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Changes in lower limb alignment after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (owHTO) influence joint kinematics. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and kinematic changes of the knee joint, in particular the patellofemoral joint, using a multibody simulation model. OwHTO with an open tibial wedge of 6-12 mm (1 mm intervals) was virtually performed on each of 13 three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design models (CAD models) derived from computer tomography scans of full-leg cadaver specimens. For each owHTO, an individual biomechanical simulation model was built and knee flexion from 5° to 100° was simulated using a multibody simulation model of the native knee. Morphologic and alignment parameters as well as tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematic parameters were evaluated. Almost linear changes in tibial tuberosity trochlea groove (TT-TG) (0.42 mm/1 mm wedge height) were observed which led to pathological values (TT-TG > 20 mm) in 3 out of 13 knees. Furthermore, a 6 mm increase in osteotomy wedge height increased lateral patellofemoral rotation by 0.8° (range: 0.39° to 1.11°) and led to a lateral patellar translation of 0.8 mm (range: 0.37-3.11 mm) on average. Additionally, valgisation led to a medial translation of the tibia and a decrease in the degree of tibial internal rotation during knee flexion of approximately 0.3°/1 mm increase in osteotomy wedge height. The increase in TT-TG and the biomechanical effects observed influence patellofemoral tracking, which may increase retropatellar pressure and are potential risk factors for the development of anterior knee pain., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Background: The ascending or descending extended biplanar tibial cut in open wedge high tibial osteotomy (owHTO) not only changes the lower limb anatomy in the coronal plane but also leads to different three-dimensional (3D) changes in the patellofemoral joint. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic biomechanical changes in the knee joint using a multibody simulation model., Methods: Thirteen 3D computer models derived from lower limb computer tomography scans were used for owHTO. Osteotomies with ascending or descending biplanar cut were simulated for each wedge height from 6 to 12 mm (in 1-mm intervals). Multibody simulation was used to analyze differences in patellar shift, patellar tilt, mediolateral patellar rotation, and tibiofemoral rotation during a squat simulation from 5° to 100° knee flexion., Results: The main effects of an ascending compared with a descending extended biplanar cut in owHTO were characterized by an increase in lateralization of the patella and rotation, along with reduced tilt. Linear mixed models revealed statistically significant effects of both wedge height and cut variant on knee kinematics at 100° knee flexion, with the influence of the cut variant (ascending/descending) being higher on all analyzed kinematic parameters., Conclusions: Significant differences in the changes in patellofemoral shift, tilt, rotation, and tibiofemoral rotation were observed when performing owHTO with an ascending versus a descending biplanar cut. Apart from tibiofemoral rotation, the resulting kinematic changes were greater with an ascending cut., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was part of the research approved by the Ethics Committee of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (no. 24–0099). Informed consent: All authors have read and approved the manuscript. Competing interests: The authors received no financial or material support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Chest radiographs (CXRs) are still of crucial importance in primary diagnostics, but their interpretation poses difficulties at times., Research Question: Can a convolutional neural network-based artificial intelligence (AI) system that interprets CXRs add value in an emergency unit setting?, Study Design and Methods: A total of 563 CXRs acquired in the emergency unit of a major university hospital were retrospectively assessed twice by three board-certified radiologists, three radiology residents, and three emergency unit-experienced nonradiology residents (NRRs). They used a two-step reading process: (1) without AI support; and (2) with AI support providing additional images with AI overlays. Suspicion of four suspected pathologies (pleural effusion, pneumothorax, consolidations suspicious for pneumonia, and nodules) was reported on a five-point confidence scale. Confidence scores of the board-certified radiologists were converted into four binary reference standards of different sensitivities. Performance by radiology residents and NRRs without AI support/with AI support were statistically compared by using receiver-operating characteristics (ROCs), Youden statistics, and operating point metrics derived from fitted ROC curves., Results: NRRs could significantly improve performance, sensitivity, and accuracy with AI support in all four pathologies tested. In the most sensitive reference standard (reference standard IV), NRR consensus improved the area under the ROC curve (mean, 95% CI) in the detection of the time-critical pathology pneumothorax from 0.846 (0.785-0.907) without AI support to 0.974 (0.947-1.000) with AI support (P < .001), which represented a gain of 30% in sensitivity and 2% in accuracy (while maintaining an optimized specificity). The most pronounced effect was observed in nodule detection, with NRR with AI support improving sensitivity by 53% and accuracy by 7% (area under the ROC curve without AI support, 0.723 [0.661-0.785]; with AI support, 0.890 [0.848-0.931]; P < .001). Radiology residents had smaller, mostly nonsignificant gains in performance, sensitivity, and accuracy with AI support., Interpretation: We found that in an emergency unit setting without 24/7 radiology coverage, the presented AI solution features an excellent clinical support tool to nonradiologists, similar to a second reader, and allows for a more accurate primary diagnosis and thus earlier therapy initiation., Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures The authors have reported to CHEST the following: B. O. S. and J. Rueckel received financial compensation for speaker's activities by Siemens Healthineers (lectures at conferences). C. H., A. P., and