The Burden of Back and Neck Strains and Sprains in Professional Baseball Players.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiology of diagnoses of back and neck strains and sprains among Major League (MLB) and Minor League (MiLB) Baseball players. BACKGROUND: Baseball players perform unique sets of repetitive movements that may predispose to neck and back strains and sprains. Data are lacking concerning the epidemiology of these diagnoses in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: De-identified data on neck/back strains and sprains were collected from all MLB and MiLB teams from 2011 to 2016 using the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Diagnosis rates of conditions related to cervical, thoracic, and lumbar musculature and their impact on days missed due to injury, player participation, and season or career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs). RESULTS: There were 3447 cases of neck/back strains and sprains in professional baseball players from 2011 to 2016. Seven hundred twenty-one of these occurred in MLB versus 2726 in MiLB. Of injuries 136 were season-ending (26 in MLB, 110 in MiLB); 22 were career-ending (2 in MLB, 20 in MiLB). The total days missed were 39,118 (8838 from MLB and 30,280 from MiLB). Excluding season or career-ending injuries, the mean days missed were 11.8 (12.7 and 11.6 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). The median days missed were 4 (3 and 5 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). Combining MLB and MiLB, the pitcher injury rate was 1.893 per 1000 AEs versus 0.743 per 1000 Aes for other position players (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There was a high incidence of neck/back strains and sprains in MLB and MiLB players, with nearly 40,000 aggregate days missed in our 6-year study period. The median days missed were lower than the mean days missed, indicating rightward outliers. Pitchers had over double the rates of injuries compared with other position players. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Developing a National-Scale Exposure Index for Combined Environmental Hazards and Social Stressors and Applications to the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.

Tools for assessing multiple exposures across several domains (e.g., physical, chemical, and social) are of growing importance in social and environmental epidemiology because of their value in uncovering disparities and their impact on health outcomes. Here we describe work done within the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO)-wide Cohort Study to build a combined exposure index. Our index considered both environmental hazards and social stressors simultaneously with national coverage for a 10-year period. Our goal was to build this index and demonstrate its utility for assessing differences in exposure for pregnancies enrolled in the ECHO-wide Cohort Study. Our unitless combined exposure index, which collapses census-tract level data into a single relative measure of exposure ranging from 0-1 (where higher values indicate higher exposure to hazards), includes indicators for major air pollutants and air toxics, features of the built environment, traffic exposures, and social determinants of health (e.g., lower educational attainment) drawn from existing data sources. We observed temporal and geographic variations in index values, with exposures being highest among participants living in the West and Northeast regions. Pregnant people who identified as Black or Hispanic (of any race) were at higher risk of living in a "high" exposure census tract (defined as an index value above 0.5) relative to those who identified as White or non-Hispanic. Index values were also higher for pregnant people with lower educational attainment. Several recommendations follow from our work, including that environmental and social stressor datasets with higher spatial and temporal resolutions are needed to ensure index-based tools fully capture the total environmental context.

