Reduced mortality and faster treatment in sepsis seen at freestanding vs. hospital-based emergency departments.

INTRODUCTION: Freestanding Emergency Departments (FEDs) have grown in number and understanding their impact on the healthcare system is important. Sepsis causes significant morbidity and mortality and identifying how FEDs impact sepsis morbidity and mortality has not been studied. The objective of this study was to determine if there is a difference in in-hospital mortality for sepsis patients who present initially to FEDs compared to a hospital-based ED. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort of adult patients seen at a hospital-based ED or one of three FEDs within a large hospital system from 1/1/2018-10/31/2020. We included those who were diagnosed with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock and evaluated ED throughput measures, in-hospital mortality, and hospital length of stay. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables are presented as mean and standard deviations or median and quartiles depending on distribution. Multiple logistic regression was fit to compare in-hospital mortality rates between the two groups. Variables controlled for included Charlson Comorbidity Index, race, gender, insurance, and sepsis severity. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare the time metrics. RESULTS: There were 1955 patients included in the study. Mean age of participants was 61.9 at the FEDs vs 63.7 at the HBED. Majority of the participants were white; 88.2% at the FED vs. 77.3% at the HBED; and male 49.0% at the FED vs. 51.1% at the HBED. Most patients had Medicare; 45.4% at the FED vs. 58.3% at the HBED. In-patient mortality rate was significantly lower for patients that presented to FEDs compared to HBED (95%CI 0.13-0.46) adjusted odds ratio 0.24. Time to IV fluids, time to lactate, time to blood cultures, time to ED disposition, ED LOS, time to arrival on the inpatient unit were all significantly lower for FEDs vs HBED (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients presenting to FEDs for sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock had lower inpatient mortality, quicker treatment times, and were transferred and admitted to the hospital faster than patients seen at a HBED.

Improved hospital mortality rates after the implementation of emergency department sepsis teams.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality with more than 700,000 hospitalizations and 200,000 deaths annually in the United States. Early recognition of sepsis is critical for timely initiation of treatment and improved outcomes. We sought to evaluate. in-hospital mortality rates of patients diagnosed with sepsis before and after implementation of emergency department (ED) sepsis teams. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of adult patients seen at a tertiary care ED diagnosed with sepsis and severe sepsis. Pre-implementation study time frame was 5/1/2018-4/30/2019 and post-implementation was 11/1/2019-9/30/2020. A six-month washout period was utilized after implementation of ED-based sepsis teams. Indications for sepsis team activation were: two systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria with suspected infection or two SIRS with confirmed infection during workup. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables are presented as mean and standard deviation or median and quartiles depending on distribution. Multiple logistic regression compared mortality rates pre- and post-implementation while controlling for Charlson comorbidity index. Secondary objectives included comparing time metrics pre- and post-implementation. Student t-tests compared normally distributed variables and Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared non-normally distributed variables. RESULTS: There were 1188 participants included in the study; 553 before implementation of sepsis teams and 635 after implementation. Mean age of participants was 64 years. Patients were 74.7% white and 22.6% black. Medicare was the most common health insurance (59%). Mortality rates were significantly lower post-implementation of sepsis teams compared to pre-implementation with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.472, (95%CI, 0.352-0.632). ED LOS (95%CI (-67.2--11.3), hospital LOS (95%CI, -1.0--0.002) and time to lactic acid (95%CI, -10.0- -3.0) and antibiotics (95%CI, -29.0--11.0) were all significantly lower after implementation. CONCLUSION: Implementation of ED sepsis teams decreased inpatient hospital mortality rates, ED length of stay and hospital length of stay.

Outpatient Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: Is It Safe?