G. B. received financial compensation by Siemens Healthineers (employees). None declared (J. Rudolph, B. F. H., J. D., V. K., N. F., S. S. G., V. S., N. M., V. F. S., M. F., M. J., N. B. K., T. L., J. Ricke)., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this narrative review, a structured comparison between one-piece and two-piece zirconia dental implants is highlighted. Ceramic dental implants have long ceased to be hype; on the contrary, they can offer a significant addition to the daily dental implant practice. Not only do their favourable aesthetics play a significant role, but their ability to work completely metal-free is of added value, particularly for patients with a proven allergy for Grade 5 titanium. Furthermore, the fact that peri-implantitis seems to appear only incidentally is an important supporting argument for their use as well. Whereas the original design of zirconia implants was formerly always of a one-piece/one-phase structure (the monobloc design), nowadays, two-piece/two-phase designs (the so-called hybrid concept) are also widely utilised to restore missing teeth. Both concepts have advantages and disadvantages, scientifically as well as clinically.For this paper, relevant articles from the recent scientific literature were selected from PubMed. The aim was to identify and summarise what has previously been published on one-piece versus two-piece ceramic implants. This article will compare the benefits and drawbacks of one-piece versus two-piece ceramic implants based on clinical- (design, different sizes, surgical protocol, prosthetics), scientific- (loading and eventual complications) and patient-related (costs and long-time perspectives) criteria., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Three-dimensional (3D) printed patient-specific instruments (PSI) have been introduced to increase precision and simplify surgical procedures. Initial results in femoral and tibial osteotomies are promising, but validation studies on 3D planning, manufacturing of patient-specific cutting blocks and 3D evaluation of the attained results are lacking., Methods: In this study, patient-specific cutting blocks and spacers were designed, fabricated, and used to perform a high tibial osteotomy (HTO). After segmentation of CT data sets from 13 human tibiae, 3D digital planning of the HTO was performed with a medial opening of 8 mm. These 3D models were used to fabricate patient-specific cutting blocks and spacers. After the surgical procedure, accuracy was evaluated measuring 3D joint angles and surface deviations., Results: The lowest mean deviation was found to be 0.57° (SD ± 0.27) for the MPTA. Medial and lateral tibial slope deviated from the 3D planning by an average of 0.98° (SD ± 0.53) and 1.26° (SD ± 0.79), respectively, while tibial torsion deviated by an average of 5.74° (SD ± 3.24). Color analysis of surface deviations showed excellent and good agreement in 7 tibiae., Conclusion: With 3D cutting blocks and spacers, the 3D planning of the HTO can be translated into reality with small deviations of the resulting joint angles. Within this study, the results of the individual steps are examined for errors and thus a critical evaluation of this new and promising method for performing patient-specific HTOs is presented., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in rotation of the lower limb between image pairs based on patellar position. Additionally, we investigated the differences in alignment between centralized patellar and orthograde-positioned condyles., Methods: Three-dimensional models of 30 paired legs were aligned in neutral position with condyles orthogonal to the sagittal axis and then rotated internally and externally in 1° increments up to 15°. For each rotation, the deviation of the patella and the subsequent changes in alignment parameters were calculated and plotted using a linear regression model. Differences between neutral position and patellar centralization were analysed qualitatively., Results: A linear relationship between lower limb rotation and patellar position can be postulated. The regression model (R 2  = 0.99) calculated a change of the patellar position of - 0.9 mm per degree rotation and alignment parameters showed small changes due to rotation. The physiological lateralization of the patella at neutral position was on average - 8.3 mm (SD: ± 5.4 mm). From neutral position, internal rotation that led to a centralized patella was on average - 9.8° (SD: ± 5.2°)., Conclusion: The approximately linear dependence of the patellar position on rotation allows an inverse estimation of the rotation during image acquisition and its influence on the alignment parameters. As there is still no absolute consensus about lower limb positioning during image acquisition, data about the impact of a centralized patella compared to an orthograde condyle positioning on alignment parameters was provided., Level of Evidence: IV., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The development of post-traumatic osteoarthrosis after tibial plateau fracture (TPF) is multifactorial and can only be partially influenced by surgical treatment. There is no standardized method for assessing pre- and postoperative knee joint laxity. Data on the incidence of postoperative laxity after TPF are limited. The purpose of this study was to quantify postoperative laxity of the knee joint after TPF. Fifty-four patients (mean age 51 ± 11.9 years) were included in this study. There was a significant increase in anterior-posterior translation in 78.0% and internal rotation in 78.9% in the injured knee when compared to the healthy knee. Simple fractures showed no significant difference in laxity compared to complex fractures. When preoperative ligament damage and/or meniscal lesions were present and surgically treated by refixation and/or bracing, patients showed higher instability when compared to patients without preoperative ligament and/or meniscal damage. Patients with surgically treated TPF demonstrate measurable knee joint laxity at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. Fracture types have no influence on postoperative laxity. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing TPF as a multifaceted injury involving both complex fractures and damage to multiple ligaments and soft tissue structures, which may require further surgical intervention after osteosynthesis.