Epidemiology of Lumbar Spine Conditions in Professional Baseball Players.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiology and burden of diagnoses of lumbar spinal conditions affecting Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball players. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar spinal conditions are a common cause of low back pain in the general population and can be caused by participation in sports and athletics. Data concerning the epidemiology of these injuries in professional baseball players are limited. METHODS: We collected deidentified MLB and Minor League Baseball data concerning lumbar spine conditions (lumbar disk herniations, lumbar degenerative disease, or pars conditions) from 2011 to 2017 using the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Data concerning days missed because of injury, need for surgery, and player participation and career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete exposures in concordance with prior studies. RESULTS: Over 2011-2017, 5948 days of play were missed because of 206 lumbar spine-related injuries, of which 60 (29.1%) were season ending. Twenty-seven (13.1%) of these injuries required surgery. The most common injury among both pitchers and position players were lumbar disk herniations (45, 44.1% and 41, 39.4%, respectively). More surgeries were performed for lumbar disk herniations and degenerative disk disease compared with pars conditions (74% and 18.5% vs. 3.7%). Injury rates for pitchers was significantly higher than those of other position players 0.111 per 1000 AEs versus 0.040 per 1000 AEs ( P <0.0001). Injuries requiring surgery did not vary significantly by league, age group, or player position. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar spine-related injuries incurred substantial disability and days missed from play in professional baseball players. Lumbar disk herniations were the most common injury, and together with pars conditions led to higher rates of surgery compared with degenerative conditions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Malaria in Refugee Children Resettled to a Holoendemic Area of Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in refugee children in high-transmission parts of Africa. Characterizing the clinical features of malaria in refugees can inform approaches to reduce its burden. METHODS: The study was conducted in a high-transmission region of northern Zambia hosting Congolese refugees. We analyzed surveillance data and hospital records of children with severe malaria from refugee and local sites using multivariable regression models and geospatial visualization. RESULTS: Malaria prevalence in the refugee settlement was similar to the highest burden areas in the district, consistent with the local ecology and leading to frequent rapid diagnostic test stockouts. We identified 2197 children hospitalized for severe malaria during the refugee crisis in 2017 and 2018. Refugee children referred from a refugee transit center (n = 63) experienced similar in-hospital mortality to local children and presented with less advanced infection. However, refugee children from a permanent refugee settlement (n = 110) had more than double the mortality of local children (P < .001), had lower referral rates, and presented more frequently with advanced infection and malnutrition. Distance from the hospital was an important mediator of the association between refugee status and mortality but did not account for all of the increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria outcomes were more favorable in refugee children referred from a highly outfitted refugee transit center than those referred later from a permanent refugee settlement. Refugee children experienced higher in-hospital malaria mortality due in part to delayed presentation and higher rates of malnutrition. Interventions tailored to the refugee context are required to ensure capacity for rapid diagnosis and referral to reduce malaria mortality.

Associations between combined exposure to environmental hazards and social stressors at the neighborhood level and individual perinatal outcomes in the ECHO-wide cohort.

Limited studies examine how prenatal environmental and social exposures jointly impact perinatal health. Here we investigated relationships between a neighborhood-level combined exposure (CE) index assessed during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, including birthweight, gestational age, and preterm birth. Across all participants, higher CE index scores were associated with small decreases in birthweight and gestational age. We also observed effect modification by race; infants born to Black pregnant people had a greater risk of preterm birth for higher CE values compared to White infants. Overall, our results suggest that neighborhood social and environmental exposures have a small but measurable joint effect on neonatal indicators of health.

Effect of Weather and Game Factors on Injury Rates in Professional Baseball Players.

BACKGROUND: Injury rates in baseball players of all ages are increasing. Identifying modifiable risk factors is paramount to implementing injury prevention programs. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to evaluate the influence of weather (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and heat index) and game factors (start time, duration, single vs doubleheader) on injury rates in professional baseball players. We hypothesized that colder temperatures would be associated with significantly more injuries per game. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This was a retrospective database study. Two data sets were combined: 1 containing all injuries in Major and Minor League Baseball between 2011 and 2017 and 1 containing all games played in Major and Minor League Baseball during the same period to determine the number of injuries per game. Temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and heat index were determined for each game using the data from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Additional game variables included the level of play, the turf type (natural vs artificial grass), the stadium type (open vs dome vs retractable), the game start time, the game duration, and whether the game was a doubleheader. Then, a multivariate analysis was conducted to determine which factors were associated with the number of injuries per game. RESULTS: In total, our analysis included 33,587 injuries and 76,747 games. A total of 25,776 (33.6%) games contained an injury, and 41% of injuries occurred as multiples per game, with up to 9 injuries per game. The multivariate analysis identified significant associations between game duration and injuries per game (P < .001; effect size, 0.013) and the level of play and injuries per game (P < .001; effect size, 0.011). There were significant associations between the venue type (P < .001), the game start time (P < .001), humidity (P < .001), the turf type (P = .016), and barometric pressure (P = .031); however, the effect size for each was <0.001, suggesting that these factors are clinically unimportant. Our overall model produced an R2 of 0.04, indicating that these variables only predicted 4% of the variance in injury risk. CONCLUSION: In professional baseball, the weather is not associated with injury risk; however, game duration may contribute to injury risk.