BACKGROUND: It is currently unknown if simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (si-BTKA) can also be safely performed in the outpatient setting. The primary aim of this study was to compare 30-day postoperative complication rates between outpatient and inpatient si-BTKA. METHODS: Adults undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (si-BTKA) from 2015-2019 were queried using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Our primary analysis compared the rates of complications between outpatient si-BTKA and inpatient si-BTKA using bivariate comparisons and multivariable logistic regression of outpatient and inpatient cases controlling for differences in baseline demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2019, the utilization of outpatient si-BTKA increased from 0.6% to 10.5%. Outpatient si-BTKA were found to have significantly lower odds of any complication (OR = 0.49), minor complication (OR = 0.50), and postoperative transfusion (OR = 0.66) compared to inpatient cases. Outpatient si-BTKA also had a significantly shorter operative time. CONCLUSION: Compared to inpatient si-BTKA, patients who undergo outpatient si-BTKA do not demonstrate increased rates of any complication, severe complications, and minor complications within 30-days postoperatively. Further insight is needed on the effect of outpatient si-BTKA on long-term outcomes.

Event-based prospective memory is independently associated with self-report of medication management in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Identifying potentially modifiable risk factors for medication non-adherence in older adults is important in order to enhance screening and intervention efforts designed to improve medication-taking behavior and health outcomes. The current study sought to determine the unique contribution of prospective memory (PM) (i.e. 'remembering to remember') to successful self-reported medication management in older adults. METHODS: Sixty-five older adults with current medication prescriptions completed a comprehensive research evaluation of sociodemographic, psychiatric, and neurocognitive functioning, which included the memory for adherence to medication scale (MAMS), prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire (PRMQ), and a performance-based measure of PM that measured both semantically related and semantically unrelated cue-intention (i.e. when-what) pairings. RESULTS: A series of hierarchical regressions controlling for biopsychosocial, other neurocognitive, and medication-related factors showed that elevated complaints on the PM scale of the PRMQ and worse performance on an objective semantically unrelated event-based PM task were independent predictors of poorer medication adherence as measured by the MAMS. CONCLUSIONS: PM plays an important role in self-report of successful medication management among older adults. Findings may have implications for screening for older individuals 'at risk' of non-adherence, as well as the development of PM-based interventions to improve medication adherence and, ultimately, long-term health outcomes in older adults.

Double free flaps for reconstruction of complex/composite defects in head and neck surgery.

OBJECTIVE. To demonstrate the feasibility of double free flap surgery in head and neck reconstruction. DESIGN. Descriptive case series. SETTING. A university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Twelve patients with head and neck cancer (encountered over a 2.5-year period) who had reconstructive surgery with planned simultaneous double free flaps. RESULTS. The mean total operating time was 660 minutes and there were no flap failures. Postoperative stays ranged from 11 to 82 days; nine patients were discharged within 3 weeks and seven were able to maintain their weight with oral feeding. The survival rate up to 1 year was 64%. CONCLUSION. The use of double free flaps is an option worth considering for complex head and neck defects in carefully selected patients.

Inflation-adjusted medicare physician reimbursement for adult spinal deformity surgery substantially declined from 2002 to 2020.

PURPOSE: Physician fees for orthopaedic surgeons by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are increasingly scrutinized. The present retrospective review aims to assess whether adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgeries are properly valued for Medicare reimbursement. METHODS: Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes related to posterior fusion of spinal deformity of ≤ 6, 7-12, and ≥ 13 vertebral levels, as well as additional arthrodesis and osteotomy levels, were assessed for (1) Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2002 to 2020, calculated using physician fee data from the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool; and (2) work relative value units (RVUs) per operative minute, using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2020, all CPT codes for ASD surgery had negative inflation-adjusted CAGRs (range, - 18.49% to - 27.66%). Mean physician fees for spinal fusion declined by 26.02% (CAGR, - 1.66%) in ≤ 6-level fusion, 27.91% (CAGR, - 1.80%) in 7- to 12-level fusion, and 28.25% (CAGR, - 1.83%) ≥ 13-level fusion. Fees for both 7-12 (P < 0.00001) and ≥ 13 levels (P < 0.00001) declined more than those for fusion of ≤ 6 vertebral levels. RVU per minute was lower for 7- to 12-level and ≥ 13-level (P < 0.00001 for both) ASD surgeries than for ≤ 6-level. CONCLUSIONS: Reimbursement for ASD surgery declined overall. CAGR for fusions of ≥ 7 levels were lower than those for fusions of ≤ 6 levels. For 2012-2018, ≥ 7-level fusions had lower RVU per minute than ≤ 6-level fusions. Revaluation of Medicare reimbursement for longer-level ASD surgeries may be warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

