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Tarik Alhmoud,1 Sami Ghazaleh,2 Marcel Ghanim,2 Roberta E Redfern3 1Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA; 3Clinical Research Department, Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH, USACorrespondence: Tarik Alhmoud, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Toledo Hospital, ProMedica Digestive Health Care, 5700 Monroe St, Suite 103 Sylvania, Toledo, Ohio, 43560, USA, Tel +1 419 841-3301, Fax +1 419 841-7704, Email Tarik.AlhmoudMD@Promedica.org; Tarik.Alhmoud@utoledo.eduBackground: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients present with dysphagia and often suffer from esophageal food impaction (EFI). EFI can lead to life-threatening perforation, and requires emergent endoscopic intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors for EFI in EoE patients.Methods: This is a retrospective study performed at a tertiary health-care system. Medical records and endoscopy images of EoE cases were reviewed. Clinical characteristics and outcomes including EFIs were documented. We used Zip-code median household income as a surrogate for patients’ socioeconomic status.Results: A total of 291 EoE cases were included, mean age was 42 years. Most patients (65%) had classic EoE endoscopic findings including linear furrows and/or concentric rings; however, a significant proportion (47%) had findings suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as the presence of erosive-esophagitis, a hiatal hernia or Schatzki’s ring. Forty-eight patients (16%) developed one or more esophageal food impaction (EFI). The risk of EFI was less likely in the absence of furrows and/or rings; odds ratio (OR) = 0.28, 95% CI (0.11, 0.72) [P = 0.008]. Females had less EFI risk; OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.19, 0.95) [P = 0.04]. The type of medical insurance and socioeconomic status was not associated with EFI risk.Conclusion: EFI risk is higher in EoE patients with esophageal furrows and/or rings and in men. Aggressive treatment might be required in this population. GERD and EoE can coexist in many patients. Further studies are required to examine the role of the socioeconomic status in EoE complications.Keywords: eosinophilic esophagitis, food impaction, gastroesophageal reflux disease, linear furrows, felinization

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of direct anterior approach (DAA) or posterior approach (PA) on step and stair counts after total hip arthroplasty using a remotely monitored mobile application with a smartwatch while controlling for baseline characteristics., Methods: This is a secondary data analysis from a prospective cohort study of patients utilizing a smartphone-based care management platform. The primary outcomes were step and stair counts and changes from baseline through one year. Step and stair counts were available for 1,501 and 847 patients, respectively. Longitudinal regression models were created to control for baseline characteristics., Results: Patients in the DAA group had significantly lower body mass index (P = .049) and comorbidities (P = .028), but there were no significant differences in age (P = .225) or sex (P = .315). The DAA patients had a higher average and improvement from baseline in step count at 2 and 3 weeks postoperatively after controlling for patient characteristics (P = .028 and P = .044, respectively). The average stair counts were higher for DAA patients at one month postoperatively (P = .035), but this difference was not significant after controlling for patient demographics. Average stair ascending speeds and changes from baseline were not different between DAA and PA patients. Descending stair speed was higher at 2 weeks postoperatively for DAA patients, but was no longer higher after controlling for baseline demographics., Conclusions: After controlling for baseline characteristics, DAA patients demonstrate earlier improvement in step count than PA patients after total hip arthroplasty. However, patient selection and surgeon training may continue to influence outcomes through a surgical approach., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The advent of digital and mobile health innovations, especially use of wearables for passive data collection, allows remote monitoring and creates an abundance of data. For this information to be interpretable, machine learning (ML) processes are necessary., Research Question: Can a machine learning model successfully identify patients expected to have low gait speed in the early recovery period following joint replacement surgery?, Methods: A commercial database from a smartphone-based care management platform passively collecting mobility data pre- and post-lower limb arthroplasty was used. We sought to create a ML model to predict gait speed recovery curves and identify patients at risk of poor gait speed outcome, a measure associated with range of motion and patient-reported outcomes. Model performance including sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy were determined. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was used to compare true and false positive rates. To benchmark our model, we compared threshold-based notifications based on the patient's current gait speed., Results: The performance of the predictive model was significantly improved compared to baseline of threshold-based exceptions using current gait speed. The ML model currently provides 53 % precision, 88 % accuracy, 36 % sensitivity, and 95 % specificity on the held-out test set. The ROC analysis suggests good clinical performance (AUC=0.81)., Significance: Utilization of ML to predict gait recovery following total joint replacement is feasible and provides results with excellent specificity. This model will allow inclusion of additional data for retraining as patient populations evolve. Clinician feedback regarding notifications, including resulting actions and outcomes, can be used to further inform the model and improve clinical utility., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests. Atul Kamath reports a relationship with Zimmer Biomet that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether anxiety and depression change following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A secondary objective was to explore the association between preoperative variables and changes in anxiety and depression., Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. Participants (n = 1,852, age 64 ± 8.7 years, a body mass index of 31.3, a modified Comorbidity Index of 1.0 ± 1.3, and 61.7% were women) completed the EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level preoperatively and at 1- and 3-month postoperatively. Fulfillment of physical activity expectations and preparedness to resume activities was assessed at 3 months. The anxiety or depression dimension was analyzed using the Paretian classification profile changes and compared with the sign Fisher's exact test. Logistic regressions were used to analyze the relationship between patient characteristics, preoperative anxiety or depression, activity expectations, preparedness to resume activities, and changes in anxiety/depression., Results: The percentage of patients reporting Level 1 (no anxious or depressed feelings) significantly (P < .0001) increased from preoperative (62.2%) to 3 months (77.1%) postoperative, while levels 2 to 5 (slightly through extremely anxious or depressed) all decreased. The percentage of worsening anxiety and depression was significantly (P < .0001) greater in patients who did not feel they were well prepared to resume activities of daily living (17.7 versus 4.4%) and physical recreation (12.9 versus 3.9%). Preoperative anxiety and depression (odds ratio [OR] 52.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.98, 80.67), EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.04, 6.34), activity of daily living (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.06), and body mass index (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.08) were significant (P < .05) predictors of an improving Paretian change profile at 3 months postoperative., Conclusions: Anxiety and depression decrease following TKA, and these changes appear heavily dependent on a patient's preoperative psychological well-being and postoperative preparedness to resume daily activities. Physicians' awareness of preoperative patient psychological well-being and management of patient preparedness and expectations to resume physical activity may modulate postoperative anxiety and depression., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Opioid use prior to total joint arthroplasty may be associated with poorer postoperative outcomes. However, few studies have reported the impact on postoperative recovery of mobility. We hypothesized that chronic opioid users would demonstrate impaired objective and subjective mobility recovery compared to nonusers., Methods: A secondary data analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study in which patients used a smartphone-based care management platform with a smartwatch for self-directed rehabilitation following hip or knee arthroplasty was performed. Patients were matched 2:1 based on age, body mass index, sex, procedure, Charnley class, ambulatory status, orthopedic procedure history, and anxiety. Postoperative mobility outcomes were measured by patient-reported ability to walk unassisted at 90 days, step