Epidemiology of Spine-Related Neurologic Injuries in Professional Baseball Players.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiology of diagnoses of degenerative cervical and lumbar spinal conditions among Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Repetitive high-energy forces in professional baseball players may predispose them to degenerative cervical and lumbar spinal conditions. There is a lack of data concerning the epidemiology of these injuries in professional baseball. METHODS: Deidentified data on spine injuries were collected from all MLB and MiLB teams from 2011 to 2016 from the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Rates of diagnoses of common degenerative spinal conditions as well as their impact on days missed due to injury, necessitation of surgery, and player participation and career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures in concordance with prior studies. RESULTS: Over 2011 to 2016, 4246 days of play were missed due to 172 spine-related injuries. 73.3% were related to the lumbar spine and 26.7% to the cervical spine. There were similar rates of surgery required for these injuries (18.3% of lumbar injuries vs. 13.0% of cervical injuries, P = 0.2164). Mean age of players with cervical injuries was higher compared with the lumbar group (27.5 vs. 25.4, P = 0.0119). Average number of days missed due to lumbar injuries was significantly higher than those due to cervical injuries (34.1 vs. 21.6 d, P = 0.0468). Spine injury rates for pitchers were significantly higher than those of other position players (0.086 per 1000 athlete-exposures vs. 0.037, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Neurologic diagnoses relating to the cervical and lumbar spine lead to substantial disability among MLB and MiLB players as well as days missed from play. Pitchers have over double the rates of injury compared with other position players. Lumbar conditions were associated with significantly higher numbers of days missed from play.Level of Evidence: 4.

The Lyme and Tickborne Disease Dashboard: A map-based resource to promote public health awareness and research collaboration.

With the incidence of Lyme and other tickborne diseases on the rise in the US and globally, there is a critical need for data-driven tools that communicate the magnitude of this problem and help guide public health responses. We present the Johns Hopkins Lyme and Tickborne Disease Dashboard (https://www.hopkinslymetracker.org/), a new tool that harnesses the power of geography to raise awareness and fuel research and scientific collaboration. The dashboard is unique in applying a geographic lens to tickborne diseases, aiming not only to become a global tracker of tickborne diseases but also to contextualize their complicated geography with a comprehensive set of maps and spatial data sets representing a One Health approach. We share our experience designing and implementing the dashboard, describe the main features, and discuss current limitations and future directions.

A syndromic surveillance tool to detect anomalous clusters of COVID-19 symptoms in the United States.

Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 infections continue to spread across the world, yet effective large-scale disease detection and prediction remain limited. COVID Control: A Johns Hopkins University Study, is a novel syndromic surveillance approach, which collects body temperature and COVID-like illness (CLI) symptoms across the US using a smartphone app and applies spatio-temporal clustering techniques and cross-correlation analysis to create maps of abnormal symptomatology incidence that are made publicly available. The results of the cross-correlation analysis identify optimal temporal lags between symptoms and a range of COVID-19 outcomes, with new taste/smell loss showing the highest correlations. We also identified temporal clusters of change in taste/smell entries and confirmed COVID-19 incidence in Baltimore City and County. Further, we utilized an extended simulated dataset to showcase our analytics in Maryland. The resulting clusters can serve as indicators of emerging COVID-19 outbreaks, and support syndromic surveillance as an early warning system for disease prevention and control.

Examining Batting Performance After a Sports-Related Concussion Among Major League Baseball Position Players.