Background: The evaluation of tibial plateau fractures (TPF) encompasses the assessment of clinical-functional and radiological parameters. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the potential correlation between these parameters by utilizing both the clinical-functional and the modified radiological Rasmussen score., Methods: In this retrospective monocentric study conducted at a level-I trauma center, patients who underwent surgery between January 2014 and December 2019 due to a TPF were included. The clinical-functional Rasmussen score prior to the injury, at 1-year postoperatively, and during the last follow-up (minimum 18 months) was assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Additionally, the modified radiological Rasmussen score was determined at the 1-year postoperative mark using conventional radiographs in two planes., Results: A total of 50 patients were included in this study, comprising 40% (n = 20) men, and 60% (n = 30) women, with an average age of 47 ± 11.8 years (range 26-73 years old). Among them, 52% (n = 26) had simple fractures (classified according to Schatzker I-III), while 48% (n = 24; according to Schatzker IV-VI) had complex fractures. The mean follow-up was 3.9 ± 1.6 years (range 1.6-7.5 years). The functional Rasmussen score assessed before the injury and at follow-up showed an "excellent" average result. However, there was a significant difference in the values of complex fractures compared to before the injury. One year postoperatively, both the clinical-functional score and the modified radiological score demonstrated a "good" average result. The "excellent" category was more frequently observed in the functional score, while the "fair" category was more common in the radiological score. There was no agreement between the categories in both scores in 66% of the cases., Conclusions: The data from this retrospective study demonstrated that patients with TPF are able to achieve a nearly equivalent functional level in the medium-term after a prolonged recovery period, comparable to their pre-injury state. However, it is important to note that the correlation between clinical-functional and radiological parameters is limited. Consequently, in order to create prospective outcome scores, it becomes crucial to objectively assess the multifaceted nature of TPF injuries in more detail, both clinically and radiologically.

Introduction: Current gold standard for the treatment of symphyseal disruptions includes anterior plating, almost entirely prohibiting symphyseal mobility and resulting in an iatrogenic arthrodesis followed by high rates of implant failure. Minimally invasive tape suture constructs have been found to maintain the micro mobility of ligamentous injuries, yet still providing sufficient biomechanical stability. Recently, this technique has been primarily investigated for symphyseal disruptions on synthetic pelvic models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of this novel flexible osteosynthesis on cadaveric pelvic models based on the following hypothesis: tape suture constructs ensure sufficient biomechanical stability without inhibiting micro mobility of the pubic symphysis for the treatment of symphyseal disruptions and maintain stability during long-term loading., Materials and Methods: 9 cadaveric anterior pelvic rings were used in this study and a symphyseal disruption was created in every specimen. The specimens were then exposed to short- and long-term vertical and horizontal cyclic loading after treatment with a tape suture construct in criss-cross technique. The mean maximum displacement (mm) during cyclic loading and the corresponding stiffness (N/mm) were measured and compared., Results: Regarding both displacement (mm) and corresponding stiffness (N/mm), the tape sutures displayed a significant difference between short- and long-term loading for cranial and caudal vertical loading (p < 0.01) but differences remained non-significant for horizontal loading (p > 0.05). No tape suture suffered from implant failure during long-term loading., Conclusions: The tape suture construct displayed sufficient biomechanical stability without exceeding the physiological mobility of 2 mm of the pubic symphysis; however, also maintained the desired micro mobility of the affected joint necessary to prevent an iatrogenic arthrodesis. Further, all tape sutures maintained stability throughout long-term loading., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Many radiographic lower limb alignment  measurements are dependent on patients' position, which makes a standardised image acquisition of long-leg radiographs (LLRs) essential for valid measurements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of rotation and flexion of the lower limb on common radiological alignment parameters using three-dimensional (3D) simulation., Methods: Joint angles and alignment parameters of 3D lower limb bone models (n = 60), generated from computed tomography (CT) scans, were assessed and projected into the coronal plane to mimic radiographic imaging. Bone models were subsequently rotated around the longitudinal mechanical axis up to 15° inward/outward