2000 and 2009-2011). Between-visit change was assessed in the whole cohort and in socioeconomic and demographic subgroups. Among those with vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of prescription sleep medications on patient-reported sleep disturbances.DesignRetrospective cohort.SettingLongitudinal cohort of community-dwelling women in the USA.ParticipantsRacially and ethnically diverse middle-aged women who reported a sleep disturbance.InterventionsNew users of prescription sleep medications propensity score matched to women not starting sleep medications.Main outcomes and measuresSelf-reported sleep disturbance during the previous 2 weeks—difficulty initiating sleep, waking frequently and early morning awakening—using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from no difficulty on any night (rating 1) to difficulty on 5 or more nights a week (rating 5). Sleep disturbances were compared at 1 year (primary outcome) and 2 years of follow-up.Results238 women who started sleep medications were matched with 447 non-users. Participants had a mean age of 49.5 years and approximately half were white. At baseline, sleep disturbance ratings were similar: medication users had a mean score for difficulty initiating sleep of 2.7 (95% CI 2.5 to 2.9), waking frequently 3.8 (95% CI 3.6 to 3.9) and early morning awakening 2.8 (95% CI 2.6 to 3.0); non-users ratings were 2.6 (95% CI 2.5 to 2.7), 3.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 3.9) and 2.7 (95% CI 2.6 to 2.8), respectively. After 1 year, ratings for medication users were 2.6 (95% CI 2.4 to 2.8) for initiating sleep, 3.6 (95% CI 3.4 to 3.8) for waking frequently and 2.8 (95% CI 2.6 to 3.0) for early morning awakening; for non-users, the mean ratings were 2.3 (95% CI 2.2 to 2.5), 3.5 (95% CI 3.3 to 3.6) and 2.5 (95% CI 2.3 to 2.6), respectively. None of the 1 year changes were statistically significant nor were they different between medication users and non-users. Two-year follow-up results were consistent, without statistically significant reductions in sleep disturbance in medication users compared with non-users.ConclusionsThese analyses suggest that women who initiated sleep medications rated their sleep disturbances similar after 1 and 2 years. The effectiveness of long-term sleep medication use should be re-examined.

FMR1 premutation carriers (55-199 CGG repeats), and potentially women with high normal (35-44) or low normal (

Young adults with cystic fibrosis have compromised plate-like trabecular microstructure, altered axial alignment of trabeculae, and reduced connectivity between trabeculae that may contribute to the reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk observed in this patient population. The risk of fracture is increased in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Individual trabecular segmentation (ITS)-based morphological analysis of high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) images segments trabecular bone into individual plates and rods of different alignment and connectivity, which are important determinants of trabecular bone strength. We sought to determine whether alterations in ITS variables are present in patients with CF and may help explain their increased fracture risk. Thirty patients with CF ages 18–40 years underwent DXA scans of the hip and spine and HR-pQCT scans of the radius and tibia with further assessment of trabecular microstructure by ITS. These CF patients were compared with 60 healthy controls matched for age (±2 years), race, and gender. Plate volume fraction, thickness, and density as well as plate-plate and plate-rod connectivity were reduced, and axial alignment of trabeculae was lower in subjects with CF at both the radius and the tibia (p

Introduction Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with osteoporosis and incident fracture. This study assessed independent predictors of baseline and 2-year changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in adults with CF. Methods Sixty-four adult patients with CF, ages 18–57, were recruited from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Care Center. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed at the spine and radius at baseline and 2 years (in 39 subjects). Estimates of fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were determined using height, weight, and tetrapolar bioelectric impedance analysis. All subjects completed lung spirometry within 1 month of the study visit. Linear regression models evaluated predictors of baseline BMD Z-scores and change in PA spine BMD Z-score over 2 years. Two definitions of low BMD were studied based on Z-score (≤–1.0 and ≤–2.0). Results Low BMD was present in 52% of subjects. Subjects with low BMD were more likely to be male (67% vs. 32%, P = 0.009), were more likely to be currently using glucocorticoids (21% vs. 0%, P P = 0.04), and were more likely to have had a previous fracture (60% vs. 46%, P = 0.007). In multivariable models, greater FFMI and height, but not greater FMI, were associated with greater BMD. In multivariable models, low forced vital capacity (FVC) and greater FMI were associated with greater loss of BMD at the PA spine over two years. Conclusions Male sex, short stature, and low lean mass are associated with low BMD in CF. Greater adiposity and lower lung function are predictors of negative change in BMD Z-score over 2 years.

