Return to Sport Following Distal Triceps Repair.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the timeline of return-to-sport following distal triceps repair; evaluate the degree of participation and function upon returning to sport; and identify risk factors for failure to return to sport. METHODS: Patients who underwent distal triceps repair with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Patients completed a subjective sports questionnaire and were scored on a visual analog scale for pain; the Mayo Elbow Performance Index; the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand; and the Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation. RESULTS: Out of 113 eligible patients who had a distal triceps repair, 81 patients (71.7%) were contacted. Sixty-eight patients (84.0%) who participated in sports prior to surgery were included at 6.0 ± 4.0 years after surgery, and the average age was 46.6 ± 11.5 years. Sixty-one patients (89.7%) resumed playing at least 1 sport by 5.9 ± 4.4 months following distal triceps repair. However, 18 patients (29.5%) returned to a lower level of activity intensity. The average postoperative Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand; Mayo Elbow Performance; visual analog scale for pain; and Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation scores were 8.2 ± 14.0, 89.5 ± 13.4, 2.0 ± 1.7, and 82.2 ± 24.3, respectively. No patients underwent revision surgery at the time of final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Distal triceps repair enables 89.7% of patients to return to sport by 5.9 ± 4.4 months following surgery. However, 29.5% of patients were unable to return to their preinjury level of activity. It is imperative that patients are appropriately educated to manage postoperative expectations regarding sport participation following distal triceps repair. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Traction Tenolysis for Flexor Tendon Adhesions: Outcomes in 97 Patients.

PURPOSE: Traction tenolysis is an alternative, less invasive way of performing flexor tendon tenolysis by winding affected tendons around a surgical instrument. This study assessed outcomes and complications in a cohort of patients who underwent traction tenolysis to determine its effectiveness. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 97 patients who underwent traction tenolysis performed by 4 fellowship-trained hand surgeons from 2010 to 2019. We collected data on preoperative and postoperative ranges of motion, the number and type of prior ipsilateral hand surgeries, and the duration of therapy and follow-up. Cases of traditional open tenosynovectomy tenolysis were excluded. RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds of the patients achieved more than 75% of the normal total active motion, and 80% achieved at least 50% of the normal total active motion. The mean total active flexion increased significantly by 42° and passive flexion by 25°. The differences in active and passive flexion significantly decreased from 28° before the surgery to 9° after the surgery. The active and passive flexion of the distal interphalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints improved similarly, at approximately 20° and 10°, respectively. The average duration of follow-up was 11 ± 8 weeks. The complication rate was 5%: 1 case of intraoperative flexor digitorum superficialis tendon rupture, 1 case of postoperative infection, and 3 reoperations because of failure to progress. CONCLUSIONS: Traction tenolysis is an alternative to traditional open tenolysis surgery in selected patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Relationship Between Preoperative and Postoperative Motion After Four-Corner Wrist Fusion for Osteoarthritis: Clustering and Regression Analyses.

PURPOSE: Four-corner fusion (4CF) is a surgical option for refractory scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist arthritis. Preoperative range of motion (ROM) predicts outcomes in many orthopedic procedures. This study investigates ROM in a cohort of 4CF patients to examine the relationship between preoperative and postoperative motion and identifies different clinical patterns. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 4CF patients. Patients with a history of inflammatory arthritis and radiographic characteristics of inflammation were excluded. Demographics, prior wrist surgery history, and ROM data were collected at preoperative and postoperative intervals after cast removal at 8 weeks, 3 months, and 8 months. Regression analysis compared the motion before and after 4CF. Subsequent cluster analysis to reduce confounding compared postoperative motion differences in the top 20% to the bottom 20% of patients by preoperative motion. RESULTS: We included 148 patients; 27 had prior surgery on the ipsilateral wrist. Preoperative arc averaged 86° ± 28° (flexion 46° ± 17°, extension 40° ± 15°); 8-week arc 43° ± 19° (flexion 19° ± 12°, extension 24° ± 12°); 3-month arc 62° ± 17° (flexion 30° ± 12°, extension 32° ± 11°); and 8-month arc 74° ± 17° (flexion 36° ± 11°, extension 37° ± 12°). Preoperative and final arcs were (r = 0.39). Clustering by the preoperative arc, the top 20% (mean 124° ± 15°) achieved a mean final arc of 81° ± 16°, while the bottom 20% (mean 47° ± 16°) achieved a mean final arc of 65° ± 19°. Intercluster differences were statistically significant. The bottom 20% gained motion postoperatively. Most patients in the middle 60% did not differ significantly in postoperative motion. CONCLUSIONS: Although wrist motion following 4CF correlates positively with preoperative motion, most patients do not differ significantly in postoperative motion. Patients with substantial preoperative motion deficits gain motion after 4CF. This information is important when counseling patients, determining the timing of surgical intervention, and managing expectations related to motion outcomes. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Reliability of additional reported seizure manifestations to identify dissociative seizures.