BACKGROUND: An ongoing challenge in sports-related concussion (SRC) is determining full recovery. This study examines performance metrics in baseball after an SRC and provides a template for assessment of return-to-performance parameters. PURPOSE: To determine whether batting performance returns to baseline after an SRC. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study. METHODS: Participants were all Major League Baseball (MLB) position players with confirmed SRCs that occurred during the 2011-2015 seasons. A retrospective review and assessment of performance metrics before and after injury were conducted as defined relative to the number of plate appearances (PAs) to yield reliable performance statistics. Seven batting metrics were considered as outcomes in longitudinal regressions: batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, bases on balls, strikeouts, and home runs. Metrics were calculated for each player 60, 30, and 14 days before their SRCs, as well as for the 14, 30, and 60 days after returning to play. Other variables controlled for included defensive position, player age at the time of SRC, number of days missed, mechanism of injury, whether the player completed a rehabilitation stint, and year in which the mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) occurred (2011-2015). RESULTS: A total of 77 MTBI case events occurred in MLB position players over 5 seasons. These injuries resulted in a mean 11.4 days lost to injury. For all performance metrics using 60 or 30 days before MTBI as baseline, no statistically significant differences were found in batting performance. In total, 63 events met PA criteria before injury. Varying the PA cutoff thresholds to be more inclusive or more restrictive yielded similar regression results. For the 48 events that met PA criteria before and after injury, most performance metrics showed no significant performance change after MTBI and, in some events, a slight though mostly nonsignificant performance improvement after MTBI. CONCLUSIONS: MLB position players who are medically cleared to return to play after an SRC perform at the same offensive performance levels as their preinjury statistics when an adequate number of PAs is used to compare performance before and after injury.

Epidemiology of acromioclavicular joint injuries in professional baseball: analysis from the Major League Baseball Health and Injury Tracking System.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder injuries account for a large portion of all recorded injuries in professional baseball. Much is known about other shoulder pathologies in the overhead athlete, but the incidence and impact of acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries in this population are unknown. We examined the epidemiology of AC joint injuries in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players and determined the impact on time missed. METHODS: The MLB Health and Injury Tracking System was used to compile records of all MLB and MiLB players from 2011 to 2017 with documented AC joint injuries. These injuries were classified as acute (sprain or separation) or chronic (AC joint arthritis or distal clavicular osteolysis), and associated data extracted included laterality, date of injury, player position, activity, mechanism of injury, length of return to play, and need for surgical intervention. RESULTS: A total of 312 AC joint injuries (183 in MiLB players and 129 in MLB players; range, 39-60 per year) were recorded: 201 acute (64.4%) and 111 chronic (35.6%). A total of 81% of acute and 59% of chronic injuries resulted in time missed, with a mean length of return to play of 21 days for both. Of the injuries in outfielders, 79.6% were acute (P < .0001), as were 66.3% of injuries in infielders (P = .004). Pitchers and catchers had more equal proportions of acute and chronic AC injuries (P > .05 for all). Acute AC injuries occurred most often while fielding (n = 100, 84.7%), running (n = 25, 80.6%), and hitting (n = 19, 61.3%), whereas chronic injuries tended to be more common while pitching (n = 26, 68.4%). Of contact injuries, 82.5% were acute (P < .0001), whereas 59.0% of noncontact injuries were chronic (P = .047). MLB players showed consistently higher regular-season rates of both acute and chronic AC injuries than MiLB players (P < .0001 for each). CONCLUSION: Acute AC joint injuries are contact injuries occurring most commonly among infielders and outfielders while fielding that result in 3 weeks missed before return to play, whereas chronic AC joint injuries occur more commonly in pitchers and catchers from noncontact repetitive overhead activity. Knowledge of these data can better guide expectation management in this elite population to better elucidate the prevalence of 2 common injury patterns in the AC joint.