and additionally flexed along the femoral intercondylar axis up to 30°. This resulted in 28 combinations of rotation and flexion for each leg. The results were statistically analysed on a descriptive level and using a linear mixed effects model., Results: A total of 1680 simulations were performed. Mechanical axis deviation (MAD) revealed a medial deviation with increasing internal rotation and a lateral deviation with increasing external rotation. This effect increased significantly (p < 0.05) with combined flexion up to 30° flexion (- 25.4 mm to 25.2 mm). With the knee extended, the mean deviation of hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) was small over all rotational steps but increased toward more varus/valgus when combined with flexion (8.4° to - 8.5°). Rotation alone changed the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) in opposite directions, and the effects increased significantly (p < 0.05) when flexion was present., Conclusions: Axial rotation and flexion of the 3D lower limb has a huge impact on the projected two-dimensional alignment measurements in the coronal plane. The observed effects were small for isolated rotation or flexion, but became pronounced and clinically relevant when there was a combination of both. This must be considered when evaluating X-ray images. Extension deficits of the knee make LLR prone to error and this calls into question direct postoperative alignment controls., Level of Evidence: III (retrospective cohort study)., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Various studies have shown the benefit of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction and especially 3D printing in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures (TPFs). This study aimed to investigate whether mixed-reality visualization (MRV) using mixed-reality glasses can provide a benefit for CT and/or 3D printing in planning treatment strategies for complex TPFs., Methods: Three complex TPFs were selected for the study and processed for 3D imaging. Subsequently, the fractures were presented to specialists in trauma surgery using CT (including 3D CT reconstruction), MRV (hardware: Microsoft HoloLens 2; software: mediCAD MIXED REALITY) and 3D prints. A standardized questionnaire on fracture morphology and treatment strategy was completed after each imaging session., Results: 23 surgeons from 7 hospitals were interviewed. A total of 69.6% ( n = 16) of those had treated at least 50 TPFs. A change in fracture classification according to Schatzker was recorded in 7.1% of the cases and in 78.6% an adjustment of the ten-segment classification was observed after MRV. In addition, the intended patient positioning changed in 16.1% of the cases, the surgical approach in 33.9% and osteosynthesis in 39.3%. A total of 82.1% of the participants rated MRV as beneficial compared to CT regarding fracture morphology and treatment planning. An additional benefit of 3D printing was reported in 57.1% of the cases (five-point Likert scale)., Conclusions: Preoperative MRV of complex TPFs leads to improved fracture understanding, better treatment strategies and a higher detection rate of fractures in posterior segments, and it thus has the potential to improve patient care and outcomes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms evaluating [supine] chest radiographs ([S]CXRs) have remarkably increased in number recently. Since training and validation are often performed on subsets of the same overall dataset, external validation is mandatory to reproduce results and reveal potential training errors. We applied a multicohort benchmarking to the publicly accessible (S)CXR analyzing AI algorithm CheXNet, comprising three clinically relevant study cohorts which differ in patient positioning ([S]CXRs), the applied reference standards (CT-/[S]CXR-based) and the possibility to also compare algorithm classification with different medical experts' reading performance. The study cohorts include [1] a cohort, characterized by 563 CXRs acquired in the emergency unit that were evaluated by 9 readers (radiologists and non-radiologists) in terms of 4 common pathologies, [2] a collection of 6,248 SCXRs annotated by radiologists in terms of pneumothorax presence, its size and presence of inserted thoracic tube material which allowed for subgroup and confounding bias analysis and [3] a cohort consisting of 166 patients with SCXRs that were evaluated by radiologists for underlying causes of basal lung opacities, all of those cases having been correlated to a timely acquired computed tomography scan (SCXR and CT within < 90 min). CheXNet non-significantly exceeded the radiology resident (RR) consensus in the detection of suspicious lung nodules (cohort [1], AUC AI/RR: 0.851/0.839, p = 0.793) and the radiological readers in the detection of basal pneumonia (cohort [3], AUC AI/reader consensus: 0.825/0.782, p = 0.390) and basal pleural effusion (cohort [3], AUC AI/reader consensus: 0.762/0.710, p = 0.336) in SCXR, partly with AUC values higher than originally published ("Nodule": 0.780, "Infiltration": 0.735, "Effusion": 0.864). The classifier "Infiltration" turned out to be very dependent