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Background: Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) has been shown to play an important role in managing neuromas. However, the impact of the timing of TMR on pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores or patient opioid use has not been thoroughly explored. We hypothesized that TMR performed acutely would lead to lower VAS scores and decreased opioid intake. Methods: Prospectively collected data from an amputation registry at a single institution were utilized to identify patients who underwent TMR. Acute TMR was defined as TMR performed within 1 month of the major limb amputation. Primary outcomes included VAS pain scores and patient-reported opioid consumption. Results: In all, 25 patients (26 limbs) were identified in the acute group, and 18 patients (18 limbs) were identified in the delayed group. At intermediate follow-up (between 4 and 8 months postoperatively) and at final follow-up, the average pain VAS score in the delayed TMR group was significantly higher than that in the acute group (5.2 vs. 1.9 at intermediate P =.01 and 6.2 vs. 1.9 at final P =.002). In all, 84% of the amputees overall were not consuming opioid medications at the time of final follow-up (79% acute, 88% delayed, P =.72). There were no statistically significant differences in opioid consumption between the acute and delayed group at intermediate follow-up (P =.35) or at final follow-up (P =.68). Conclusions: TMR is an effective procedure to reduce pain following major limb amputation. Patients with TMR performed acutely had significantly lower VAS pain scores at both intermediate and final follow-up than patients with TMR performed in a delayed setting. Type of Study/Level of Evidence: Therapeutic II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stereotype threat (ST) is a psychological phenomenon in which perceived fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's identity group leads to impaired performance. Gender and racial ST has been described in various academic settings. However, it is prevalence in orthopaedic surgery, where women and minorities are underrepresented, has not been examined. This study analyzes the prevalence of ST among orthopaedic surgery residents and fellows., Methods: US orthopaedic trainees completed a voluntary anonymous survey, which included demographics, perceived program diversity based on percentage of racial-ethnic and gender-diverse faculty and trainees, and a validated, modified version of the Stereotype Vulnerability Scale (SVS). Higher scores indicate greater ST vulnerability. ST prevalence was analyzed with descriptive statistics, and associations between program diversity, resident demographics, and ST vulnerability were compared using nonparametric tests., Results: Of 1,127 orthopaedic trainees at 40 programs, 322 responded (response rate 28.6%). Twenty-five percent identified as female, and 26% identified as an underrepresented minority in medicine (i.e., Asian, Black, or Hispanic). Asian (12 points), Black (12.5 points), and Hispanic (13.5 points) trainees had significantly higher SVS scores than White trainees (9 points) (p = 0.0003; p < 0.0001; p = 0.0028, respectively). Black trainees at perceived racially nondiverse residencies had the highest mean SVS scores (16.4 ± 1.03 points), while White trainees at perceived racially nondiverse residencies had the lowest SVS scores (9.3 ± 0.3 points), p = 0.011. Women had significantly higher gender stereotype vulnerability than men (p < 0.0001) in both gender-diverse (17.9 ± 0.2 vs. 9.0 ± 0.3 points) and gender nondiverse residencies (16.4 ± 0.4 vs. 9.6 ± 0.2 points)., Conclusion: Minority and female orthopaedic trainees had higher ST vulnerability, especially in programs perceived as lacking racial or gender diversity. While perceived program diversity may offer some protection for minority and women trainees, women trainees still met the threshold for high vulnerability regardless of program gender diversity. Future strategies to mitigate ST should be explored in orthopaedic training., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSOA/A725)., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)