counts, and responses to the 5-level EuroQol-5 dimension 5-level, compared by Chi-square and student's t-tests. Unmatched cohorts were also compared to investigate the impact of matching., Results: A total of 153 preoperative chronic opioid users were matched to 306 opioid-naïve patients. Age (61.9 ± 10.5 versus 62.1 ± 10.3, P = .90) and sex (53.6 versus 53.3% women, P = .95) were similar between groups. The proportion of people who reported walking unassisted for 90 days did not vary in the matched cohort (87.8 versus 90.7%, P = .26). Step counts were similar preoperatively and 1-month postoperatively but were lower in opioid users at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (4,823 versus 5,848, P = .03). More opioid users reported moderate to extreme problems with ambulation preoperatively on the 5-level EuroQol-5 dimension 5-level (80.6 versus 69.0%, P = .02), and at 6 months (19.2 versus 9.3%, P = .01)., Conclusions: Subjective and objective measures of postoperative mobility were significantly reduced in patients who chronically used opioid medications preoperatively. Even after considering baseline factors that may affect ambulation, objective mobility metrics following arthroplasty were negatively impacted by preoperative chronic opioid use., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has historically been reported as costly and time-consuming, with low compliance rates that may impact reimbursement. Little research has reported the effects of mobile applications to support PROMs collection following arthroplasty., Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty were randomized to utilize a smartphone-based care management platform (app) for self-directed rehabilitation and completed joint-specific PROMs (Hip Dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement or Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score, Joint Replacement) via the application at prescribed intervals or on paper during clinic visits. Control patients received practice standard of care, and completed PROMs via emailed hyperlink or during clinic visits following lower limb arthroplasty. Overall, 455 patients underwent knee arthroplasty procedures (245 control, 210 app group) and 380 underwent total hip arthroplasty (206 control, 174 app group). Compliance with expected PROMs completion was calculated through one year postoperatively., Results: Compliance was higher in the app group preoperatively in both knee (98.1 versus 86.9%, P < .0001) and hip cohorts (96.0 versus 88.4%, P = .008), and postoperatively, including at one year (knees, 72.2 versus 53.7%, P < .0001; hips, 71.1 versus 49.2%, P < .0001). On log-binomial regressions, intervention arm was the strongest predictor of completion of all PROMs, where app users undergoing knee (Relative Risk 2.039, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.595 to 2.607, P < .000) and hip arthroplasty (2.268 95% CI 1.742 to 2.953, P < .0001) were more likely to be compliant at all timepoints. The majority of patients in the app group, including those over 65 years of age, completed PROMs using the application as opposed to paper methods., Conclusions: A smartphone mobile application that engages patients during recovery after knee and hip joint arthroplasty improved compliance with completion of preoperative and postoperative PROMs compared to other electronic and paper methods., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although obesity may be associated with an increased risk of perioperative and postoperative complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), body mass index (BMI) cutoffs for TKA patient selection remain a controversial topic. This study aimed to investigate patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction, and pain among BMI classes at 3 months and 1 year following TKA., Methods: A total of 2,365 patients were categorized into Centers for Disease Control BMI classes according to preoperative values. The BMI distribution over the cohort demonstrated 7 underweight, 340 healthy weight, 731 overweight, 666 Class I, 391 Class II, and 230 Class III obesity. Preoperative and postoperative Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR), satisfaction, and pain scores were compared by BMI class by Analysis of Variance with pairwise comparisons., Results: Preoperative KOOS JR scores and satisfaction scores were both significantly greater for healthy weight patients compared to Class III patients (P < .0001). However, KOOS JR, satisfaction, and pain did not vary by BMI class postoperatively. Changes in scores from baseline suggest larger improvements with increasing BMI class, where Class III patients reported the greatest improvements in KOOS JR (23.24 ± 15.67, P < .0001) and pain scores (-3.56 ± 2.65, P < .0001) at 90 days. Significantly greater improvement with increasing BMI was also present at 1-year postoperatively for KOOS JR scores. A total of 85.8% of Class III patients reached the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for KOOS JR at 90 days compared to 76.8% of the healthy weight group (P = .03). Differences between BMI groups in the proportion reaching Minimal Clinically Important Difference at 1 year were not significant., Conclusions: Patients of higher BMI reported greater and earlier improvements in satisfaction, knee function, and pain following TKA. Shared decision-making remains paramount to preoperative surgical evaluation. However, rationing of this surgical intervention based on BMI alone may not be warranted., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the direct anterior approach (DAA) may experience faster recovery but may also have better baseline health than those who undergo THA with the posterior approach (PA). This study aimed to compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between the DAA and PA while controlling for baseline factors., Methods: This is a secondary data analysis from a prospective cohort study of patients utilizing a smartphone-based care management platform following THA. The primary outcomes were HOOS JR and EQ-5D-5L through 1 year and change from baseline. Longitudinal regression models were created to control for baseline characteristics and investigate the impact of surgical approach on PROMs., Results: Of 1364 THAs evaluated, 731 (53.6%) were female, and 840 (61.6%) used the PA. Patients in the PA group were of similar age but had higher body mass index and comorbidity scores. Pre-operative HOOS JR and EQ-5D-5L were comparable, but higher post-operatively in the DAA group through 6 months (p = 0.03 and p = 0.005). At 1 year post-operatively, HOOS JR and EQ-5D-5L did not vary between groups (p = 0.48 and p = 0.56), nor did changes from baseline (p = 0.47 and p = 0.11). After controlling baseline characteristics, DAA was significantly associated with higher average HOOS JR through 6 months (p = 0.03) and EQ-5D-5L through 3 months (p  = 0.005), but not at 12 months (p = 0.89 and p = 0.56)., Conclusion: THA patients undergoing DAA demonstrate earlier improvements in HOOS JR and EQ-5D-5L. However, these differences may not be clinically significant and are not evident at 1-year post-operative. Patient selection and surgeon training may continue to affect outcomes by surgical approach., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to investigate patient-reported outcomes, pain, and satisfaction as a function of body mass index (BMI) class in patients undergoing THA., Methods: 1736 patients within a prospective observational study were categorized into BMI classes. Pre- and postoperative Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS JR), satisfaction, and pain scores were compared by BMI class using one-way ANOVA., Results: Healthy weight patients reported the highest preoperative HOOS JR (56.66 ± 13.35) compared to 45.51 ± 14.45 in Class III subjects. Healthy weight and Class III patients reported the lowest (5.65 ± 2.01) and highest (7.06 ± 1.98, p < 0.0001) preoperative pain, respectively. Changes in HOOS JR scores from baseline suggest larger improvements with increasing BMI class, where Class III patients reported an increase of 33.7 ± 15.6 points at 90 days compared to 26.1 ± 17.1 in healthy weight individuals (p = 0.002). Fewer healthy weight patients achieved the minimal clinically important difference (87.4%) for HOOS JR compared to Class II (96.5%) and III (94.7%) obesity groups at 90 days postoperatively. Changes in satisfaction and pain scores were largest in the Class III patients. Overall, no functional outcomes varied by BMI class postoperatively., Conclusion: Patients of higher BMI class reported greater improvements following THA. While risk/benefit shared decision-making remains a personalized requirement of THA, this study highlights that utilization of BMI cutoff may not be warranted based on pain and functional improvement., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Patients undergo total joint arthroplasty to improve function and resolve pain. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are often sought to determine the success of total joint arthroplasty but are time-consuming and patient response rates are often low. This study sought to determine whether pain numeric rating scores (NRSs) were associated with PROMs and objective mobility outcomes., Methods: This is a retrospective review of data in patients who utilized a smartphone-based care management application prior to and following total joint arthroplasty. NRS, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement, and objective mobility data (step counts, gait speed, and gait asymmetry) were collected preoperatively and at 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Quantile regression was performed to evaluate the correlations between NRS and PROMs., Results: Total knee arthroplasty patients reported higher NRS than total hip arthroplasty patients postoperatively. NRS was significantly correlated with gait speed preoperatively and at 30 and 90 days postoperatively on quantile regression. Gait asymmetry was significantly associated with NRS at 30 days postoperatively. Regression results suggested significant correlations between NRS and PROMs scores; Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement, -0.46 (95% confidence interval: -0.48 to -0.44, P < .001) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement, -0.38 (95% confidence interval: -0.40 to -0.36, P < .001)., Conclusions: NRS is correlated with both objective and subjective measures of function in patients undergoing arthroplasty. Simple pain ratings may be a valid measurement to help predict functional outcomes when collection of traditional PROMs is not feasible., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: There is a paucity of literature on optimal patterns of daily walking following joint arthroplasty, which are now evaluated with consumer technologies like smartphones, and can enhance our understanding of post-operative mobility. When smartphone-recorded, daily walking patterns are captured, qualities of gait-recovery such as gait speed or symmetry can be analyzed in real-world environments., Research Question: Are the daily distribution of walking bouts in the early post-operative period associated with 90-day gait quality measures following hip and knee arthroplasty?, Methods: Gait data was collected passively using a smartphone-based care management platform in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty. As recorded via subjects' free-living smartphone-collected gait bouts, data were investigated as a function of the walking session length and were used to create a ratio to the total time logging bouts, representing the fraction of walking performed during a single session per day (aggregation score). Quantile regression was performed to evaluate the association between early walking session lengths or aggregation score at 30 days post-operatively and the gait-sampled speed and asymmetry of walking at 90 days., Results: In total, 2255 patients provided evaluable data. The walking session length at 30 days was positively associated with 90-day mean gait speed across procedure types where quantile regression coefficients ranged from 0.11 to 0.17. In contrast, aggregation score was negatively associated with gait speed at 90 days, with coefficients ranging from -0.18 to -0.12., Significance: The duration and frequency of walking bouts was associated with recovery of gait speed and symmetry following lower limb arthroplasty. The findings may help clinicians design walking protocols that are associated with improved gait metrics at 3 months., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Chad Cook – paid consultant, Zimmer Biomet. Alex Ribeiro-Castro – employee of Zimmer Biomet at the time of project. Karl Surmacz – employee of Zimmer Biomet with stock or stock options. Mara Catalina Aguilera-Canon – employee of Zimmer Biomet with stock or stock options. Mike B Anderson – employee of Zimmer Biomet with stock or stock options. Dave Van Andel – employee of Zimmer Biomet with stock or stock options. Roberta Redfern – employee of Zimmer Biomet with stock or stock options., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Physical activity (PA) is suggested to reduce osteoarthritis pain; however, it may be avoided by patients requiring arthroplasty. Our goal was to investigate objective and patient-reported outcomes as a function of pre-operative PA levels in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 1941 patients enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort study investigating a smartphone-based care management platform for self-directed rehabilitation underwent TKA and were included in the analysis. Activity was categorized based on the cohort's step count quartiles into low, moderate, and high pre-operative PA. Pre-operative and post-operative pain, EQ5D5L, KOOS JR, and step counts were compared by ANOVA according to activity group. Pre-operative pain scores increased with the decreasing activity level (all, p < 0.05) and were most improved post-operatively in the low PA group. High PA patients demonstrated the smallest improvements in EQ-5D-5L and KOOS JR. Low and moderate PA patients increased physical activity by three months, reaching 176% and 104% of pre-operative steps; high PA patients did not return to full step counts by one year post-operatively. Patients undergoing TKA who present with higher levels of physical activity report lower levels of pain and higher function pre-operatively but appreciate less improvement up to one year post-operatively. These results may be helpful in appropriate counseling of patient expectations before TKA.

Purpose: A variety of adjunct fixation methods to supplement primary plate and screw constructs are available. There are no large clinical series of these techniques in the upper extremity. The purpose of this study was to review patients with upper extremity fractures that underwent primary plating with adjunct fixation., Methods: This study was a retrospective review of plate fixation of humeral, radial and ulnar fractures over a 12-year period. Measurable outcomes for this study included rates of non-union, complications, and implant removal., Results: Thirty-nine humeral shaft fractures had supplemental fixation 97% of the time, with a 100% union rate. Supplemental fixation was used in 79% of forearm cases. There was a 98% initial union rate in 48 acutely plated forearm fractures., Conclusion: Although a variety of techniques were employed, the mini-fragment (2.7 mm or smaller) was the most common strategy for adjunctive fixation of long bone fractures in the upper extremity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The rise in demand of knee arthroplasty has led the industry to develop methods to decrease costs of care, such as novel methods of delivering physiotherapy, including smartphone-based exercise educational platforms. The purpose of this study was to determine the noninferiority of one such system after primary knee arthroplasty as compared to traditional in-person physiotherapy., Methods: A prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted comparing standard of care rehabilitation to a smartphone-based care platform after primary knee arthroplasty from January 2019 to February 2020. One-year patient outcomes, satisfaction scores, and utilizations of health care resources were analyzed. A total of 401 patients was available for analysis-241 in the control and 160 in the treatment group., Results: There were 194 (94.6%) patients in the control group who required 1 or more physiotherapy visits compared to only 97 (60.6%) patients in the treatment group (P < .001). Emergency department visits within 1 year occurred in 13 (5.4%) patients and 2 (1.3%) patients in the control and treatment groups, respectively (P = .03). The change in mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for joint replacement scores at 1 year was similar between both the groups (32.1 ± 1 6.8 versus 30.1 ± 18.1, P = .32)., Conclusion: Implementation of this smartphone/smart watch care platform showed similar outcomes to traditional care models at 1 year postoperative. Traditional physiotherapy and emergency department visits occurred at much lower rates in this cohort, which could alleviate the need for health care dollars spent by reducing postoperative costs and enhancing communication across the health care system., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using a smartphone-based care management platform (sbCMP) and robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (raTKA) to collect data throughout the episode-of-care and assess if intra-operative measures of soft tissue laxity in raTKA were associated with post-operative outcomes., Methods: A secondary data analysis of 131 patients in a commercial database who underwent raTKA was performed. Pre-operative through six week post-operative step counts and KOOS JR scores were collected and cross-referenced with intra-operative laxity measures. A Kruskal-Wallis test or a Wilcoxon sign-rank was used to assess outcomes., Results: There were higher step counts at six weeks post-operatively in knees with increased laxity in both the lateral compartment in extension and medial compartment in flexion (p < 0.05). Knees balanced in flexion within < 0.5 mm had higher KOOS JR scores at six weeks post-operative (p = 0.034) compared to knees balanced within 0.5-1.5 mm., Conclusion: A smartphone-based care management platform can be integrated with raTKA to passively collect data throughout the episode-of-care. Associations between intra-operative decisions regarding laxity and post-operative outcomes were identified. However, more robust analysis is needed to evaluate these associations and ensure clinical relevance to guide machine learning algorithms., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) develop as sequelae from traumatic injuries. Limited