AM-PAC Mobility Score <13 Predicts Development of Ileus Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-Clicks" score is associated with the development of postoperative ileus. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery has a high complication rate. One common complication is postoperative ileus, and poor postoperative mobility has been implicated as a modifiable risk factor for this condition. METHODS: Eighty-five ASD surgeries in which ≥5 levels were fused were identified in a single institution database. A physical therapist/physiatrist collected patients' daily postoperative AM-PAC scores, for which we assessed first, last, and daily changes. We used multivariable linear regression to determine the marginal effect of ileus on continuous AM-PAC scores; threshold linear regression with Bayesian information criterion to identify a threshold AM-PAC score associated with ileus; and multivariable logistic regression to determine the utility of the score thresholds when controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS: Ten of 85 patients (12%) developed ileus. The mean day of developing ileus was postoperative day 3.3±2.35. The mean first and last AM-PAC scores were 16 and 18, respectively. On bivariate analysis, the mean first AM-PAC score was lower in patients with ileus than in those without (13 vs. 16; P<0.01). Ileus was associated with a first AM-PAC score of 3 points lower (Coef. -2.96; P<0.01) than that of patients without ileus. Patients with an AM-PAC score<13 had 8 times greater odds of developing ileus (P=0.023). Neither the last AM-PAC score nor the daily change in AM-PAC score was associated with ileus. CONCLUSIONS: In our institutional cohort, a first AM-PAC score of <13, corresponding to an inability to walk or stand for more than 1 minute, was associated with the development of ileus. Early identification of patients who cannot walk or stand after surgery can help determine which patients would benefit from prophylactic management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level-III.

Impact of Controlled Versus Uncontrolled mFI-5 Frailty on Perioperative Complications After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVES: We substratified the mFI-5 frailty index to reflect controlled and uncontrolled conditions and assess their relationship to perioperative complications. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Risk assessment before adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is critical because the surgery is highly invasive with a high complication rate. Although frailty is associated with risk of surgical complications, current frailty measures do not differentiate between controlled and uncontrolled conditions. METHODS: Frailty was calculated using the mFI-5 index for 170 ASD patients with fusion of ≥5 levels. Uncontrolled frailty was defined as blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg, HbA1C >7% or postprandial glucose >180 mg/dL, or recent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, while on medication. Patients were divided into nonfrailty, controlled frailty, and uncontrolled frailty cohorts. The primary outcome measure was perioperative major and wound complications. Bivariate analysis was performed. Multivariable analysis assessed the relationship between frailty and perioperative complications. RESULTS: The cohorts included 97 nonfrail, 54 controlled frail, and 19 uncontrolled frail patients. Compared with nonfrail patients, patients with uncontrolled frailty were more likely to have age older than 60 years (84% vs. 24%), hyperlipidemia (42% vs. 20%), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score >42 (84% vs. 52%) (P<0.05 for all). Controlled frailty was associated with those older than 60 years (41% vs. 24%) and hyperlipidemia (52% vs. 20%) (P<0.05 for all). On multivariable regression analysis controlling for hyperlipidemia, functional independence, motor weakness, ODI>42, and age older than 60 years, patients with uncontrolled frailty had greater odds of major complications (OR 4.24, P=0.03) and wound complications (OR 9.47, P=0.046) compared with nonfrail patients. Controlled frailty was not associated with increased risk of perioperative complications (P>0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with uncontrolled frailty had higher risk of perioperative complications compared with nonfrail patients, patients with controlled frailty did not, suggesting the importance of controlling modifiable risk factors before surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Systematic YouTube Review - Trigger Finger Release.