PURPOSE: Descriptions of seizure manifestations (SM), or semiology, can help localize the symptomatogenic zone and subsequently included brain regions involved in epileptic seizures, as well as identify patients with dissociative seizures (DS). Patients and witnesses are not trained observers, so these descriptions may vary from expert review of seizure video recordings of seizures. To better understand how reported factors can help identify patients with DS or epileptic seizures (ES), we evaluated the associations between more than 30 SMs and diagnosis using standardized interviews. METHODS: Based on patient- and observer-reported data from 490 patients with diagnoses documented by video-electoencephalography, we compared the rate of each SM in five mutually exclusive groups: epileptic seizures (ES), DS, physiologic seizure-like events (PSLE), mixed DS and ES, and inconclusive testing. RESULTS: In addition to SMs that we described in a prior manuscript, the following were associated with DS: light triggers, emotional stress trigger, pre-ictal and post-ictal headache, post-ictal muscle soreness, and ictal sensory symptoms. The following were associated with ES: triggered by missing medication, aura of déjà vu, and leftward eye deviation. There were numerous manifestations separately associated with mixed ES and DS. CONCLUSIONS: Reported SM can help identify patients with DS, but no manifestation is pathognomonic for either ES or DS. Patients with mixed ES and DS reported factors divergent from both ES-alone and DS-alone.

Atraumatic, Progressive, and Painful Elbow Contracture From a Ganglion Cyst.

Ganglion cysts are benign soft tissue tumors that often occur adjacent to joints or tendons. We report a case of an elbow joint ganglion cyst in a patient who presented with a painful, progressive elbow contracture. The patient was successfully treated with resection of the subbrachialis ganglion cyst combined with an anterior capsular release and an ulnar nerve decompression to recover elbow motion. This case highlights the value of advanced imaging in patients presenting with an atraumatic, painful, and progressive elbow contracture.

Return to sport and weightlifting analysis following distal biceps tendon repair.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the distal biceps tendon is an increasingly frequent injury sustained predominantly by middle-aged men. Despite the prevalence of sport in this age group, little is known regarding return to sport outcomes following surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing distal biceps tendon repair (DBR) between January 2015 and January 2017 were contacted electronically via e-mail and via telephone to administer a previously validated and standard return to sport survey. Patients self-reported preinjury and current level of sport and activity as well as preinjury and current level of select weightlifts. RESULTS: A total of 77 of 124 patients were available for follow-up (62.1%). Of these patients, 61 endorsed preoperative sport and were included for analysis. Average follow-up was 38.7 ± 6.7 months. The mean age at surgery was 47.5 ± 8.8 years, and the mean body mass index was 30.3 ± 5.1. The dominant side was affected in 25 of 61 cases. Of the 61 included patients, 57 (93.4%) were able to return to sport at any level (lower, same, or higher intensity than preinjury activity level). Forty of the patients (65.6%) were able to return to sport at same or higher intensity. Mean time to return to sport was 6.0 ± 2.8 months. Days from injury to surgery (odds ratio [OR] 0.999, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.998-0.999), suture anchor fixation in comparison to suture button (OR 0.602, 95% CI 0.427-0.850), and dominant-side surgery (OR 0.749, 95% CI 0.582-0.963) were associated with a decreased likelihood to return to sport at same or higher level of duty. Single-sided incision in comparison to double (OR 5.209, 95% CI 1.239-20.903) and dominant-side surgery (OR 6.370, 95% CI 1.639-24.762) were associated with increased duration to return to sport. CONCLUSION: Distal biceps tendon rupture is a significant injury; however, patients can expect high levels of return to sport following DBR with some residual impairment compared with baseline. It is important to counsel patients on their expectations while taking into account the results of this study: that there will be a small but appreciable decrease in strength compared with preinjury levels.

