Surgical Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with the ApiFix Minimal Invasive Dynamic Correction System-A Preliminary Report of a 24-Month Follow-Up.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional growth disorder. Corrective surgical procedures are the recommended treatment option for a thoracic angle exceeding 50° and a lumbar major curve of 40°. Over the past few years, dynamic growth modulation implants have been developed as alternatives to permanent fusion. The ApiFix system was designed as a 2D "posterior dynamic device" for curve correction. After implantation in a minimally invasive procedure, it uses polyaxial joints and a self-adjusting rod to preserve the degree of motion and to accommodate the patient's growth. It provides an effective method of controlling deformity and fills the gap between the conservative treatment of major curves that are >35° and the fusion procedure. The objective of the two-center cohort study was the analysis of the correction results of patients, who underwent surgical intervention with the ApiFix system. The inclusion criteria were AIS, Lenke type 1 or type 5, a major curve on bending films of ≤30°, and an angle of the major curve of between 35° and 60°. Postoperative radiograph data were obtained longitudinally for up to 24 months of follow-up and compared to preoperative (preop) values. For comparisons of the different time points, non-parametric tests (Wilcoxon) or paired t-tests for normally distributed values were used to analyze repeated measures. Overall, 36 patients (25 female and 11 male) were treated with the ApiFix system from April 2018 to October 2020. Lenke type 1 was identified in 21 (58%) cases and Lenke type 5 was identified in 15 (42%) cases. The average angle of the thoracic major curve for Lenke 1 was 43°. The preoperative lumbar major curve (Lenke 5) was determined to be 43°. Over a follow-up of 24 months, a correction of the major curve to an average of 20° was observed for Lenke 1 and that to an average of 15° was observed for Lenke 5. Lenke type 1 and type 5 showed significant changes in the major curve over the individual test intervals in the paired comparisons compared to the starting angle (Lenke 1: preop-24 months, 0.002; Lenke 5: preop-24 months, 0.043). Overall, 11 events were recorded in the follow-up period, that required revision surgery. We distinguished between repeated interventions required after reaching the maximum distraction length of the implant due to the continued growth of the patient (n = 4) and complications, such as infections or problems associated with the anchorage of the implant (n = 7). The results from the present cohort revealed a statistically significant improvement in the postoperatively measured angles of the major and minor curves in the follow-up after 24 months. Consequently, the results were comparable to those of the already established vertebral body tethering method. Alignment in AIS via dynamic correction systems in combination with a possible growth modulation has been a treatment alternative to surgical fusing procedures for more than a decade. However, the long-term corrective effect has to be validated in further studies.

Identification of response bias on apparent pregnancy outcome after second trimester ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether there is a response bias in outcome studies after prenatal ultrasound and to quantify this potential effect by information source. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All normal ultrasound scans between week 17 and week 24 and 6 days performed in the years 2004 and 2005 were investigated. A multinomial logistic regression model was applied to investigate the association between responders' outcome (questionnaire, phone interview and inquiry to birth clinic) and the following explanatory variables: maternal age, smoking status, body mass index, congenital anomaly status, low birthweight and preterm deliveries. RESULTS: From the 12 439 women, 7747 (62.3%) sent back the questionnaire, 3032 (24.4%) were interviewed by telephone and in 1660 cases (13.3%) the outcome was obtained from the birth clinic. Maternal age > 34 years [odds ratio (OR) 0.72, confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.85/0.35, CI 0.29-0.42, telephone/birth clinic] and minor anomalies (OR 0.52, CI 0.28-0.98, birth clinic) were significantly underrepresented in nonresponders. Preterm delivery (OR 1.29, CI 1.11-1.50/1.30, CI 1.08-1.57), maternal smoking (OR 1.14, CI 1.07-1.25/1.31, CI 1.22-1.40) and stillbirths (OR 2.30, CI 1.09-4.87, birth clinic) were significantly, major anomalies (OR 1.83, CI 0.94-3.55/1.80, CI 0.79-4.10) were considerably overrepresented in these groups. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous responding to prenatal follow-up questionnaires is significantly biased towards older and nonsmoking mothers with normal pregnancy outcome.