Background: With lack of regulation and incentivisation on YouTube for high-quality healthcare information, it is important to objectively evaluate the quality of information on trigger finger - a common condition for hand surgeon referral. Methods: YouTube was queried (11/21/2021) for videos on trigger finger release surgery. Videos were excluded if they were about unrelated topics or not in English. The most viewed 59 videos were categorised by source as physician or non-physician. Two independent reviewers quantified the reliability, quality and content of each video, with inter-rater reliability assessed using Kohen's Kappa test. Reliability was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) score. Quality was assessed using the DISCERN score with high-quality videos defined as those with scores in the sample upper 25th percentile. Content was assessed using the informational content score (ICS) with scores in the sample upper 25th percentile indicating more complete information. Two-sample t-tests and logistic regression were used to assess variations between sources. Results: Videos by physicians had higher DISCERN quality (42.6 ± 7.9, 36.4 ± 10.3; p = 0.02) and informational content (5.8 ± 2.6, 4.0 ± 1.7; p = 0.01) scores compared to those by non-physician sources. Videos by physicians were associated with increased odds of high-quality (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.7, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.3-41.3) and provided more complete patient information (OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.4-48.9). The lowest DISCERN sub-scores for all videos were discussion of the uncertainties and risks associated with surgery. The lowest ICS for all videos were in the diagnosis of trigger finger (11.9%) and non-surgical prognosis (15.3%). Conclusions: Physician videos have more complete and higher quality information on trigger finger release. Additionally, discussion of treatment risks, areas of uncertainty, the diagnostic process, non-surgical prognosis and transparency on references used were identified as lacking content. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic).

Preoperative characteristics are associated with increased likelihood of low early postoperative mobility after adult spinal deformity surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Low early postoperative mobility (LEPOM) has been shown to be associated with increased length of hospital stay, complication rates, and likelihood of nonhome discharge. However, few studies have examined preoperative characteristics associated with LEPOM in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients. PURPOSE: To investigate which preoperative patient characteristics may be associated with LEPOM after ASD surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE: Included were 86 ASD patients with fusion of ≥5 levels for whom immediate-postoperative AM-PAC Basic Mobility Inpatient Short Form (6-Clicks) scores had been obtained. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome of this study was the likelihood of LEPOM, defined as an AM-PAC score ≤15, which is associated with inability to stand for more than 1 minute. METHODS: Significant cutoffs for preoperative characteristics associated with LEPOM were determined via threshold linear regression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the impact of preoperative characteristics on the likelihood of LEPOM. RESULTS: LEPOM was recorded in 38 patients (44.2%). Threshold regression identified the following cutoffs to be associated with LEPOM: preoperative Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores of ≥68 for Pain, <28.3 for Physical Function, and ≥63.4 for Anxiety; preoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) score of ≥60; and body mass index (BMI) of ≥35.2. On multivariate analysis, preoperative PROMIS scores of ≥68 for Pain (odds ratio [OR] 5.3, confidence interval [CI] 1.2-22.8, p=.03), <28.3 for Physical Function (OR 10.1, CI 1.8-58.2, p=.01), and ≥63.4 for Anxiety (OR 4.7, CI 1.1-20.8, p=.04); preoperative ODI score ≥60 (OR 38.8, CI 4.0-373.6, p=.002); BMI ≥35.2 (OR 14.2, CI 1.3-160.0, p=.03), and male sex (OR 5.4, CI 1.2-23.7, p=.03) were associated with increased odds of LEPOM. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PROMIS Pain, Physical Function, and Anxiety scores; ODI score; BMI; and male sex were associated with LEPOM. Several of these characteristics are modifiable risk factors and thus may be candidates for optimization before surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Racial Disparities in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic Review. OBJECTIVES: To synthesize previous studies evaluating racial disparities in spine surgery. METHODS: We queried PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for literature on racial disparities in spine surgery. Our review was constructed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items and Meta-analyses guidelines and protocol. The main outcome measures were the occurrence of racial disparities in postoperative outcomes, mortality, surgical management, readmissions, and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 1753 publications were assessed. Twenty-two articles met inclusion criteria. Seventeen studies compared Whites (Ws) and African Americans (AAs) groups; 14 studies reported adverse outcomes for AAs. When compared with Ws, AA patients had higher odds of postoperative complications including mortality, cerebrospinal fluid leak, nervous system complications, bleeding, infection, in-hospital complications, adverse discharge disposition, and delay in diagnosis. Further, AAs were found to have increased odds of readmission and longer length of stay. Finally, AAs were found to have higher odds of nonoperative treatment for spinal cord injury, were more likely to undergo posterior approach in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and were less likely to receive cervical disk arthroplasty compared with Ws for similar indications. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review of spine literature found that when compared with W patients, AA patients had worse health outcomes. Further investigation of root causes of these racial disparities in spine surgery is warranted.