Return to work following distal triceps repair.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate and duration of return to work in patients undergoing distal triceps repair (DTR). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing DTR from 2009 to 2017 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. Patients completed a standardized and validated work questionnaire; a visual analog scale for pain; the Mayo Elbow Performance Score; the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire; and a satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Of 113 eligible patients who underwent DTR, 81 (71.7%) were contacted. Of these patients, 74 (91.4%) were employed within 3 years prior to surgery (mean age, 46.0 ± 10.7 years; mean follow-up, 5.9 ± 3.9 years). Sixty-nine patients (93.2%) returned to work by 2.2 ± 3.2 months postoperatively. Sixty-six patients (89.2%) were able to return to the same level of occupational intensity. Patients who held sedentary-, light-, medium-, and high-intensity occupations were able to return to work at a rate of 100.0%, 100.0%, 80.0%, and 76.9%, respectively, by 0.3 ± 0.5 months, 1.8 ± 1.5 months, 2.5 ± 3.6 months, and 4.8 ± 3.9 months, respectively, postoperatively. Of the workers' compensation patients, 15 (75%) returned to work by 6.5 ± 4.3 months postoperatively, whereas 100% of non-workers' compensation patients returned to work by 1.1 ± 1.6 months (P < .001). Seventy-one patients (95.9%) were at least somewhat satisfied, with 50 patients (67.6%) reporting excellent satisfaction. Seventy-two patients (97.3%) would undergo the operation again if presented the opportunity. A single patient (1.4%) required revision DTR. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 93% of patients who underwent DTR returned to work by 2.2 ± 3.2 months postoperatively. Patients with higher-intensity occupations had an equivalent rate of return to work but took longer to return to their preoperative level of occupational intensity. Information regarding return to work is imperative in preoperative patient consultation to manage expectations.

Objective score from initial interview identifies patients with probable dissociative seizures.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Dissociative Seizures Likelihood Score (DSLS), which is a comprehensive, evidence-based tool using information available during the first outpatient visit to identify patients with "probable" dissociative seizures (DS) to allow early triage to more extensive diagnostic assessment. METHODS: Based on data from 1616 patients with video-electroencephalography (vEEG) confirmed diagnoses, we compared the clinical history from a single neurology interview of patients in five mutually exclusive groups: epileptic seizures (ES), DS, physiologic nonepileptic seizure-like events (PSLE), mixed DS plus ES, and inconclusive monitoring. We used data-driven methods to determine the diagnostic utility of 76 features from retrospective chart review and applied this model to prospective interviews. RESULTS: The DSLS using recursive feature elimination (RFE) correctly identified 77% (95% confidence interval (CI), 74-80%) of prospective patients with either ES or DS, with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 84%. This accuracy was not significantly inferior than neurologists' impression (84%, 95% CI: 80-88%) and the kappa between neurologists' and the DSLS was 21% (95% CI: 1-41%). Only 3% of patients with DS were missed by both the fellows and our score (95% CI 0-11%). SIGNIFICANCE: The evidence-based DSLS establishes one method to reliably identify some patients with probable DS using clinical history. The DSLS supports and does not replace clinical decision making. While not all patients with DS can be identified by clinical history alone, these methods combined with clinical judgement could be used to identify patients who warrant further diagnostic assessment at a comprehensive epilepsy center.