studies suggest that using opioids to reduce acute pain immediately after trauma may also reduce subsequent PTSS, but other pain medications rarely have been examined for preventing acute PTSS. The current study examined the effects of commonly used pain medications, opioid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), on PTSS after acute traumatic injuries. Participants ( n = 71) were categorized into opioid or NSAID group according to their medical records and self-reported medication use. Their PTSS were assessed using posttraumatic stress disorder checklist twice within 2 weeks after trauma. Participants' pain levels reduced from pretreatment to follow-up in both groups, F (1, 55) = 6.696, P = 0.012, partial η 2 = 0.109. Interestingly, a significant interaction between time and medication group on PTSS reached statistical significance, F (1, 69) = 6.014, P = 0.017, partial η 2 = 0.080. Follow-up analyses revealed that this interaction was driven by a significant PTSS reduction only in opioid but not in NSAID group. These findings suggested that pain reduction alone is not sufficient to reduce acute PTSS in the NSAID group, highlighting the need to continue further investigations into the mechanisms by which opioids reduce PTSS in the early posttrauma period., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Detection of nonpalpable lesions requiring surgical intervention has increased during the past several decades. Techniques have evolved to help surgeons locate lesions in the operating room. Disadvantages of wire localization has led to the use of new approaches for surgical guidance. Magnetic seeds have been suggested to improve workflow and cosmetic result., Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed consecutive patients undergoing lumpectomy or excisional biopsy with the guidance of wire localization or magnetic seeds. The optimal and total resected volumes were calculated from pathology records, and the calculated resection volumes were compared by localization approach. Margin positivity and need for reoperation were reviewed and compared., Results: Each group included 148 patients. The majority were treated with lumpectomy and did not undergo preoperative chemotherapy. The operative characteristics did not vary by group. Considering only lumpectomy cases, total volume resected (13.7 vs. 17.1; p = 0.003) and calculated resection ratios (1.8 vs. 2.5; p = 0.02) were significantly lower in the magnetic seed group. The rates of positive margins (10% vs. 14%) and reoperation (12.8% vs. 17.3%) were non-significantly lower than in the wire localization cases., Conclusions: Magnetic seeds were successfully used for lesion localization in this cohort. Pathologic examination of specimens suggested that the surgeons were able to remove closer to optimal volumes of tissue than those using wire-guided intervention. Removal of less tissue did not result in higher rates of margin positivity or a need for re-intervention to achieve negative margin status. Magnetic seeds are a feasible and non-inferior approach that overcomes many drawbacks of other localization methods., (© 2022. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Objective: To determine the incidence of hospital readmission in a geriatric hip fracture population within 90 days., Methods: Analysis of patients ≥60 years of age presenting with a fragility fracture of the hip from a prospective geriatric hip fracture program registry was performed. Demographics, diagnoses, treatments, complications, hospital events, and readmission for any cause within 30 and 90 days were collected. Readmission events were categorized as defined by Bundled Care Payment Initiative (BCPI)/Care for Joint Replacement payment model., Results: The population included 305 patients. All-cause readmission at 30 and 90 days was 11.5% and 19.7%, respectively. Surgical site infection or prosthesis failure accounted for 2.6% of 90 days readmissions. Application of the BCPI rules identified 44 of 60 readmitted patients (73.3%) with causes attributable to the surgical event: medical (0.7%), hospital (12.1%), and mechanical (2.6%). Death within 30 days was the largest contributor to hospital-related events., Conclusions: This study identified a 90-day readmission rate of nearly 20% in patients with geriatric fragility fractures. Application of the BCPI definitions currently used in the Care for Joint Replacement payment model will result in more readmissions being attributed to the index surgical event than classically considered. If bundled payment models remain the future, further investigation of this population's risk factors for readmission is needed in light of these findings., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Case: We report on a 22-year-old patient with a comminuted femoral neck fracture because of a low-velocity gunshot wound. Treatment consisted of reduction and internal fixation with a fixed angled blade plate and immediate valgus osteotomy. He went on to uneventful healing and an excellent clinical result., Conclusions: A comminuted gunshot femoral neck fracture in a young patient is a rare and potentially devastating injury. If stable, and there are no other associated emergent injuries, reduction, internal fixation, and immediate valgus osteotomy should be considered., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B635)., (Copyright © 2021 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is commonly used for surgical incisions and large wounds, particularly in the context of trauma. Research has shown that patients report that the most painful aspect of NPWT is related to foam dressing changes. This study aimed to determine whether topical use of the vapocoolant anesthetic ethyl chloride would impact patient-reported pain during these procedures., Methods: This study was a single-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial in patients who were undergoing NPWT foam dressing change following surgery performed by the orthopedic trauma team. A total of 100 patients were randomized to receive ethyl chloride topical anesthetic spray or placebo (tissue culture grade water) during dressing change. The outcome measure specified prior to enrollment was a mean decrease in patient-reported pain of 1.7 points using a numeric rating scale. Baseline and procedural characteristics were collected to investigate contributions to patient-reported pain. We hypothesized that the use of ethyl chloride would decrease patient reported pain scores., Results: Significantly more females were randomized to the receive vapocoolant; remaining baseline and procedural characteristics were similar between groups. The median time for NPWT drape removal was 2.0 minutes in both groups (p = 0.66). The postprocedural pain reported by patients was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with placebo (median, 5.0 vs. 7.0; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis adjusting for potential confounders showed treatment group to be the strongest predictor of postprocedure pain (p = 0.002). Additionally, a generalized linear model suggests that treatment group was the strongest predictor of change in pain score as reported by patients prior to and immediately following dressing change., Conclusions: Use of vapocoolant spray during NPWT dressing change for orthopedic trauma wounds and surgical incisions was feasible and resulted in significant reduction in patient-reported pain associated with the procedure., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level I., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hypercoagulability may be a key mechanism of death in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Objective: To evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and examine the observational effect of early therapeutic anticoagulation on survival., Design: In a multicenter cohort study of 3239 critically ill adults with COVID-19, the incidence of VTE and major bleeding within 14 days after intensive care unit (ICU) admission was evaluated. A target trial emulation in which patients were categorized according to receipt or no receipt of therapeutic anticoagulation in the first 2 days of ICU admission was done to examine the observational effect of early therapeutic anticoagulation on survival. A Cox model with inverse probability weighting to adjust for confounding was used., Setting: 67 hospitals in the United States., Participants: Adults with COVID-19 admitted to a participating ICU., Measurements: Time to death, censored at hospital discharge, or date of last follow-up., Results: Among the 3239 patients included, the median age was 61 years (interquartile range, 53 to 71 years), and 2088 (64.5%) were men. A total of 204 patients (6.3%) developed VTE, and 90 patients (2.8%) developed a major bleeding event. Independent predictors of VTE were male sex and higher D-dimer level on ICU admission. Among the 2809 patients included in the target trial emulation, 384 (11.9%) received early therapeutic anticoagulation. In the primary analysis, during a median follow-up of 27 days, patients who received early therapeutic anticoagulation had a similar risk for death as those who did not (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.35])., Limitation: Observational design., Conclusion: Among critically ill adults with COVID-19, early therapeutic anticoagulation did not affect survival in the target trial emulation., Primary Funding Source: None.