Laminectomy vs Fusion for Intradural Extramedullary Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Laminectomy (LA) and LA with fusion (LAF) have been demonstrated as surgical techniques that treat intradural extramedullary tumors (IDEMTs). The purpose of the present study was to compare the rate of 30-day complications following LA vs LAF for IDEMTs. METHODS: Patients undergoing LA for IDEMTs from 2012 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients undergoing LA for IDEMTs were substratified into 2 cohorts: those who received LAF and those who did not. In this analysis, preoperative patient characteristics and demographic variables were assessed. 30-day wound, sepsis, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and thromboembolic complications, as well as mortality, postoperative transfusions, extended length of stay, and reoperation, were assessed. Bivariate analyses, including χ 2 and t tests, and multivariable logistical regression were performed. RESULTS: Of 2027 total patients undergoing LA for IDEMTs, 181 (9%) also had fusion. There were 72/373 (19%) LAF in the cervical region, 67/801 (8%) LAF in the thoracic region, and 42/776 (5%) LAF in the lumbar region. Following adjustment, patients who received LAF were more likely to have increased length of stay (OR 2.73, P < 0.001) and increased rate of postoperative transfusion (OR 3.15, P < 0.001). Patients undergoing LA in the cervical spine for IDEMTs tended to receive additional fusion (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased length of stay and rate of postoperative transfusion were associated with LAF for IDEMTs. LA in the cervical spine for IDEMTs was associated with additional fusion.

Pain Self-Efficacy (PSEQ) score of <22 is associated with daily opioid use, back pain, disability, and PROMIS scores in patients presenting for spine surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Pain self-efficacy, or the belief that one can carry out activities despite pain, has been shown to be associated with back and neck pain severity. However, the literature correlating psychosocial factors to opioid use, barriers to proper opioid use, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores is sparse. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether pain self-efficacy is associated with daily opioid use in patients presenting for spine surgery. The secondary aim was to determine whether there exists a threshold self-efficacy score that is predictive of daily preoperative opioid use and subsequently to correlate this threshold score with opioid beliefs, disability, resilience, patient activation, and PROMIS scores. PATIENT SAMPLE: Five hundred seventy-eight elective spine surgery patients (286 females; mean age of 55 years) from a single institution were included in this study. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. OUTCOME MEASURES: PROMIS scores, daily opioid use, opioid beliefs, disability, patient activation, resilience. METHODS: Elective spine surgery patients at a single institution completed questionnaires preoperatively. Pain self-efficacy was measured by the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Threshold linear regression with Bayesian information criteria was utilized to identify the optimal threshold associated with daily opioid use. Multivariable analysis controlled for age, sex, education, income, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and PROMIS-29, version 2 scores. RESULTS: Of 578 patients, 100 (17.3%) reported daily opioid use. Threshold regression identified a PSEQ cutoff score of <22 as predictive of daily opioid use. On multivariable logistic regression, patients with a PSEQ score <22 had two times greater odds of being daily opioid users than those with a score ≥22. Further, PSEQ <22 was associated with lower patient activation; increased leg and back pain; higher ODI; higher PROMIS pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep scores; and lower PROMIS physical function and social satisfaction scores (p<.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting for elective spine surgery, a PSEQ score of <22 is associated with twice the odds of reporting daily opioid use. Further, this threshold is associated with greater pain, disability, fatigue, and depression. A PSEQ score <22 can identify patients at high risk for daily opioid use and can guide targeted rehabilitation to optimize postoperative quality of life.