Amifostine Prophylaxis in Irradiated Breast Reconstruction: A Study of Oncologic Safety In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Indications for adjuvant radiation therapy (XRT) in breast cancer have expanded. Although highly effective, XRT damages surrounding tissues and vasculature, often resulting in delayed or compromised breast reconstruction. Thus, effective yet safe methods of radiation injury prophylaxis would be desirable. Amifostine is a Food and Drug Administration-approved radioprotectant; however, concerns about its potential to also protect cancer remain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncologic safety of amifostine (AMF) in vitro and determine its effect on human breast cancer cells in the setting of XRT. METHODS: One ER+/PR+/Her2- (MCF-7) and two ER-/PR-Her2- (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468) breast cancer cell lines were investigated. Female fibroblasts were used as controls. Cells were treated with WR-1065, the active metabolite of AMF, 20 minutes before 0Gy, 10Gy, or 20Gy XRT. Live and dead cells were quantified; percent cell death was calculated. RESULTS: WR-1065 treatment significantly preserved viability and reduced healthy female fibroblasts death after XRT compared with untreated controls. All three breast cancer cells lines exhibited radiosensitivity with substantial cell death. Cancer cells retained their radiosensitivity despite WR-1065 pretreatment, achieving the same degree of cell death as untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the proficiency of AMF to selectively protect healthy cells from XRT while breast cancer cells remained radiosensitive. These results support the oncologic safety of AMF in breast cancer in vitro. Further investigation is now warranted in vivo to ascertain the translational potential of using AMF as a radioprotectant to improve breast reconstruction after radiation treatment.

Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Total Elbow Arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a potentially devastating complication after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) that can lead to significant morbidity for the patient as well as increased health care-related costs. Despite the potential morbidity associated with TEA PJI, evidence is limited regarding an optimal treatment algorithm. Initial management typically consists of either irrigation and debridement or 2-stage revision. A stable implant, a functioning triceps, and an intact soft tissue envelope are necessary to perform irrigation and debridement. Irrigation and debridement is associated with a relatively high risk of infection recurrence especially in chronic infections. Two-stage revision offers a lower recurrence risk, although there is a 25% chance of not completing the second stage. Resection arthroplasty, arthrodesis, and amputation are salvage options, whereas medical treatment, in the form of antibiotics alone, is reserved for poor surgical candidates. Further multicenter prospective study and retrospective review of registry data focusing on different treatment algorithms, prevention strategies, and functional outcomes would be helpful to elucidate the ideal management of elbow PJI.

Restoration of peak strength and endurance following distal biceps reconstruction with allograft for chronic ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Distal biceps reconstruction for chronic rupture often requires a graft to recover length and allow for distal tendon reattachment to bone. Our purpose was to assess peak strength and endurance recovery following biceps reconstruction with tendon grafts. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that allograft reconstruction would result in decreased flexion and supination peak strength and endurance. METHODS: Consecutive distal biceps reconstructions with allograft, performed for chronic ruptures between January 2008 and March 2018 at a single institution, were reviewed. Isokinetic dynamometry for peak strength and endurance testing was performed on the operative and contralateral arms in flexion and supination. Functional outcomes and overall satisfaction with the operation were determined. RESULTS: Eleven patients were available for a complete evaluation, including dynamometry, at a mean of 46 months postoperatively. Reconstructions demonstrated a nonsignificant trend toward decreased peak flexion strength (P = .06), and significantly decreased peak supination strength (P = .01) compared with the unaffected arm. There were no differences in flexion and supination endurance between the affected and unaffected arms. Using standardized outcome scales, patients reported excellent function. CONCLUSION: Chronic biceps ruptures undergoing reconstruction are highly functional and patients are satisfied. Somewhat surprisingly, supination and flexion endurance were equal to the contralateral, uninvolved arm. However, this procedure does not restore peak supination strength.

Return to sporting activity after ulnar nerve transposition for isolated neuritis in competitive overhead athletes.

BACKGROUND: Although ulnar neuritis can occur secondary to ulnar collateral ligament pathology, stress fractures, and traction apophysitis, isolated ulnar nerve dysfunction can lead to medial elbow pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of overhead athletes undergoing anterior ulnar nerve transposition for ulnar neuropathy. METHODS: All overhead athletes who underwent isolated ulnar nerve transposition between 2009 and 2016 for refractory ulnar neuritis were identified. The primary outcome was return to sport, and secondary outcome measures included the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic score; Mayo Elbow Performance Score; Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score; and visual analog scale score for pain. Complication and reoperation rates were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 26 overhead athletes (21 male and 5 female athletes) underwent ulnar nerve transposition at an average age of 18.4 years (range, 11-25 years). Of the patients, 24 (92%) returned to their sporting activity at an average of 2.7 months postoperatively, including 16 (62%) at the previous level of play. The average visual analog scale pain score improved from 4.7 (±2.5) to 0.4 (±1.5) (P = .015). The average postoperative patient-reported outcome scores were as follows: Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic score, 80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.7-87.0); Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, 85 (95% CI, 75.4-94.7); Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, 5 (95% CI, 2.1-7.7); and Mayo Elbow Performance Score, 91 (95% CI, 86.8-96.0). CONCLUSION: Cubital tunnel syndrome can cause medial elbow pain in overhead athletes in the presence of a normal ulnar collateral ligament. At mid-term follow-up, 92% of overhead athletes returned to sport after ulnar nerve transposition, with 62% resuming their previous level of performance.