Background: AKI is a common sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, few studies have focused on AKI treated with RRT (AKI-RRT)., Methods: We conducted a multicenter cohort study of 3099 critically ill adults with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) at 67 hospitals across the United States. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify patient-and hospital-level risk factors for AKI-RRT and to examine risk factors for 28-day mortality among such patients., Results: A total of 637 of 3099 patients (20.6%) developed AKI-RRT within 14 days of ICU admission, 350 of whom (54.9%) died within 28 days of ICU admission. Patient-level risk factors for AKI-RRT included CKD, men, non-White race, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, higher body mass index, higher d-dimer, and greater severity of hypoxemia on ICU admission. Predictors of 28-day mortality in patients with AKI-RRT were older age, severe oliguria, and admission to a hospital with fewer ICU beds or one with greater regional density of COVID-19. At the end of a median follow-up of 17 days (range, 1-123 days), 403 of the 637 patients (63.3%) with AKI-RRT had died, 216 (33.9%) were discharged, and 18 (2.8%) remained hospitalized. Of the 216 patients discharged, 73 (33.8%) remained RRT dependent at discharge, and 39 (18.1%) remained RRT dependent 60 days after ICU admission., Conclusions: AKI-RRT is common among critically ill patients with COVID-19 and is associated with a hospital mortality rate of >60%. Among those who survive to discharge, one in three still depends on RRT at discharge, and one in six remains RRT dependent 60 days after ICU admission., (Copyright © 2021 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Importance: Therapies that improve survival in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are needed. Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody against the interleukin 6 receptor, may counteract the inflammatory cytokine release syndrome in patients with severe COVID-19 illness., Objective: To test whether tocilizumab decreases mortality in this population., Design, Setting, and Participants: The data for this study were derived from a multicenter cohort study of 4485 adults with COVID-19 admitted to participating intensive care units (ICUs) at 68 hospitals across the US from March 4 to May 10, 2020. Critically ill adults with COVID-19 were categorized according to whether they received or did not receive tocilizumab in the first 2 days of admission to the ICU. Data were collected retrospectively until June 12, 2020. A Cox regression model with inverse probability weighting was used to adjust for confounding., Exposures: Treatment with tocilizumab in the first 2 days of ICU admission., Main Outcomes and Measures: Time to death, compared via hazard ratios (HRs), and 30-day mortality, compared via risk differences., Results: Among the 3924 patients included in the analysis (2464 male [62.8%]; median age, 62 [interquartile range {IQR}, 52-71] years), 433 (11.0%) received tocilizumab in the first 2 days of ICU admission. Patients treated with tocilizumab were younger (median age, 58 [IQR, 48-65] vs 63 [IQR, 52-72] years) and had a higher prevalence of hypoxemia on ICU admission (205 of 433 [47.3%] vs 1322 of 3491 [37.9%] with mechanical ventilation and a ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen of <200 mm Hg) than patients not treated with tocilizumab. After applying inverse probability weighting, baseline and severity-of-illness characteristics were well balanced between groups. A total of 1544 patients (39.3%) died, including 125 (28.9%) treated with tocilizumab and 1419 (40.6%) not treated with tocilizumab. In the primary analysis, during a median follow-up of 27 (IQR, 14-37) days, patients treated with tocilizumab had a lower risk of death compared with those not treated with tocilizumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.92). The estimated 30-day mortality was 27.5% (95% CI, 21.2%-33.8%) in the tocilizumab-treated patients and 37.1% (95% CI, 35.5%-38.7%) in the non-tocilizumab-treated patients (risk difference, 9.6%; 95% CI, 3.1%-16.0%)., Conclusions and Relevance: Among critically ill patients with COVID-19 in this cohort study, the risk of in-hospital mortality in this study was lower in patients treated with tocilizumab in the first 2 days of ICU admission compared with patients whose treatment did not include early use of tocilizumab. However, the findings may be susceptible to unmeasured confounding, and further research from randomized clinical trials is needed.

Competing Interests: Competing interestsLev Verkh and Nikolai Tankovich are employees of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., which provided the stem cells used in this report.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis has been increasingly recognized as a cause of serious infections, particularly prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of S lugdunensis PJIs. This was a retrospective multicenter study of consecutive adult patients with S lugdunensis PJIs from January 2007 through December 2017; 28 patients met inclusion criteria. The knee was the most commonly affected joint (67.9%), followed by the hip (25%). Clinical and microbiologic characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes were evaluated. Thirteen (46.4%) patients had two-stage revision, 9 (32.1%) had debridement with or without revision, 5 (21.4%) had no surgical intervention, and 1 (3.6%) had one-stage revision. Twenty-four (85.7%) patients had monomicrobial infection with S lugdunensis, whereas 4 had polymicrobial. Two patients had concomitant bacteremia. All isolates, except 1, were susceptible to oxacillin. Three patients with no surgical intervention received oral antibiotics, 2 were not treated, and 1 was discharged to hospice. Relapse was observed in 2 of 13 (15%) patients who had two-stage revision, 4 of 9 (44%) who had debridement, and 6 of 6 (100%) who had no surgical intervention or one-stage revision regardless of antibiotic treatment regimen. There was a significant difference in cure rate for patients who underwent two-stage revision compared with other treatment modalities (85% vs 33%, P=.009). Appropriate management of S lugdunensis PJI includes both aggressive surgical treatment and a prolonged course of antibiotics and is associated with excellent clinical response. Regardless of route or duration of antibiotic therapy, relapse is high for patients not treated with two-stage revision. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):345-350.]., (Copyright 2020, SLACK Incorporated.)

Objective: Minimally invasive surgery is a widely accepted surgical treatment for valve disease, however triple valve surgery (TVS) is a complex and challenging procedure. The objective of this study was to describe the morbidity and mortality related to minimally invasive TVS at our institution., Methods: This was a retrospective review of all minimally invasive TVS performed between 2012 and 2019. Baseline and perioperative characteristics were reviewed, as were postoperative outcomes., Results: Eighteen patients underwent TVS; 12 patients underwent additional procedures at the time of TVS. Median time to initial extubation was 11.5 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 9.8-13.3). Intensive care unit and total length of stay were 1.22 (IQR, 1.16-1.31) and 9 (IQR, 6-17) days, respectively. No hospital deaths occurred; 30-, 90-, and 365-day mortality were 0%. Two postoperative neurologic complications occurred, two patients had acute kidney injuries. The most common complication was rhythm disturbance with five patients requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. Mean follow-up was 39.9 months (252-2642 days)., Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that minimally invasive TVS utilizing femoral cannulation results in an acceptable risk of complication. Short and intermediate term survival were excellent., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background : The presence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) increases post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the months following injury. However, factors that link mTBI and PTSD development are still unclear. Acute stress responses after trauma have been associated with PTSD development. mTBI may impair cognitive functions and increase anxiety immediately after trauma. Objective : This research aimed to test the possibility that mTBI increases acute stress symptoms rapidly, which in turn results in PTSD development in the subsequent months. Method : Fifty-nine patients were recruited from the emergency rooms of local hospitals. Post-mTBI, acute stress, and PTSD symptom severity were measured using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS), and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), respectively. Results : Moderated mediation analysis indicated that ASDS, at 2 weeks post-trauma, mediated the relationship between RPQ scores at 2 weeks and PCL-5 scores at 3 months post-trauma, only for patients who met mTBI diagnostic criteria. Conclusions : These findings present preliminary evidence suggesting that acute stress disorder symptoms may be one of the mechanisms involved in the development of PTSD among trauma survivors who have experienced mTBI, which provides a theoretical basis for early intervention of PTSD prevention after mTBI., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis.)