A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Organ-Specific Lupus Flares in Relation to Atmospheric Variables and Fine Particulate Matter Pollution.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential clusters of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) organ-specific flares and their relationship to fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), temperature, ozone concentration, resultant wind, relative humidity, and barometric pressure in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort, using spatiotemporal cluster analysis. METHODS: A total of 1,628 patients who fulfilled the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for SLE and who had a home address recorded were included in the analysis. Disease activity was assessed using the Lupus Activity Index. Assessment of rash, joint involvement, serositis, and neurologic, pulmonary, renal, and hematologic activity was quantified on a 0-3 visual analog scale (VAS). An organ-specific flare was defined as an increase in VAS of ≥1 point compared to the previous visit. Spatiotemporal clusters were detected using SaTScan software. Regression models were used for cluster adjustment and included individual, county-level, and environmental variables. RESULTS: Significant clusters unadjusted for environmental variables were identified for joint flares (P < 0.05; n = 3), rash flares (P < 0.05; n = 4), hematologic flares (P < 0.05; n = 3), neurologic flares (P < 0.05; n = 2), renal flares (P < 0.001; n = 4), serositis (P < 0.001; n = 2), and pulmonary flares (P < 0.001; n = 2). The majority of the clusters identified changed in significance, temporal extent, or spatial extent after adjustment for environmental variables. CONCLUSION: We describe the first spatiotemporal clusters of lupus organ-specific flares. Seasonal, as well as multi-year, cluster patterns were identified, differing in extent and location for the various organ-specific flare types. Further studies focusing on each individual organ-specific flare are needed to better understand the driving forces behind these observed changes.

Adjusted, non-Euclidean cluster detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the Chesapeake Bay, USA.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a naturallyoccurring bacterium found in estuaries, such as the Chesapeake Bay (USA), that can cause vibriosis, a food - and waterborne illness, in humans. Tracking the spatial and temporal distribution of V. parahaemolyticus in the Chesapeake Bay, which varies in part due to water temperature, salinity, and other environmental variables, can help identify areas and time periods of high risk. These observations can support interventions used to reduce the burden of vibriosis. Spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of high V. parahaemolyticus abundance were identified among surface water samples in the Chesapeake Bay between 2007 and 2010. While Euclidean distances between geographic points in spatial analyses are often used for cluster detection, non-Euclidean distances should be considered for cluster detection due to the complex nature of the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. Comparison of both methods consistently showed the non-Euclidean cluster detection providing unique and more reasonable clusters than the Euclidean approach. Residuals from univariate and multivariate models were used to identify how clusters changed after controlling for environmental variables. Most clusters tended to decrease in space, time, or significance after adjustment, suggesting these covariates contributed to the original formation of the clusters and as such are useful observation tools for vibriosis risk managers. Clusters that remained after adjustment suggest areas for further study and intervention. These findings reinforce the importance of using non-Euclidean distances when tracking the spatiotemporal variation of V. parahaemolyticus as well as the benefits of cluster detection methods for V. parahaemolyticus risk management in estuaries.

Diagnosis of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the cricoid cartilage: A case report.

An aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a type of reactive reparative bone neoplasm that rarely occurs in the head and neck. To date, only a small number of cases have been previously reported. The present study reports the case of a 58-year-old male who presented with a tumor in the laryngeal cricoid cartilage, a rare position for a tumor, who subsequently underwent treatment by surgical resection. Based on the observations of the present study and a literature review, it was concluded that an ABC of the larynx can be identified based on a combination of radiology and postoperative histopathology examinations. However, following a tracheotomy and excision, the difficulty of performing tracheal cannula removal is inevitable. The present study described in detail a rare disease, ABC, occurring in the larynx. More cases are required for follow-up studies.