fMRI evidence of aberrant neural adaptation for objects in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) adaptation (also known as fMRI repetition suppression) has been widely used to characterize stimulus selectivity in vivo, a fundamental feature of neuronal processing in the brain. We investigated whether SZ patients and BD patients show aberrant fMRI adaptation for object perception. About 52 SZ patients, 55 BD patients, and 53 community controls completed an object discrimination task with three conditions: the same object presented twice, two exemplars from the same category, and two exemplars from different categories. We also administered two functional localizer tasks. A region of interest analysis was employed to evaluate a priori hypotheses about the lateral occipital complex (LOC) and early visual cortex (EVC). An exploratory whole brain analysis was also conducted. In the LOC and EVC, controls showed the expected reduced fMRI responses to repeated presentation of the same objects compared with different objects (i.e., fMRI adaptation for objects, p < .001). SZ patients showed an adaptation effect that was significantly smaller compared with controls. BD patients showed a lack of fMRI adaptation. The whole brain analyses showed enhanced fMRI responses to repeated presentation of the same objects only in BD patients in several brain regions including anterior cingulate cortex. This study was the first to employ fMRI adaptation for objects in SZ and BD. The current findings provide empirical evidence of aberrant fMRI adaptation in the visual cortex in SZ and BD, but in distinctly different ways.

Isolated Partial Intra-Articular Volar Ulnar Fractures of the Distal Radius: The Tetrahedron Variant.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the treatment and complications of a distinct type of partial intra-articular distal radius fracture. METHODS: Seven patients treated by the senior author between 2008 and 2013 for a partial intra-articular distal radius fracture with isolated involvement of the volar lunate facet were included. All fragments had the distinctive shape of a triangular-base pyramid (tetrahedron) extending from the metaphysis distally. All fractures were preoperatively assessed with computed tomography (CT) scans. Patients underwent surgical treatment using a standard flexor carpi radialis approach (2 patients) or a volar ulnar approach (5 patients) and were followed postoperatively for a minimum of 12 months. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 33 to 66 years. On average, fragments measured 34 ± 6 mm in length (range, 27-43 mm) and were 48% as wide as the distal radius (range, 40% to 56%) and 58% as deep as the anterior-posterior dimension of the lesser sigmoid notch (range, 33% to 83%). Loss of reduction requiring revision surgery occurred at 4 weeks in 1 patient who underwent internal fixation through the flexor carpi radialis approach. The remaining cases healed uneventfully. At the final follow-up, all, except the patient requiring revision surgery, had a painless wrist. Average total wrist motion measured 87% of the opposite side. Radiographic healing with anatomic wrist alignment was observed in all except the patient requiring revision. This patient had persistent joint subluxation. The remaining patients all achieved good or excellent functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated tetrahedron volar lunate facet fractures of the distal radius are rare. In our experience, the use of a volar ulnar approach leads to satisfactory fixation and outcomes, yielding excellent radiographic and clinical outcomes. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.

The use of static external fixation for chronic instability of the elbow.