Preoperative patient activation predicts minimum clinically important difference for PROMIS pain and physical function in patients undergoing elective spine surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Patient activation is a patient's willingness to take independent actions to manage their own health care. PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to determine whether preoperative patient activation measure (PAM) predicts minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain, physical function, depression, and anxiety for patients undergoing elective spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE: A single-institution, academic database of patients undergoing elective spine surgery. OUTCOME MEASURE: MCID at 1-year follow-up for PROMIS pain, physical function, depression and anxiety. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a single-institution, academic database of patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Preoperative patient activation was evaluated using the PAM-13 survey, which was used to stratify patients into four activation stages. Primary outcome variable was achieving MCID at 1-year follow-up for PROMIS pain and physical function. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine impact of patient activation on PROMIS pain and the physical function. RESULTS: Of the 430 patients, 220 (51%) were female with a mean age of 58.2±16.8. Preoperatively, 34 (8%) were in activation stage 1, 45 (10%) in stage 2, 98 (23%) in stage 3, and 253 (59%) in stage 4. At 1-year follow up, 248 (58%) achieved MCID for PROMIS physical function, 256 (60%) achieved MCID for PROMIS pain, 151 (35.28%) achieved MCID for PROMIS depression, and 197 (46%) achieved MCID for PROMIS anxiety. For PROMIS physical function, when compared to patients at stage 1 activation, patients at stage 2 (aOR:3.49, 95% CI:1.27, 9.59), stage 3 (aOR:3.54, 95% CI:1.40, 8.98) and stage 4 (aOR:7.88, 95% CI:3.29, 18.9) were more likely to achieve MCID. For PROMIS pain, when compared against patients at stage 1, patients at stage 3 (aOR:2.82, 95% CI:1.18, 6.76) and stage 4 (aOR:5.44, 95% CI:2.41, 12.3) were more likely to achieve MCID. For PROMIS depression, when compared against patients at stage 1, patients at stage 4 were more likely to achieve MCID (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR):2.59, 95% CI:1.08-6.19). For PROMIS anxiety, when compared against patients at stage 1, stage 3 (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR):3.21, 95% CI:1.20-8.57), and stage 4 (aOR:5.56, 95% CI:2.20-14.01) were more likely to achieve MCID. CONCLUSION: Patients at higher stages of activation were more likely to achieve MCID for PROMIS pain, physical function, depression, and anxiety at 1-year follow-up. Routine preoperative assessment of patient activation may help identify patients at risk of poor outcomes.

