Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program Websites: A Development in Progress.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the comprehensiveness of interventional radiology (IR) residency program websites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined whether all integrated IR residency programs approved in 2016 by the Society for Interventional Radiology had a dedicated residency program website. On each website, we searched for 38 elements identified as important considerations for medical students applying to diagnostic radiology residency and IR fellowship programs. With the use of t tests and ANOVA, both the prevalence of criteria between regions and program sizes were compared. RESULTS: Of 61 IR residency programs that were identified, 44 (72%) had dedicated websites. On average, the websites included 38% of the 38 elements evaluated. Only two residency program websites (5%) included more than 50% of the criteria assessed. The information most commonly found was a contact e-mail (95% of websites), a mailing address (91%), and a comprehensive listing of faculty (75%). The information that was least commonly included was clinical responsibility progression (7%), a description of didactics (5%), and simulation experience (5%). No significant difference in website comprehensiveness was noted between regions (p = 0.590) or between different quartiles of ranking of IR fellowship on an online social networking service for U.S. clinicians (p = 0.198). CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of integrated IR residency programs do not have a dedicated website. Those that do exist are inadequately comprehensive, with less than 40% of assessed criteria present. Contact information and information about life outside of work were the most commonly included elements, with a description of clinical training opportunities less frequently included. Addressing these gaps in website content will help IR residency programs better inform prospective students and may increase the number of applicants.

Bilateral extensor mechanism disruption after total knee arthroplasty in two morbidly obese patients.

Disruption of the extensor mechanism as a result of patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon rupture is an uncommon but devastating complication after total knee arthroplasty. Treating a disrupted extensor mechanism can be challenging, particularly in patients who are morbidly obese, due to an increased risk of postoperative complications. Therefore, despite the debilitating nature of extensor mechanism disruption, many community surgeons do not feel comfortable pursuing more complex cases like revision total knee arthroplasty with extensor mechanism allograft on morbidly obese patients, and consequently many of these patients are referred to tertiary-care centers for reconstruction secondary to the complexity of this patient cohort. The authors report 2 cases of bilateral extensor mechanism disruption after total knee arthroplasty in patients who are morbidly obese. One patient experienced trauma leading to her initial rupture; however, her contralateral atraumatic disruption was subsequently diagnosed at a later date. The second patient did not experience trauma leading to either of her extensor mechanism disruptions. Despite substantial medical comorbidities and morbid obesity, revision total knee arthroplasties with extensor mechanism allografts were recommended in both cases in a staged bilateral fashion. The surgical technique is described and the unique challenges afforded by the marked obesity are detailed. The current literature on this subject is reviewed. Despite early complications related to recumbency, this report serves as an example of successful repairs of extensor mechanism disruptions in patients who are morbidly obese, suggesting that extensor mechanism allograft is viable even in patients with high risk of complications.