on patient positioning (best in CXR, worst in SCXR). The pneumothorax SCXR cohort [2] revealed poor algorithm performance in CXRs without inserted thoracic material and in the detection of small pneumothoraces, which can be explained by a known systematic confounding error in the algorithm training process. The benefit of clinically relevant external validation is demonstrated by the differences in algorithm performance as compared to the original publication. Our multi-cohort benchmarking finally enables the consideration of confounders, different reference standards and patient positioning as well as the AI performance comparison with differentially qualified medical readers., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: In medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) hinge axis and osteotomy plane influence the resulting anatomy, but accurate angular quantifications using 3D-planning-simulations are lacking. The objectives of this study were developing a standardized and validated 3D-planning method of an HTO and to perform several simulated realignments to explain unintended anatomy changes. Methods: The cutting direction of the main osteotomy was defined parallel to the medial tibial slope and the hinge axis 1.5 cm distal to the lateral plateau. For interobserver testing, this 3D planning was performed on 13 digital models of human tibiae by two observers. In addition, four different hinge axis positions and five differently inclined osteotomy planes each were simulated. The osteotomy direction ranged from medial 0°-30° anteromedial, while the tilt of the osteotomy plane compared to the tibial plateau was -10° to +10°. All anatomic angular changes were calculated using 3D analysis. Results: Multiple HTO plannings by two medical investigators using standardized procedures showed only minimal differences. In the 3D-simulation, each 10° rotation of the hinge axis resulted in a 1.7° significant increase in slope. Tilting the osteotomy plane by 10° resulted in significant torsional changes of 2°, in addition to minor but significant changes in the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA). Conclusion: Standardized 3D-planning of the HTO can be performed with high reliability using two-observer planning. 3D-simulations suggest that control of the osteotomy plane is highly relevant to avoid unintended changes in the resulting anatomy, but this can be a helpful tool to modify specific angles in different pathologies in the HTO.

Objectives: Chest radiographs (CXRs) are commonly performed in emergency units (EUs), but the interpretation requires radiology experience. We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system (precommercial) that aims to mimic board-certified radiologists' (BCRs') performance and can therefore support non-radiology residents (NRRs) in clinical settings lacking 24/7 radiology coverage. We validated by quantifying the clinical value of our AI system for radiology residents (RRs) and EU-experienced NRRs in a clinically representative EU setting., Materials and Methods: A total of 563 EU CXRs were retrospectively assessed by 3 BCRs, 3 RRs, and 3 EU-experienced NRRs. Suspected pathologies (pleural effusion, pneumothorax, consolidations suspicious for pneumonia, lung lesions) were reported on a 5-step confidence scale (sum of 20,268 reported pathology suspicions [563 images × 9 readers × 4 pathologies]) separately by every involved reader. Board-certified radiologists' confidence scores were converted into 4 binary reference standards (RFSs) of different sensitivities. The RRs' and NRRs' performances were statistically compared with our AI system (trained on nonpublic data from different clinical sites) based on receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) and operating point metrics approximated to the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity (Youden statistics)., Results: The NRRs lose diagnostic accuracy to RRs with increasingly sensitive BCRs' RFSs for all considered pathologies. Based on our external validation data set, the AI system/NRRs' consensus mimicked the most sensitive BCRs' RFSs with areas under ROC of 0.940/0.837 (pneumothorax), 0.953/0.823 (pleural effusion), and 0.883/0.747 (lung lesions), which were comparable to experienced RRs and significantly overcomes EU-experienced NRRs' diagnostic performance. For consolidation detection, the AI system performed on the NRRs' consensus level (and overcomes each individual NRR) with an area under ROC of 0.847 referenced to the BCRs' most sensitive RFS., Conclusions: Our AI system matched RRs' performance, meanwhile significantly outperformed NRRs' diagnostic accuracy for most of considered CXR pathologies (pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and lung lesions) and therefore might serve as clinical decision support for NRRs., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To present emergency cerclage (EC) as a safe and effective therapeutic option for prevention of prematurity in women with advanced cervical dilation in second-trimester pregnancy. It is focused on seemingly futile situations like cervical dilation >5 cm, bulging membranes and