Checklist Focused on Patients for Making of Teaching Videos in Orthopedic Surgery. / Patientenorientierte Checkliste für die Erstellung von Lehrvideos für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie.

INTRODUCTION: The focus of medical-didactic research is the improvement of clinical-practical training. One way to support practical skills training in a time- and resource-saving way is to provide instructional videos. Often the freely available instructional videos do not meet didactic or content requirements. Creating your own videos can therefore be a useful alternative for teachers. There are a variety of instructions on the Internet for shooting instruction videos. To date, this does not include any concrete instructions/assistance for the production of medical instructional videos. However, the presentation of medical learning content in particular can contain many hurdles. The aim of this work was to design a checklist for the creation of instructional videos, which can be used as a guide. METHODS: As a first step, a systematic literature search was carried out to identify works that deal with the creation and not the use of medical instructional videos. To date, corresponding publications do not exist. In a workshop, the participants, who already gained experience in creating this type of video, exchanged ideas. These were critically discussed and analyzed. As a result, a checklist was created. In a subsequent multi-step review process, the checklist was reviewed with regard to applicability, comprehensibility, completeness and quality of the items. RESULTS: Four phases in the creation of an instructional video could be differentiated: preliminary reflections, preparation, day of filming, post-production. The checklist is structured accordingly and should be actively processed phase by phase. The checklist is created in such a way that it can be used and edited without reading this text. Particular focus is placed on the patient and his needs. CONCLUSION: The checklist created provides useful help in the creation of medical instructional videos and can for the first time serve as a guide especially for orthopedic and accident surgical instructional videos.

Internship Experience in Orthopaedics and Traumatology and its Impact on Becoming a Specialist. / Praktisches Jahr in Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie ­ die kollegiale Staffelstabübergabe in die Weiterbildung?

INTRODUCTION: The German practical year is the last clinical placement period during Medical School. However, it remains unclear how medical students evaluate the practical year in orthopaedics and traumatology (Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie; O & U) and whether it has an impact on becoming an O & U specialist. METHOD: We analysed data of 146 medical students (46,7% female) who completed the placement in O & U. From the evaluation, 37 items were included in the analyses. Participants who could imagine becoming an O & U specialist (O & U-Ja) following graduation were statistically compared to those who could not (O & U-Nein). RESULTS: Overall 123 (83.7%) trainees indicated that they would like to become an O & U specialist (O & U-Ja), 18 (12.8%) negated (O & U-Nein) and 6 (4.1%) were undecided. Groups did not differ for sex and age (sex: Chi² = 2.50, p = 0.114; age: F [1.93] < 1, p = 0.764). Group differences were found for practical orientation, independency, acquisition of anamnesis and diagnostics skills and problem-solving expertise with students who could imagine becoming an O & U specialist (O & U-Ja) giving the highest ratings. DISCUSSION: Evaluations of the last medical year are essential in order to continuously improve the internship experience and to attract students towards a certain medical field and, moreover, to post-graduate specialist training. Clinics and institutions who already emphasize on the factors derived from this evaluation, or are continuously working on improvement, might be more able to attract young professionals, since personnel acquisition is starting early in the medical field.

Evidence-Based Examination Techniques for the Knee. / Evidenzbasiertes Lehrvideo für Untersuchungstechniken am Kniegelenk.