BACKGROUND. Severe gonadal steroid deficiency induces bone loss in adult men; however, the specific roles of androgen and estrogen deficiency in hypogonadal bone loss are unclear. Additionally, the threshold levels of testosterone and estradiol that initiate bone loss are uncertain. METHODS. One hundred ninety-eight healthy men, ages 20–50, received goserelin acetate, which suppresses endogenous gonadal steroid production, and were randomized to treatment with 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 grams of testosterone gel daily for 16 weeks. An additional cohort of 202 men was randomized to receive these treatments plus anastrozole, which suppresses conversion of androgens to estrogens. Thirty-seven men served as controls and received placebos for goserelin and testosterone. Changes in bone turnover markers, bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and BMD by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) were assessed in all men. Bone microarchitecture was assessed in 100 men. RESULTS. As testosterone dosage decreased, the percent change in C-telopeptide increased. These increases were considerably greater when aromatization of testosterone to estradiol was also suppressed, suggesting effects of both testosterone and estradiol deficiency. Decreases in DXA BMD were observed when aromatization was suppressed but were modest in most groups. QCT spine BMD fell substantially in all testosterone-dose groups in which aromatization was also suppressed, and this decline was independent of testosterone dose. Estradiol deficiency disrupted cortical microarchitecture at peripheral sites. Estradiol levels above 10 pg/ml and testosterone levels above 200 ng/dl were generally sufficient to prevent increases in bone resorption and decreases in BMD in men. CONCLUSIONS. Estrogens primarily regulate bone homeostasis in adult men, and testosterone and estradiol levels must decline substantially to impact the skeleton. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov, {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00114114","term_id":"NCT00114114"}}NCT00114114. FUNDING. AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, NIH.

OBJECTIVEThe cortical bone trajectory (CBT) technique for pedicle screw placement has gained popularity among spinal surgeons. It has been shown biomechanically to provide better fixation and improved pullout strength compared to a traditional pedicle screw trajectory. The CBT technique also allows for a less invasive approach for fusion and may have lower incidence of adjacent-level disease. A limitation of the current CBT technique is a lack of readily identifiable and reproducible visual landmarks to guide freehand CBT screw placement in comparison to the well-defined identifiable landmarks for traditional pedicle screw insertion. The goal of this study was to validate a safe and intuitive freehand technique for placement of CBT screws based on optimization of virtual CBT screw placement using anatomical landmarks in the lumbar spine. The authors hypothesized that virtual identification of anatomical landmarks on 3D models of the lumbar spine generated from CT scans would translate to a safe intraoperative freehand technique.METHODSCustomized, open-source medical imaging and visualization software (3D Slicer) was used in this study to develop a workflow for virtual simulation of lumbar CBT screw insertion. First, in an ex vivo study, 20 anonymous CT image series of normal and degenerative lumbar spines and virtual screw insertion were conducted to place CBT screws bilaterally in the L1–5 vertebrae for each image volume. The optimal safe CBT trajectory was created by maximizing both the screw length and the cortical bone contact with the screw. Easily identifiable anatomical surface landmarks for the start point and trajectory that best allowed the reproducible idealized screw position were determined. An in vivo validation of the determined landmarks from the ex vivo study was then performed in 10 patients. Placement of virtual “test” cortical bone trajectory screws was simulated with the surgeon blinded to the real-time image-guided navigation, and the placement was evaluated. The surgeon then placed the definitive screw using image guidance.RESULTSFrom the ex vivo study, the optimized technique and landmarks were similar in the L1–4 vertebrae, whereas the L5 optimized technique was distinct. The in vivo validation yielded ideal, safe, and unsafe screws in 62%, 16%, and 22% of cases, respectively. A common reason for the nonidealized trajectories was the obscuration of patient anatomy secondary to severe degenerative changes.CONCLUSIONSCBT screws were placed ideally or safely 78% of the time in a virtual simulation model. A 22% rate of unsafe freehand trajectories suggests that the CBT technique requires use of image-guided navigation or x-ray guidance and that reliable freehand CBT screw insertion based on anatomical landmarks is not reliably feasible in the lumbar spine.