Characterizing liquid redistribution in a biphasic vibrating vocal fold using finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Vocal fold tissue is biphasic and consists of a solid extracellular matrix skeleton swelled with interstitial fluid. Interactions between the liquid and solid impact the material properties and stress response of the tissue. The objective of this study was to model the movement of liquid during vocal fold vibration and to estimate the volume of liquid accumulation and stress experienced by the tissue near the anterior-posterior midline, where benign lesions are observed to form. METHODS: A three-dimensional biphasic finite element model of a single vocal fold was built to solve for the liquid velocity, pore pressure, and von Mises stress during and just after vibration using the commercial finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics (Version 4.3a, 2013, Structural Mechanics and Subsurface Flow Modules). Vibration was induced by applying direct load pressures to the subglottal and intraglottal surfaces. Pressure ranges, frequency, and material parameters were chosen based on those reported in the literature. Postprocessing included liquid velocity, pore pressure, and von Mises stress calculations as well as the frequency-stress and amplitude-stress relationships. RESULTS: Resulting time-averaged velocity vectors during vibration indicated liquid movement toward the midline of the fold, as well as upward movement in the inferior-superior direction. Pore pressure and von Misses stresses were higher in this region just after vibration. A linear relationship was found between the amplitude and pore pressure, whereas a nonlinear relationship was found between the frequency and pore pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study had certain computational simplifications, it is the first biphasic finite element model to use a realistic geometry and demonstrate the ability to characterize liquid movement due to vibration. Results indicate that there is a significant amount of liquid that accumulates at the midline; however, the role of this accumulation still requires investigation. Further investigation of these mechanical factors may lend insight into the mechanism of benign lesion formation.

Permeability of canine vocal fold lamina propria.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Determine the permeability of excised canine vocal fold lamina propria. STUDY DESIGN: Basic science. METHODS: Vocal folds were excised from canine larynges and mounted within a device to measure the flow of 0.9% saline through the tissue over time. The resultant fluid volume displaced over time was then used in a variation of Darcy's law to calculate the permeability of the tissue. Permeability was found through each anatomical plane of the vocal fold, with five samples per plane. Permeability was also found for lamina propria stretched to 10%, 20%, and 30% of its initial length to determine the effects of tensile strain on permeability, with five samples per level of strain. RESULTS: Permeability was found to be 1.40 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg through the sagittal plane, 1.00 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg through the coronal plane, and 4.02 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg through the axial plane. It was significantly greater through the axial plane than both the sagittal (P = .025) and coronal (P = .009) planes. Permeability under strain through the sagittal plane was found to be 1.94 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg under 10% strain, 3.35 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg under 20% strain, and 4.80 × 10(-13) m(3) s/kg under 30% strain. The permeability significantly increased after 20% strain (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Permeability in canine vocal fold lamina propria was found to be increased along the anterior-posterior axis, following the length of the vocal folds. This may influence fluid distribution within the lamina propria during and after vibration. Similarly, permeability increased after 20% strain was imposed on the lamina propria, and may influence vocal fold dynamics during certain phonation tasks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 125:941-945, 2015.

Voice Outcome of Modified Frontolateral Partial Laryngectomy in Excised Canine Larynges and Finite Element Model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vocal parameters after modified frontolateral partial laryngectomy (MFLPL) and frontolateral partial laryngectomy (FLPL) in both excised canine and finite element models. STUDY DESIGN: FLPL and MFLPL were compared, using a prospective paired case control laboratory study with excised canine larynx and computational modeling. SETTING: Basic science study conducted in university laboratory. METHODS: FLPL and MFLPL were performed serially on 9 excised canine larynges. The excised larynx bench apparatus was used to collect phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and high-speed video data. A finite element model was built to compare a normal vocal fold with applied tension, a cut fold with no applied tension (simulating FLPL), and a cut fold with applied tension (simulating MFLPL). Stress values and distributions across the 3 conditions were computed. RESULTS: The mean PTP increase after MFLPL (15.45-17.46 cmH2O) was not statistically significant. In the excised canine model, fundamental frequency (F0) showed a significant increase for the MFLPL (P = .039). Differences in vibration amplitudes were not statistically significant. Von Mises stress distribution was most similar between the MFLPL model and the normal fold. Maximum von Mises stresses at the midline were 17.56, 21.63, and 5.10 kPa for the normal, MFLPL, and FLPL, respectively, and 47.57, 63.98, and 101.97 kPa at the peripheries. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we conclude that MFLPL has the potential to give a better voice outcome while avoiding tracheotomy in partial laryngectomy patients. In vivo study in canines to examine the healing process would lend further evidence-based support for this surgical method.