OBJECTIVE: Digitalisation now almost covers all areas of medical student teaching. Teaching videos are a good way to help students learn practical skills. The existing evidence is a recognised aid for the classification of the respective technology. METHOD: This video presents the usual examination techniques of the knee joint on a patient with an unstable knee. The respective techniques, if available, were backed up with the appropriate evidence. CONCLUSION: The examination techniques presented allow students to view the examination techniques in a standardised manner on a patient. The evidence for the examination techniques can help with the classification of the respective technique. ZIELSETZUNG: Die Digitalisierung erfasst inzwischen alle Bereiche der studentischen Lehre. Um die Studierenden im Erlernen praktischer Fertigkeiten zu unterstützen, sind Lehrvideos eine gute Methode. Für die Einordnung der jeweiligen Technik ist die vorhandene Evidenz eine anerkannte Hilfestellung. METHODE: Das hier vorliegende Video stellt die üblichen Untersuchungstechniken des Kniegelenkes an einer Patientin mit einem instabilen Knie dar. Die jeweiligen Techniken wurden, wenn vorhanden, mit der jeweiligen Evidenz unterlegt. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Die dargestellten Untersuchungstechniken ermöglichen es Studierenden, sich die Untersuchungstechniken standardisiert an einem Patienten anzuschauen. Die eingeblendete Evidenz für die Untersuchungstechniken kann hierbei eine Hilfestellung bei der Einordnung der jeweiligen Technik leisten.

Evidence-Based Examination Techniques for the Shoulder Joint. / Evidenzbasiertes Lehrvideo für Untersuchungstechniken am Schultergelenk.

OBJECTIVE: Digitalisation now almost covers all areas of medical student teaching. Teaching videos are a good way to help students learn practical skills. The existing evidence is a recognised aid for the classification of the respective technology. METHOD: This video presents the usual examination techniques of the shoulder joint on a patient with an unstable shoulder. The respective techniques, if available, were backed up with appropriate evidence. CONCLUSION: The examination techniques presented allow students to view them in a standardized manner on a patient. The evidence for the examination techniques can help with the classification of the respective technique.

[Quality and Satisfaction with the Surgical Medical Clerkship from a Student Perspective]. / Qualität und Zufriedenheit mit der chirurgischen Famulatur aus studentischer Sicht.

PREFACE: The surgical medical clerkship is of special importance, as the student is given the opportunity to get in touch with medical colleagues and patients for the first time, and the interest in a certain field of specialisation can be consolidated. The present study will clarify how students perceived their medical clerkship in the field of surgery. METHODS: A nationwide online survey carried out in 2012 was able to recruit 9079 participants, and contained questions about the completed curricular internships. The present evaluation contains the data of those respondents who had completed at least four weeks of internship in surgery. The following main groups were of particular interest: overall assessment, satisfaction, structure and quality of teaching, of the teachers, and the acquisition of practical skills, which were divided into 35 items. Statistical evaluation was carried out using SPSS 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). In addition to the descriptive statistics, the Chi² test was performed for frequencies, and univariate ANOVAs with the sub-subject factor group (satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied) were performed for the individual items. RESULTS: Overall, the data of 526 participants could be analysed. The female proportion of students was 56.7%; the average age at the time of the survey was 25 years. In all evaluated items, there were significant differences between the groups satisfied and dissatisfied. The participants of the survey who were satisfied with the overall qualification (p = 0.000), reported that they benefited with regard to the technical and didactic quality of teaching (p = 0.000), the acquisition of practical competences (p = 0.000), as well as the didactic and professional quality of teaching (p = 0.000). DISCUSSION: Little is published about the internships for students, including the medical clerkship "Famulatur". However, this information seems to be important, as the students can freely choose the subject in which the Famulatur can be completed. Thus, in this early phase of training, it is possible to recruit young academics for the department by optimising existing structures and improving the range of courses.