BACKGROUND: Chronic elbow instability after trauma is a challenging problem. Clinical results of external elbow fixation in this setting are limited, with most studies focusing on hinged external fixation. A static fixator is an alternative for maintaining joint reduction. Advantages of a static frame include ease of application, decreased need for special instrumentation, and more secure maintenance of a concentrically reduced joint in the setting of bone or soft tissue instability. The primary limitation of static fixation is the potential for stiffness. METHODS: This retrospective review represents the largest reported cohort evaluating the use of static elbow external fixation for the treatment of chronic elbow instability. Twenty-seven cases treated by a single surgeon between 2004 and 2015 were identified. RESULTS: Twenty patients were available for a clinical evaluation, including radiographs and a physical examination at a mean follow-up of 5.8 years (range, 1.4-12.4 years). Of note, 19 of 20 were clinically obese or overweight. At final evaluation, range of motion averaged from 20° ± 13° of extension to 134° ± 9° of flexion. All patients had stable elbows, except 1 patient who had valgus and varus laxity on stress examination. Radiographs of this patient showed an incongruous joint. Eight patients required an additional operation after external fixator removal, 3 for infection and 5 for stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: At almost 6 years of follow-up, static elbow external fixator resulted in a congruous joint with adequate functional and clinical outcomes in 95% of patients.

An objective score to identify psychogenic seizures based on age of onset and history.

OBJECTIVE: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) is a common diagnosis after evaluation of medication resistant or atypical seizures with video-electroencephalographic monitoring (VEM), but usually follows a long delay after the development of seizures, during which patients are treated for epilepsy. Therefore, more readily available diagnostic tools are needed for earlier identification of patients at risk for PNES. A tool based on patient-reported psychosocial history would be especially beneficial because it could be implemented in the outpatient clinic. METHODS: Based on the data from 1375 patients with VEM-confirmed diagnoses, we used logistic regression to compare the frequency of specific patient-reported historical events, demographic information, age of onset, and delay from first seizure until VEM in five mutually exclusive groups of patients: epileptic seizures (ES), PNES, physiologic nonepileptic seizure-like events (PSLE), mixed PNES plus ES, and inconclusive monitoring. To determine the diagnostic utility of this information to differentiate PNES only from ES only, we used multivariate piecewise-linear logistic regression trained using retrospective data from chart review and validated based on data from 246 prospective standardized interviews. RESULTS: The prospective area under the curve of our weighted multivariate piecewise-linear by-sex score was 73%, with the threshold that maximized overall retrospective accuracy resulting in a prospective sensitivity of 74% (95% CI: 70-79%) and prospective specificity of 71% (95% CI: 64-82%). The linear model and piecewise linear without an interaction term for sex had very similar performance statistics. In the multivariate piecewise-linear sex-split predictive model, the significant factors positively associated with ES were history of febrile seizures, current employment or active student status, history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and longer delay from first seizure until VEM. The significant factors associated with PNES were female sex, older age of onset, mild TBI, and significant stressful events with sexual abuse, in particular, increasing the likelihood of PNES. Delays longer than 20years, age of onset after 31years for men, and age of onset after 40years for women had no additional effect on the likelihood of PNES. DISCUSSION: Our promising results suggest that an objective score has the potential to serve as an early outpatient screening tool to identify patients with greater likelihood of PNES when considered in combination with other factors. In addition, our analysis suggests that sexual abuse, more than other psychological stressors including physical abuse, is more associated with PNES. There was a trend of increasing frequency of PNES for women during childbearing years and plateauing outside those years that was not observed in men.

Using insurance claims to predict and improve hospitalizations and biologics use in members with inflammatory bowel diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that can necessitate hospitalization and the use of expensive biologics. Models predicting these interventions may improve patient quality of life and reduce expenditures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used insurance claims from 2011 to 2013 to predict IBD-related hospitalizations and the initiation of biologics. We derived and optimized our model from a 2011 training set of 7771 members, predicting their outcomes the following year. The best-performing model was then applied to a 2012 validation set of 7450 members to predict their outcomes in 2013. RESULTS: Our models predicted both IBD-related hospitalizations and the initiation of biologics, with average positive predictive values of 17% and 11%, respectively - each a 200% improvement over chance. Further, when we used topic modeling to identify four member subpopulations, the positive predictive value of predicting hospitalization increased to 20%. DISCUSSION: We show that our hospitalization model, in concert with a mildly-effective interventional treatment plan for members identified as high-risk, may both improve patient outcomes and reduce insurance expenditures. CONCLUSION: The success of our approach provides a roadmap for how claims data can complement traditional medical decision making with personalized, data-driven predictive medicine.