Cardiac surgeries account for approximately 20% of blood use in the United States. Allogeneic transfusion has been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, further justifying the need to reduce blood use. This study aimed at determining whether a point-of-care coagulation test, thromboelastography (TEG), impacted blood product administration and outcomes. Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were retrospectively reviewed before the use of TEG (2008-2009) (n = 640) and after implementation (2011-2012) (n = 458). Blood product use was compared between time frames. Logistic regression and generalized linear models were created to estimate the impact on outcomes including the reoperation rate, mortality, and cost. The mean use of each blood product was significantly reduced in the perioperative period. Overall blood product use was decreased by over 40%. Mediastinal re-exploration of bleeding was significantly reduced with TEG (4.8 vs. 1.5%). Six-month mortality was not impacted in this cohort nor was the readmission rate or hospital length of stay. However, blood cost and patient charges were significantly lower after TEG was introduced. The use of TEG to guide the administration of blood products during isolated CABG significantly affected the amounts and types of products given intra- and perioperatively. This resulted in less chest tube drainage, fewer returns to the operating room, and more accurate diagnosis of coagulopathic status. Cost savings to the patient and institution were appreciated as a consequence of these improved clinical outcomes., (© Copyright 2020 AMSECT.)

Background: Traditional care of patients with geriatric hip fracture has been fragmented with patients admitted under various specialty services and to different units within a hospital. This produces inconsistent care and leads to varying outcomes that can be associated with increased length of stay, delays in time from admission to surgery, and higher readmission rates., Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the process taken to establish a successful geriatric hip fracture program (GFP) and the initial results observed in a single institution after its implementation., Methods: All patients 60 years or older, with an osteoporotic hip fracture sustained from a low energy mechanism (defined as a fall from 3-ft height or less), were included in our program. Fracture patterns include femoral neck, intertrochanteric, pertrochanteric, and subtrochanteric femur fractures including displaced, nondisplaced, and periprosthetic fractures. Preprogram data included all patients admitted from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014; postprogram data were collected on patients admitted between May 1, 2016, and May 1, 2018., Results: Demographic characteristics of the populations were similar. After the GFP was implemented, the proportion of patients who were treated surgically within 24 and 48 hours increased. The average number of hours between admission and surgery significantly reduced from 35.2 to 23.2 hours. Overall length of stay was decreased by 1.8 days and readmission within 30 days of discharge was lower. Reasons for readmission were similar in both timeframes. The rate of inpatient death was similar in the two groups. Mortality within 30 days of surgery appeared somewhat higher in the post-GFP period., Conclusion: Our program found that, with the utilization of a multidisciplinary approach, we could positively influence the care of patients with geriatric hip fracture through the implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines. In the first 2 years after initiation of the GFP, our institution saw a decrease in time from admission to surgery, length of stay, and blood transfusion requirements.

Trauma centers monitor under- and overtriage rates to comply with American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma verification requirements. Efforts to maintain acceptable rates are often undertaken as part of quality assurance. The purpose of this project was to improve the institutional undertriage rate by focusing on appropriately triaging patients transferred from outside hospitals (OSHs). Trauma physicians received education and pocket cards outlining injury severity score (ISS) calculation to aid in prospectively estimating ISS for patients transferred from OSHs, and activate the trauma response expected for that score. Under- and overtriage rates before and after the intervention were compared. The postintervention period saw a significant decrease in overall overtriage rate, with simultaneous trend toward lower overall undertriage rate, attributable to the significant reduction in undertriage rate of patients transferred from OSHs. Prospectively estimating ISS to assist in determining trauma activation level shows promise in managing appropriate patient triage. However, questions arose regarding the necessity for full trauma activation for transferred patients, regardless of ISS. It may be necessary to reconsider how patients transferred from OSHs are evaluated. Full trauma activation can be a financial and resource burden, and should not be taken lightly.

Objective: To retrospectively review a large population of long cephalomedullary nails with special attention to distal implant position in the sagittal plane and assess the ability to avoid anterior cortical contact (ACC) by bending the distal tip of the nail intraoperatively., Design: Retrospective review of single surgeon experience., Setting: Single Level 1 trauma center., Outcomes: Radiographic position of the cephalomedullary nail with respect to the anterior femoral cortex and the effects of intraoperative bending of the distal tip of the nail., Patients: A total of 215 patients who underwent long cephalomedullary nailing for peritrochanteric hip fractures between 2007 and 2017 were reviewed., Results: In the period between 2007 and October 2013, ACC of the distal portion of the nail in the sagittal plane was a common finding. Its incidence significantly decreased after intraoperative bending of long cephalomedullary nails was incorporated into practice in cases where sagittal plane impingement was detected (P < 0.0001). ACC was more prevalent if the final nail position was proximal to the level of the patella., Conclusion: Careful attention should be paid to sagittal plane anatomy and distal ACC during insertion of a long cephalomedullary nail. One strategy to prevent anterior impingement or perforation may be intraoperative bending of the distal end of the nail., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Transfusion of allogenic blood products is associated with substantial morbidity and increased risk of mortality. Thrombelastography (TEG) to direct transfusion management during and immediately after cardiothoracic surgery reduced blood product usage in our institution. The goal of this study was to quantify the impact of TEG on postoperative outcomes., Methods: All patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures before and after implementation of TEG were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics, blood product administration, and length of stay (LOS) were compared. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the impact of TEG on the odds of reoperation, LOS, and 6-month mortality., Results: Included in analysis were 367 patients in the pre-TEG period and 310 patients in the post-TEG period. Baseline characteristics did not vary between periods. Exposure to blood products was significantly reduced after implementation of TEG (p < 0.001). The incidence of reoperation was lower in the post-TEG period (7.1% versus 3.5%, p = 0.04). Controlling for related factors on multivariate analysis, TEG was associated with reduction in postoperative LOS (11.3 versus 9.9 days, p = 0.04) and 6-month mortality (odds ratio 2.98, 95% confidence limits: 1.13 and 7.85)., Conclusions: The use of TEG to guide blood product administration substantially affected patient outcomes, including LOS, odds of reoperation, and short-term mortality. The impacts appreciated may be due to the reduced use of allogenic blood products and the ability to distinguish between postoperative coagulopathy and surgical bleeding with the use of this point-of-care test., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The rate of annual influenza immunization in both the general public and health care workers is less than desirable. Mechanisms to improve compliance with recommendations are needed; prevention of immunization site pain has been suggested as a viable route because fear of pain and needles has been cited as a barrier., Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of thermomechanical stimulation (Buzzy) on postprocedure pain ratings during vaccination in adults., Design: This was a randomized controlled trial of Buzzy during immunization., Settings: Three hospitals and two community health centers which are part of a large, integrated health system., Participants/subjects: Employees presenting to employer-sponsored annual influenza vaccination clinics., Methods: A 10-cm visual analog scale was used to rate preinjection anxiety and expectation of pain as well as postprocedure pain scores; participants also rated their satisfaction with the vaccine injection on a 10-point Likert scale., Results: In total, 497 employee volunteers were recruited to participate. Preprocedure anxiety was similar between the experimental and control groups (1.53 vs. 1.48, p = .82), whereas self-reported postprocedure pain scores were significantly lower in the group that received the Buzzy during injection (0.87 vs. 1.12, p = .035). Mean satisfaction scores did not vary between the intervention and control groups (9.11 vs. 9.09, p = .87); however, more participants rated their experience as better than previous vaccination experiences in the Buzzy group than control (62.0% vs. 23.9%, p < .0001)., Conclusions: These results suggest that Buzzy reduced pain experienced by adults undergoing annual influenza vaccination and may improve overall experience. Buzzy can be used in adult patients to reduce pain during immunization and is especially effective in those with high levels of anxiety., (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This was an open-label, randomized clinical trial comparing the effects of thermomechanical stimulation (Buzzy) versus no intervention in 105 adults undergoing intravenous (IV) catheter insertion before elective orthopedic surgical procedures. A visual analog scale was used to measure pain; satisfaction questionnaires were administered after IV catheter insertion. There was no significant difference in the mean pain score between the experimental (n = 49) and control (n = 56) groups (2.52 vs 2.43, P = .86). Subjects who reported higher preprocedure anxiety benefited most from the test intervention. It was determined that the application of cold and vibration is not universally effective for pain prevention during IV catheter insertion or for improvement in patient satisfaction in preoperative care.