multifetal pregnancies. The outcomes of interest are the prolongation of pregnancy, gestational age at delivery and neonatal morbidity and mortality related to distinct risk factors., Study Design: Retrospective monocentric cohort study involving 130 pregnancies (105 single and 25 twin pregnancies) and 155 neonates by using a standardized protocol. Women between 18 and 28 gestational weeks with cervical shortening of <10 mm + cervical dilation >2 cm and/or bulging membranes were included. Analyses of maternal and neonatal parameters were done by chart review., Results: The medium gestational age at delivery was 35 5/7 week with a medium interval from cerclage placement to delivery of 83 days. Overall, 46.5% (72/155) neonates were born beyond 37 weeks, extreme prematurity of less than 28 gestational weeks was observed in 14.8% (23/155), no miscarriage before 22 weeks was documented. The neonatal mortality was 1.9% (3/155). Neonatal deaths and morbidity was related to severe prematurity exclusively. The association of amnion-infection syndromes and failing therapy was significantly with respect to bulging membranes and advanced cervical dilation >5 cm., Conclusions: Even in futile cases EC can be an option to save the pregnancy and prevent severe prematurity. However, a standardized protocol is imminent for successful therapy and every indication has to be a case by case decision.

(1) Background: Chest radiography (CXR) is still a key diagnostic component in the emergency department (ED). Correct interpretation is essential since some pathologies require urgent treatment. This study quantifies potential discrepancies in CXR analysis between radiologists and non-radiology physicians in training with ED experience. (2) Methods: Nine differently qualified physicians (three board-certified radiologists [BCR], three radiology residents [RR], and three non-radiology residents involved in ED [NRR]) evaluated a series of 563 posterior-anterior CXR images by quantifying suspicion for four relevant pathologies: pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, and pulmonary nodules. Reading results were noted separately for each hemithorax on a Likert scale (0-4; 0: no suspicion of pathology, 4: safe existence of pathology) adding up to a total of 40,536 reported pathology suspicions. Interrater reliability/correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for statistical analysis. (3) Results: While interrater reliability was good among radiologists, major discrepancies between radiologists' and non-radiologists' reading results could be observed in all pathologies. Highest overall interrater agreement was found for pneumothorax detection and lowest agreement in raising suspicion for malignancy suspicious nodules. Pleural effusion and pneumonia were often suspected with indifferent choices (1-3). In terms of pneumothorax detection, all readers mainly decided for a clear option (0 or 4). Interrater reliability was usually higher when evaluating the right hemithorax (all pathologies except pneumothorax). (4) Conclusions: Quantified CXR interrater reliability analysis displays a general uncertainty and strongly depends on medical training. NRR can benefit from radiology reporting in terms of time efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. CXR evaluation of long-time trained ED specialists has not been tested.

Background: Mechanical chest compression (mCPR) offers advantages during transport under cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Little is known how devices of different design perform en-route. Aim of the study was to measure performance of mCPR devices of different construction-design during ground-based pre-hospital transport., Methods: We tested animax mono (AM), autopulse (AP), corpuls cpr (CC) and LUCAS2 (L2). The route had 6 stages (transport on soft stretcher or gurney involving a stairwell, trips with turntable ladder, rescue basket and ambulance including loading/unloading). Stationary mCPR with the respective device served as control. A four-person team carried an intubated and bag-ventilated mannequin under mCPR to assess device-stability (displacement, pressure point correctness), compliance with 2015 ERC guideline criteria for high-quality chest compressions (frequency, proportion of recommended pressure depth and compression-ventilation ratio) and user satisfaction (by standardized questionnaire)., Results: All devices performed comparable to stationary use. Displacement rates ranged from 83% (AM) to 11% (L2). Two incorrect pressure points occurred over 15,962 compressions (0.013%). Guideline-compliant pressure depth was > 90% in all devices. Electrically powered devices showed constant frequencies while muscle-powered AM showed more variability (median 100/min, interquartile range 9). Although physical effort of AM use was comparable (median 4.0 vs. 4.5 on visual scale up to 10), participants preferred electrical devices., Conclusion: All devices showed good to very good performance although device-stability, guideline compliance and user satisfaction varied by design. Our results underline the importance to check stability and connection to patient under transport.