Abnormal Postoperative PROMIS Scores are Associated with Patient Satisfaction in Adult Spinal Deformity and Degenerative Spine Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate 1) patient satisfaction after adult spine surgery; 2) associations between number of abnormal PROMIS domain scores and postoperative satisfaction; and 3) associations between normalization of a patient's worst preoperative PROMIS domain score and postoperative satisfaction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although "legacy" patient-reported outcome measures correlate with patient satisfaction after adult spine surgery, it is unclear whether PROMIS scores do. METHODS: We included 1119 patients treated operatively for degenerative spine disease (DSD) or adult spinal deformity (ASD) from 2014-2019 at our tertiary hospital who completed questionnaires preoperatively and at ≥1 postoperative timepoints up to 2 years. Postoperative satisfaction was measured in ASD patients using items 21 and 22 from the SRS 22-revised questionnaire and in DSD patients using the NASS Patient Satisfaction Index. "Worst" preoperative PROMIS domain was that with the greatest clinically negative deviation from the mean. "Normalization" was a postoperative score within 1 standard deviation of the general population mean. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with satisfaction. RESULTS: Satisfaction was reported by 88% of DSD and 86% of ASD patients at initial postoperative follow-up; this proportion did not change during the first year after surgery. We observed an inverse relationship between postoperative satisfaction and number of abnormal PROMIS domains at all postoperative timepoints beyond 6 weeks. Only among ASD patients was normalization of the worst preoperative PROMIS domain associated with greater odds of satisfaction at all timepoints up to 1 year. CONCLUSION: The proportion of DSD and ASD patients satisfied postoperatively did not change from 6 weeks to 1 year. Normalizing the worst preoperative PROMIS domain and minimizing the number of abnormal postoperative PROMIS scores may reduce the number of dissatisfied patients. PROMIS data can guide perioperative patient management to improve satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Delays in Presentation After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury-A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Prompt surgical decompression after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) may be associated with improved sensorimotor outcomes. Delays in presentation may prevent timely decompression after TSCI. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review existing studies investigating delays in presentation after TSCI in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted and studies featuring quantitative or qualitative data on prehospital delays in TSCI presentation were included. Studies lacking quantitative or qualitative data on prehospital delays in TSCI presentation, case reports or series with <5 patients, review articles, or animal studies were excluded from our analysis. RESULTS: After exclusion criteria were applied, 24 studies were retained, most of which were retrospective. Eleven studies were from LMICs and 13 were from HICs. Patients with TSCI in LMICs were younger than those in HICs, and most patients were male in both groups. A greater proportion of patients with TSCI in studies from LMICs presented >24 hours after injury (HIC average proportion, 12.0%; LMIC average proportion, 49.9%; P = 0.01). Financial barriers, lack of patient awareness and education, and prehospital transportation barriers were more often cited as reasons for delays in LMICs than in HICs, with prehospital transportation barriers cited as a reason for delay by every LMIC study included in this review. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in prehospital infrastructure between HICs and LMICs subject more patients in LMICs to increased delays in presentation to care.

The Most-Cited Ankle Arthroplasty Implant Articles.

Background: Citation analysis is a useful way of evaluating the impact, importance, and merit of articles within a medical specialty. Our study identified and analyzed the most-cited articles on ankle arthroplasty implants to evaluate their importance in the field of ankle arthroplasty research. Methods: Using the keywords "ankle arthroplasty" and "ankle replacement" and the search period 1970-2021, we found 3728 articles on ankle arthroplasty implants in the Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE/PubMed databases. We included original articles, reviews, clinical trials, and case reports in the study. We retrieved the 50 most-cited articles published during the time frame and then screened them for studies of specific ankle arthroplasty implants and their postoperative outcomes. We also recorded and analyzed the articles' subjects, authorship, journals, countries of origin, and years of publication. Results: The 50 most-cited articles were published between 1983 and 2014, with the majority (33) published between 2000 and 2010. They generated 9012 citations in the literature. The most-cited study accounted for 497 citations; the mean number of citations per article was 180.24 ± 76.24. Twenty-three (46%) of the articles addressed postoperative outcomes following a specific type of arthroplasty implant. Arthroplasty implant studies accounted for 4726 citations, or 52.4% of the citations of the 50 articles. The most frequently studied arthroplasty implant was STAR (15), followed by Agility (7), Buechel Pappas (5), and Salto (4). STAR accounted for 3311 citations, or 37% of the total citations of the 50 articles. Conclusion: Ankle arthroplasty research has made great progress in the past 2 decades, particularly in the area of postoperative outcomes of specific ankle implants, but continued research and publication on additional arthroplasty implants should become a priority. Level of Evidence: Level V, Review Article.

Statistical Fragility of Ketamine Infusion During Scoliosis Surgery to Reduce Opioid Tolerance and Postoperative Pain.