Radial head replacement with a bipolar system: an average 10-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: We report the long-term results of a cohort of patients after radial head replacement with a bipolar design and a smooth cementless stem at a mean follow-up of 10.4 years. METHODS: Of 17 possible patients from a previous minimum 2-year follow-up study, 16 were available for review. Patients were assessed using clinical and radiographic examination and with standardized outcome measures. Range of motion, stability, and radiographic evaluation of implant loosening and joint degeneration were assessed. Comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test for unequal groups. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 10.5 years (range, 8.5-12 years). The median visual analog scale was 1 (range, 0-5), Minnesota Elbow Performance Index was 93 (range, 70-100), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand was 7.5 (range, 0-53). Range of motion was decreased on the operative side compared with the nonoperative side for flexion/extension (P = .005) and pronation/supination (P = .015). Grip strength was decreased on the affected side (P = .045). No patients had elbow instability. Significant arthritic changes developed in 2 patients at the ulnohumeral joint. The median cantilever quotient was 0.4 (range, 0.30-0.50). Osteolysis in zones 1 to 7 was found in all but 2 patients. The median stem radiolucency was 0.5 mm (range, 0.2-0.9 mm). No reoperations occurred since our previous report. Implant survival in this cohort was 97%. CONCLUSION: Bipolar radial head prosthesis with a smooth cementless stem effectively restores elbow stability and function after comminuted radial head fractures with or without concomitant elbow instability. Our study demonstrates excellent long-term implant survival.

Identifying psychogenic seizures through comorbidities and medication history.

OBJECTIVE: Low-cost evidence-based tools are needed to facilitate the early identification of patients with possible psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Prior to accurate diagnosis, patients with PNES do not receive interventions that address the cause of their seizures and therefore incur high medical costs and disability due to an uncontrolled seizure disorder. Both seizures and comorbidities may contribute to this high cost. METHODS: Based on data from 1,365 adult patients with video-electroencephalography-confirmed diagnoses from a single center, we used logistic and Poisson regression to compare the total number of comorbidities, number of medications, and presence of specific comorbidities in five mutually exclusive groups of diagnoses: epileptic seizures (ES) only, PNES only, mixed PNES and ES, physiologic nonepileptic seizurelike events, and inconclusive monitoring. To determine the diagnostic utility of comorbid diagnoses and medication history to differentiate PNES only from ES only, we used multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sex and age, trained using a retrospective database and validated using a prospective database. RESULTS: Our model differentiated PNES only from ES only with a prospective accuracy of 78% (95% confidence interval =72-84%) and area under the curve of 79%. With a few exceptions, the number of comorbidities and medications was more predictive than a specific comorbidity. Comorbidities associated with PNES were asthma, chronic pain, and migraines (p < 0.01). Comorbidities associated with ES were diabetes mellitus and nonmetastatic neoplasm (p < 0.01). The population-level analysis suggested that patients with mixed PNES and ES may be a population distinct from patients with either condition alone. SIGNIFICANCE: An accurate patient-reported medical history and medication history can be useful when screening for possible PNES. Our prospectively validated and objective score may assist in the interpretation of the medication and medical history in the context of the seizure description and history.

The natural history of thin melanoma and the utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Current literature may overestimate the risk of nodal metastasis from thin melanoma due to reporting of data only from lesions treated with SLNB. Our objective was to define the natural history of thin melanoma, assessing the likelihood of nodal disease, in order to guide selection for SLNB. METHODS: Retrospective review. The primary outcome was the rate of nodal disease. Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated to find associations with nodal disease. RESULTS: Five hundred and twelve lesions, follow up available for 488 (median: 48 months). Lesions treated with WLE/SLNB compared to WLE alone were more likely to have high-risk features. The rate of nodal disease was higher in the WLE/SLNB group (24 positive SLNB, five false-negative SLNB with nodal recurrence: 10.2%) compared to WLE alone (four nodal recurrences: 2.0%). Univariate analysis showed age ≤45, Breslow depth ≥0.85 mm, mitotic rate >1 mm2 , and ulceration were associated with nodal disease. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of age ≤45 and ulceration. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB for melanoma 0.75-0.99 mm should be considered in patients age ≤45, Breslow depth ≥0.85 mm, mitotic rate >1 mm2 , and/or with ulceration. Thin melanoma <0.85 mm without high-risk features may be treated with WLE alone.