Purpose: Vaccination can be a significant source of pain for pediatric patients, which could result in fear of medical procedures and future reluctance to seek medical care. It is important for nurses to provide pain prevention during these procedures. This study sought to measure the impact of an intervention combining cold and vibration on pain scores during routine pediatric immunization., Design and Methods: A prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of the Buzzy device (thermomechanical stimulation) compared to no intervention (control group) in reducing child-reported pain during routine immunization. The Wong Baker Faces scale was used to collect child, parent, and observer reported anxiety and pain. Parents reported satisfaction with the procedure and overall office visit., Results: Fifty children between the ages of 3 and 18 were included in the present analysis. Mean child-reported pain scores were significantly lower in the group receiving thermomechanical stimulation compared to control (3.56 vs 5.92, p=0.015). Buzzy did not impact child-reported anxiety or how much pain the child expected. Parent-reported satisfaction did not vary significantly between groups, but was strongly associated with parent-reported pain scores., Conclusions: Thermomechanical stimulation with the Buzzy device significantly reduced pain during pediatric immunization over a wide range of ages compared to control, but did not impact pre-procedure anxiety., Practice Implications: The Buzzy device is an easy to implement intervention to reduce pediatric pain during vaccination. It may have the greatest impact in younger children but could be offered during all immunizations., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Complex cardiac procedures often require blood transfusion because of surgical bleeding or coagulopathy. Thrombelastography (TEG) was introduced in our institution to direct transfusion management in cardiothoracic surgery. The goal of this study was to quantify the effect of TEG on transfusion rates peri- and postoperatively. All patients who underwent complex cardiac surgery, defined as open multiple valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting with open valve repair/replacement, or aortic root/arch repair before and after implementation of TEG were identified and retrospectively analyzed. Minimally invasive cases were excluded. Patient characteristics and blood use were compared with t test and chi-square test. A generalized linear model including patient characteristics, preoperative and postoperative lab values, and autotransfusion volume was used to determine the impact of TEG on perioperative, postoperative, and total blood use. In total, 681 patients were identified, 370 in the pre-TEG period and 311 patients post-TEG. Patient demographics were not significantly different between periods. Mean units of red blood cells, plasma, and cryoprecipitate were significantly reduced after TEG was implemented (all, p < .0001); use of platelets was reduced but did not reach significance. Mean units of all blood products in the perioperative period and over the entire stay were reduced by approximately 40% (both, p < .0001). Total proportion of patients exposed to transfusion was significantly lower after introduction of TEG ( p < .01). Controlling for related factors on multivariate analysis, such as preoperative laboratory values and autotransfusion volume, use of TEG was associated with significant reduction in perioperative and overall blood product transfusion. TEG-directed management of blood product administration during complex cardiac surgeries significantly reduced the units of blood products received perioperatively but not blood usage more than 24 hours after surgery. Overall, fewer patients were exposed to allogenic blood. The use of TEG to guide blood product administration significantly impacted transfusion therapy and associated costs.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine whether negative pressure wound therapy, used prophylactically in clean surgical incisions, reduces surgical site infection, hematoma, and seroma after total joint replacement., Methods: A single center, open-label study with a prospective cohort of patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty treated with closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) of clean surgical wounds was conducted. One hundred ninety-six incisions treated with ciNPT in 192 patients were compared with a historical control group of 400 patients treated with traditional gauze dressing. The rates of clinically significant hematoma, seroma, dehiscence, surgical site infection, and complication were compared using univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression., Results: The rate of deep infection was unchanged in the ciNPT group compared with control (1.0% vs 1.25%); however, the overall rate of infection (including superficial wound infection) decreased significantly (3.5% vs 1.0%, P = .04). Overall complication rate was lower in the ciNPT group than controls (1.5% vs 5.5%, P = .02). Upon logistic regression, only treatment group was associated with complication; patients treated with ciNPT were about 4 times less likely to experience a surgical site complication compared with control (P = .0277, odds ratio 4.251, 95% confidence interval 1.172-15.414)., Conclusion: ciNPT for total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty in a comprehensive patient population reduced overall incidence of complication, but did not significantly impact the rate of deep infection. Further research to determine clinical and economic advantages of routine use of ciNPT in total joint arthroplasty is warranted., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the United States, legislative actions in over 28 states require radiologists to notify women who undergo breast screening mammography of their breast density. This has led to increased public interest in supplemental screening, but radiologists have not come to a consensus on a supplemental screening modality. In choosing between the most common options, whole-breast ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, one must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each modality, as increased cancer detection may be accompanied by increased examination costs and biopsy rates. There has been recent interest in molecular breast imaging (MBI) for supplemental screening because of its high sensitivity, as well as its high specificity. This article describes how MBI fits into clinical practice alongside digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), targeted US, and MR imaging. The authors describe their approach to breast cancer screening, which uses DBT as the primary imaging modality. DBT is complemented by automated density calculations and supplemented with functional imaging techniques, including MR imaging or MBI, for women with dense breasts. An algorithm based on the patient's breast cancer risk is used to determine if either MR imaging or MBI for supplemental screening is appropriate. MBI is also used as a problem-solving tool for the evaluation of clinical indications following complex mammography or US, or for unexplained physical findings. This article describes aspects related to implementing MBI in clinical practice, including the clinical workflow, patient management, radioactive tracer administration, and procedure reimbursement. © RSNA, 2017.

Anencephaly is one of the most lethal congenital defects. This case report is of an anencephalic infant who lived to 28 months of life and defies current literature. She is the longest surviving anencephalic infant who did not require life-sustaining interventions. This case presents the obstacles that arose from this infant's prolonged life and recommendations based on these findings., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Patients with Goldenhar syndrome exhibit a number of characteristic symptoms, including middle and internal ear malformations that may cause profound hearing loss. Bone-anchored hearing aids have been used to treat these patients in the past, although complications may arise due to the nature of the disease. Herein we present the case of a pediatric patient with Goldenhar syndrome whose hearing aid abutment extruded spontaneously because of poor bone quality, despite adequate thickness. We provide a brief review of the literature and suggest a flexible surgical plan for any syndromic pediatric patient.