[A Nationwide Survey of Undergraduate Training in Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery]. / Statuserhebung der studentischen Lehre in Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal conditions are the most frequent cause of long-term pain and disability. Scientifically funded, structured training would be highly desirable for all medical students and of great economic relevance for the health care system. The present article portrays the status quo of undergraduate training in orthopaedics and trauma surgery, with a comparison to the status quo of 2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 51-item questionnaire was sent to all heads of the departments of orthopaedics or trauma surgery at the 37 medical faculties in Germany. RESULTS: A return rate of 81.1% from orthopaedics and 73% from trauma surgery was attained. The organisation of undergraduate training in orthopaedics and trauma surgery is completely separated in 34.4% of hospitals. The corresponding figure in 2008 was 64%. The amount of training in lectures and practical training rarely changed during this period. CONCLUSION: Even closer collaboration between lecturers in orthopaedics and trauma surgery would be desirable. This would reflect the importance of the disciplines, as well as politico-economic relevance of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, and would encourage the sharing of resources.

Expression of transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factors A and B in oropharyngeal cancers treated by curative radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in cellular responses to ionizing radiation and represents a major target for current radiosensitizing strategies. We wished to ascertain whether a correlation existed between the expression of EGFR, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) and platelet-derived growth factors A and B (PDGF-A and PDGF-B) and treatment outcome in a group of patients with oropharyngeal cancer who had undergone curative radiation therapy. We also assessed the relationship existing between each of the aforementioned proteins and intratumoral microvessel densities (IMD) which have been previously reported (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2000;48:17-25. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretherapeutic tumor biopsies from 95 patients were immunohistochemically stained and their immunoreactivities evaluated semi-quantitatively. The statistical analyses included Cox regression for calculating risk ratios of survival endpoints and logistic regression for determining odds ratios for the development of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Local tumor control as well as disease-free and overall survival were independent of protein expression levels, whereas combined TGFalpha and EGFR immunoreactivities were closely related to IMD (P = 0.003). The expression levels of these two proteins were also correlated to each other (P = 0.015). Expression of PDGF-B occurred in 54% of cases and was associated with an increase in the risk of developing distant metastasis (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Tumoral levels of TGFalpha, EGFR and PDGF-A/B are not predictive of radioresponsiveness in oropharyngeal cancers. The association between IMD and immunoreactivity for TGFalpha and EGFR indicates the involvement of these proteins in the promotion of angiogenesis in these tumors. PDGF-B should be further evaluated as a prognostic marker for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

Disc volume reduction with percutaneous nucleoplasty in an animal model.

STUDY DESIGN: We assessed volume following nucleoplasty disc decompression in lower lumbar spines from cadaveric pigs using 7.1Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PURPOSE: To investigate coblation-induced volume reductions as a possible mechanism underlying nucleoplasty. METHODS: We assessed volume following nucleoplastic disc decompression in pig spines using 7.1-Tesla MRI. Volumetry was performed in lumbar discs of 21 postmortem pigs. A preoperative image data set was obtained, volume was determined, and either disc decompression or placebo therapy was performed in a randomized manner. Group 1 (nucleoplasty group) was treated according to the usual nucleoplasty protocol with coblation current applied to 6 channels for 10 seconds each in an application field of 360°; in group 2 (placebo group) the same procedure was performed but without coblation current. After the procedure, a second data set was generated and volumes calculated and matched with the preoperative measurements in a blinded manner. To analyze the effectiveness of nucleoplasty, volumes between treatment and placebo groups were compared. RESULTS: The average preoperative nucleus volume was 0.994 ml (SD: 0.298 ml). In the nucleoplasty group (n = 21) volume was reduced by an average of 0.087 ml (SD: 0.110 ml) or 7.14%. In the placebo group (n = 21) volume was increased by an average of 0.075 ml (SD: 0.075 ml) or 8.94%. The average nucleoplasty-induced volume reduction was 0.162 ml (SD: 0.124 ml) or 16.08%. Volume reduction in lumbar discs was significant in favor of the nucleoplasty group (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that nucleoplasty has a volume-reducing effect on the lumbar nucleus pulposus in an animal model. Furthermore, we show the volume reduction to be a coblation effect of nucleoplasty in porcine discs.