OBJECTIVE: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have come under scrutiny due to a frequent lack of reproducibility, due in part to shortcomings of the common P < 0.05 threshold for significance. Here, we utilize fragility indices to assess the statistical robustness of RCTs evaluating low-dose ketamine during scoliosis surgery to reduce opioid tolerance and postoperative pain. METHODS: RCTs evaluating outcomes after intraoperative ketamine infusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were included. Relevant outcomes included pain, opioid consumption, quality of life, anesthesia, sedation, adverse effects, and length of stay. The dichotomous fragility index or continuous fragility index (FI or CFI) was determined by manipulating each outcome event until reversal of significance (a = 0.05) was achieved. The corresponding fragility quotients were calculated by dividing the FI or CFI by the sample size. RESULTS: Of 27 studies screened, 6 studies (61 outcome events) were included. The median FI for dichotomous events was 2.0 (fragility quotient = 0.045), suggesting that altering the outcome of only 2 patients (or 4.5 out of 100) would reverse trial significance. For continuous events, altering the treatment of only 6 patients (or 14.1 out of 100) would reverse significance. Outcome events that were originally reported as significant (P < 0.05) were considerably more fragile (FI = 1.5; CFI = 3.5) than events that were reported as nonsignificant (FI = 2.0; CFI = 7.0). CONCLUSIONS: While evidence for ketamine use is promising, our fragility analysis suggests that RCT findings may be underpowered in some cases. Given the importance of RCTs in clinical decision-making, fragility indices should be reported alongside P values to indicate the strength of statistical findings.

No Difference in Two-Year Revisions Between Hybrid Fusion and Two-Level Anterior Discectomy and Fusion: A National Database Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort. OBJECTIVE: This study utilized a large national database to compare two-year revision rates, in addition to complications and costs, of hybrid surgery (HS) compared to two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: This study used the PearlDiver Mariner dataset selecting for patients aged 18 and older who had at least 90-day active longitudinal follow-up who underwent two-level ACDF or two-level Hybrid surgery (single level ACDF and single level CDA). Patients with prior spinal trauma, infection, cancer, or posterior fusion were excluded. Primary outcomes measures were 90-day major and minor medical complications, ED visits, readmissions, as well as two-year revisions. Patients were also assessed for postoperative dysphagia, incidental durotomy, vascular injury, 90-day surgical site, and implant complications. Additionally, hospitalization and postoperative costs were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 4570 two-level ACDF surgeries and 888 hybrid surgeries. After matching the cohorts, no statistical differences in demographics were found. There were no differences in reoperation rates at all measured time points nor 2-year complications. HS had a lower incidence of major (1.6% vs 3.1%, P = .003) and minor complications (3.0% vs 4.6%, P = .009) than ACDF. 90-day readmission was lower in the HS cohort (2.8% vs 4.2%), P = .024. HS was associated with reduced hospitalization costs -$2614 (-$3916 to -$904, P < .001). 3516 patients had ACDF, and 699 had HS with at least 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Hybrid surgery is a safe and effective surgical treatment for cervical disease in appropriately selected patients.

Preoperative Hyponatremia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Prolonged Hospital Stay After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of preoperative hyponatremia with short-term postoperative complications and health care utilization (length of stay, readmissions) after anterior cervical fusion and discectomy (ACDF). METHODS: Patients who underwent ACDF were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients who had revision surgery, trauma, vertebral malignancy, or infection were excluded. Eunatremia was defined as sodium (Na) level between 135 and 145 mEq/L, whereas hyponatremia was defined as Na < 135 mEq/L. Preoperatively, patients with hyponatremia were matched 1:1 with patients with eunatremia using propensity score matching based on age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and baseline comorbidities. Minor adverse events included superficial infection, dehiscence, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and renal insufficiency or failure. Serious adverse events included deep wound infection, reintubation, pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accident, cardiac arrest, deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, return to operating room, and death within 30 days. Complications were analyzed using bivariate and logistic analysis with significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 9094 patients undergoing ACDF, 3.64% (n = 331) were preoperatively hyponatremic. Preoperative hyponatremia was an independent risk factor for postoperative pneumonia after ACDF (odds ratio [OR], 4.47; P = 0.020) and extended length of hospital stay >1 SD above the mean (OR, 1.71; P = 0.042). Preoperative hyponatremia was an independent risk factor for having a serious adverse event (OR, 2.40; P = 0.005) and any adverse event (OR, 2.44; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative hyponatremia is an independent risk factor for pneumonia and prolonged length of stay after ACDF.