Objectives: Acid-suppressive therapy (AST) is widely used for gastrointestinal prophylaxis in hospitalized patients, particularly to prevent stress-related mucosal bleeding in critically ill individuals. Previous reports suggest gross overutilization and continuation of unnecessary therapy, which have been linked to several adverse effects., Methods: Retrospective chart review at a large tertiary care hospital, evaluating the use of AST for ulcer prophylaxis in accordance with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' guidelines and the less commonly studied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related ulcer prophylaxis guidelines., Results: A total of 119 (39.3%) patients who received AST met either American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guidelines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related prophylaxis guidelines. Subjects whose AST was appropriate were older, had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (P < 0.001), and were more often men (P = 0.005). The rate of discontinuation at discharge was 70.7%; subjects whose prescriptions were not discontinued were older, had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, and longer hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay (P < 0.001). Family medicine physicians, hospitalists, and surgeons prescribed AST similarly; internal medicine physicians demonstrated higher adherence with guidelines than all others (P = 0.02). Adherence varied by etiology; cardiology patients were treated with the highest level of appropriateness (53.6%), whereas those admitted for gastrointestinal diagnoses demonstrated the lowest (17.6%, P = 0.03)., Conclusions: Inappropriate prescribing of AST for ulcer prophylaxis remains problematic. There may be differences in prescribing habits of physicians of different specialties. Age and comorbidity scores were associated with inappropriate prescribing and continuation of medication at discharge. Interventions to raise prescribers' awareness of ulcer risk factors in hospitalized patients, both in the intensive care unit and those who are noncritically ill, are needed.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the management approaches of pediatric and general emergency medicine physicians in infants presenting to the emergency department (ED) with complaint of fever., Methods: Infants 90 days of age or younger with a chief complaint of fever were included for review. Vital signs, laboratory workup, disposition, and final diagnosis were collected. Compliance with guidelines was assessed and compared between EDs., Results: Compliance with admission guidelines was not significantly different in any of the 3 age groups evaluated between the pediatric and general ED (PED and GED). Compliance with guideline recommendations for laboratory workup was not significantly different between the 2 EDs, nor was overall compliance with guideline recommendations., Conclusions: No significant variations in the management of febrile infants or compliance with published guidelines between PED and GED physicians were observed. Young infants can be safely treated for fever in the PED or GED., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Objective: To determine the incidence of high jugular bulb in a group of patients with definite Ménière's disease, and to investigate whether the position or size of the jugular bulb is significantly different in the affected ear than in the unaffected ear., Methods: Retrospective review of patient charts, audiograms, and computed tomography scans to determine the position and size of the jugular bulb in the affected and contralateral ears, as well as other abnormalities., Results: High jugular bulb was found in 57.1 per cent of affected ears. Encroachment of the cochlear and vestibular aqueducts was apparent in 39.3 per cent and 35.7 per cent, respectively, of affected ears. Diverticulum and dehiscence were observed in 28.6 per cent of affected ears. High jugular bulb was significantly associated with encroachment of the cochlear aqueduct (p = 0.003)., Conclusion: The mediolateral and anteroposterior position of the jugular bulb determines encroachment of the surrounding structures. An abnormal position is postulated to contribute to the development of Ménière's disease.

Local accumulation of phosphoinositides (PIPs) is an important factor for a broad range of cellular events including membrane trafficking and cell signaling. The negatively charged phosphoinositide headgroups can interact with cations or cationic proteins and this electrostatic interaction has been identified as the main phosphoinositide clustering mechanism. However, an increasing number of reports show that phosphoinositide-mediated signaling events are at least in some cases cholesterol dependent, suggesting other possible contributors to the segregation of phosphoinositides. Using fluorescence microscopy on giant unilamellar vesicles and monolayers at the air/water interface, we present data showing that cholesterol stabilizes fluid phosphoinositide-enriched phases. The interaction with cholesterol is observed for all investigated phosphoinositides (PI(4)P, PI(3,4)P2, PI(3,5)P2, PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3) as well as phosphatidylinositol. We find that cholesterol is present in the phosphoinositide-enriched phase and that the resulting phase is fluid. Cholesterol derivatives modified at the hydroxyl group (cholestenone, cholesteryl ethyl ether) do not promote formation of phosphoinositide domains, suggesting an instrumental role of the cholesterol hydroxyl group in the observed cholesterol/phosphoinositide interaction. This leads to the hypothesis that cholesterol participates in an intermolecular hydrogen bond network formed among the phosphoinositide lipids. We had previously reported that the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bond network between the phosphoinositide lipids leads to a reduction of the charge density at the phosphoinositide phosphomonoester groups (Kooijman et al., 2009). We believe that cholesterol acts as a spacer between the phosphoinositide lipids, thereby reducing the electrostatic repulsion, while participating in the hydrogen bond network, leading to its further stabilization. To illustrate the effect of phosphoinositide segregation on protein binding, we show that binding of the tumor suppressor protein PTEN to PI(5)P and PI(4,5)P2 is enhanced in the presence of cholesterol. These results provide new insights into how phosphoinositides mediate important cellular events., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) have become an integral part of the health care system, spend the most amount of time with residents, and yet have the least amount of training. Recent reports demonstrate that CNAs believe their salary is not commensurate with their workload, and turnover rates in this field have indicated low job satisfaction. In light of these issues, we developed an advanced training program for CNAs in our institution to determine whether investing in our employees would increase job satisfaction and therefore impact turnover rates and clinical outcomes. Although overall job satisfaction improved slightly during the study period, satisfaction with training offered was the only area significantly affected by the intervention; however, significant decreases in turnover rates were observed between the pre- and postintervention periods. Clinical indicators were slightly improved, and the number of resident urinary tract infections decreased significantly. Offering an advanced training program for CNAs may be an effective way to improve morale, turnover rates, and clinical outcomes., (Copyright 2013, SLACK Incorporated.)

There is a growing need to develop tools that allow for better reductions of difficult to treat fractures in minimally disruptive ways. One such technique has been developed using the inflatable bone tamp and a fast setting calcium phosphate. KYPHON(®) XPANDER Inflatable Bone Tamp and the KYPHON(®) Osteo Introducer(®) System were used to reduce the articular fractures and a fast-setting calcium phosphate was introduced into those voids and metal hardware was applied as deemed necessary. Subjects were skeletally mature patients treated for articular fractures of the calcaneus, tibial plateau, tibial pilon, or distal radius. Post-operative day zero and week 12 radiographs were objectively and subjectively evaluated by three independent orthopaedic surgeons. Their objective scores were then translated into subjective categories based on the Heiney-Redfern scaled scoring (H-R score) system established herein. Overall, the thorough radiographic analysis by independent reviewers indicates that the technique is capable of obtaining and maintaining articular reductions in a good or adequate manner at 12-weeks post-operatively. Introduced is a potential novel evaluation scale scoring system for these articular fractures that evaluates the important anatomic considerations reproducibly in fracture reductions. There are many potential benefits that remain speculative to this type of tool within a procedure, and therefore this tool and technique warrants further research., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The effect of insurance payer status on surgical treatment of early stage breast cancer is unclear. This retrospective study examined the effect of insurance payer on mastectomy rates of 1539 women treated within a single health system. Women with Medicaid had significantly larger tumors compared with those with private insurance (PI) at diagnosis (3.3 cm vs 2.1 cm, P &lt; .05) and were more likely to be treated with mastectomy for larger tumors compared with women with PI. However, women with PI were more likely to have mastectomy for smaller tumors; among women with tumors less than 2 cm, 11% with Medicaid underwent mastectomy compared with 47% with PI (P &lt; .05). Overall, when compared with those with PI, women with Medicaid were more likely to receive mastectomy (60% vs 39%, P &lt; .05).