Resident Perceptions of Virtual Reality Versus Dry Lab Simulation for Advanced Shoulder Arthroscopy Resident Training.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical training using simulation can fill gaps in traditional surgical residency learning. We hypothesize that arthroscopy training conducted on a virtual reality simulator will be preferred by orthopaedic surgery residents over a traditional dry lab simulation model. METHODS: 38 orthopaedic surgery residents at a single U.S. residency program were randomized to train for a shoulder arthroscopy procedure using either a virtual reality simulator or a table-top dry lab simulator. Training and learning preferences were then asked of the resident participants. RESULTS: Junior residents were likely to report training preference for the virtual reality simulator compared to senior residents [15/24 (62.5%) v. 8/14 (57.1%); P = .043]. Simulator preference was not influenced by subspecialty interest, prior arthroscopy experience, or simulator experience. Virtual reality simulation was associated with positive attitude towards arthroscopy and high chance of reporting learning gains on general arthroscopic understanding. Senior residents were 4.7 times more likely than juniors to report learning gains via staff discussion pre- and post-operatively. A majority of residents [34/38 (89.5%)] reported, however, wanting more simulation for training surgical skills. CONCLUSION: Simulation is a desired and potentially valuable adjunct to training orthopaedic residents in arthroscopy. Training needs do evolve; and junior arthroscopists may benefit more from virtual reality platforms for general skills. Senior residents preferred dry lab simulation, possibly because it allowed for handling of actual instruments and implants.

Early Fasciotomy and Limb Salvage and Complications in Military Lower Extremity Vascular Injury.

BACKGROUND: Military guidelines endorse early fasciotomy after revascularization of lower extremity injuries to prevent compartment syndrome, but the real-world impact is unknown. We assessed the association between fasciotomy and amputation and limb complications among lower extremitys with vascular injury. METHODS: A retrospectively collected lower extremity injury database was queried for limbs undergoing attempted salvage with vascular procedure (2004-2012). Limbs were categorized as having undergone fasciotomy or not. Injury and treatment characteristics were collected, as were intervention timing data when available. The primary outcome measure was amputation. Multivariate models examined the impact of fasciotomy on limb outcomes. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by 515 limbs, 335 (65%) with fasciotomy (median 7.7 h postinjury). Of 212 limbs, 174 (84%) with timing data had fasciotomy within 30 min of initial surgery. Compartment syndrome and suspicion of elevated pressure was documented in 127 limbs (25%; 122 had fasciotomy). Tourniquet and shunt use, fracture, multiple arterial and combined arteriovenous injuries, popliteal involvement, and graft reconstruction were more common in fasciotomy limbs. Isolated venous injury and vascular ligation were more common in nonfasciotomy limbs. Fasciotomy timing was not associated with amputation. Controlling for limb injury severity, fasciotomy was not associated with amputation but was associated with limb infection, motor dysfunction, and contracture. Sixty-three percent of fasciotomies were open for >7 d, and 43% had multiple closure procedures. Fasciotomy revision (17%) was not associated with increased amputation or complications. CONCLUSIONS: Fasciotomy after military lower extremity vascular injury is predominantly performed early, frequently without documented compartment pressure elevation. Early fasciotomy is generally performed in severely injured limbs with a subsequent high rate of limb complications.

Analysis of References Used in Orthopaedic Self-Assessment Exams.

Orthopaedic surgery board certification and maintenance of certification requires success on standardized tests and ongoing continuing medical education. This study aims to identify the most impactful resources for preparation for and maintenance of board certification. Questions included in the Orthopaedic Self-Assessment Exams (SAEs) from 2009 to 2014 were examined with the type and age of reference materials cited for each question. There were 4479 total citations. There were 289 journals and 95 textbooks identified. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (15% of citations), Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (11%), and Clinical Orthopaedic and Related Research (6%) were the most frequently cited journals. The average age of cited articles was 8.2 years. These data demonstrate that certain orthopaedic journals are consistently the most commonly cited references for SAEs and could also be expected to be the highest yield references for knowledge acquisition and exam preparation. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(2):92-97, 2018).

Preliminary Evidence of an Association Between ADHD Medications and Diminished Bone Health in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 3.5 million children use psychotropic drugs for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). With an increase in use of these types of drugs, thorough understanding of their potential side effects on the growing skeleton is needed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between use of ADHD medication and diminished bone health. METHODS: Three waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey public-use data set, collected from 2005 through 2010, were compiled for this study (N=5315). Bone health was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans, which were performed for participants aged 8 to 17 years to determine bone mineral density (BMD) for 3 regions: (1) total femur; (2) femoral neck; and (3) lumbar. Use of ADHD medications was determined by self-reported responses to questions regarding prescription drug use, which were answered by either the respondent or the respondent's parent or guardian. Multiple statistical techniques were used to produce estimates of association between ADHD medication use and z score age and sex standardized BMD measures, including survey adjusted univariate, survey adjusted multiple linear regression, and generalized estimating equations with a propensity-matched subsample (N=1967). Multivariate models adjusted for covariates including time period, age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income to poverty ratio, and total number of prescription medications. RESULTS: Conservative estimates of the difference in standardized BMD measures between the ADHD medication group and the nonmedicated group range from -0.4855 (±0.27; P<0.001) for total femoral, -0.4671 (±0.27; P<0.001) for femoral neck, and -0.3947 (±0.29; P<0.01) for lumbar. Significantly more children on ADHD medications versus match subjects on no medication had BMDs with in osteopenic range (38.3% vs. 21.6%, P<0.01). DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that there are real and nontrivial differences in BMD for children and adolescents taking ADHD medications, as compared with similar children not taking any prescription medications. Prescribing physicians and parents should be aware of potential bone health risks associated with these medications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-case-control study.

Military Orthopaedic Trauma Registry: Quality Data Now Available.

The Military Orthopaedic Trauma Registry (MOTR) orginally began as part of the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR) and became a live registry in 2013. As a quality improvement process, this study examined MOTR data for 20 female amputees compared with DoDTR data. The DoDTR provided diagnosis and procedure codes as a list but no details. The MOTR provided additional data, including specific limb, fracture classifications, and associated injuries per limb. The MOTR allowed for construction of a treatment time line for each limb, including number and timing of debridements, antibiotics, and implant types. Orthopaedic-specific complications were also coded more frequently in the MOTR and clearly identified with a specific injury and treatment. During initial quality control checks, the MOTR provides a greater volume and granularity of detail for orthopaedic-specific injury and treatment information, indicating that the MOTR is on track to provide a valuable repository for data-driven orthopaedic management of combat injury.

Disability After Deployment Injury: Are Women and Men Service Members Different?

BACKGROUND: Civilian trauma literature suggests sexual dimorphism in outcomes after trauma. Because women represent an increasing demographic among veterans, the question remains if war trauma outcomes, like civilian trauma outcomes, differ between genders. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do women service members develop different conditions resulting in long-term disability compared with men service members after injuries sustained during deployment? (2) Do women service members have more or less severe disability after deployment injury compared with men service members? (3) Are men or women more likely to return to duty after combat injury? METHODS: The Department of Defense Trauma Registry was queried for women injured during deployment from 2001 to 2011. The subjects were then queried in the Physical Evaluation Board database to determine each subject's return-to-duty status and what disabling conditions and disability percentages were assigned to those who did not return to duty. Frequency of disabling conditions, disability percentages, and return-to-duty rates for 368 women were compared with a previously published cohort of 450 men service members, 378 of whom had orthopaedic injuries. RESULTS: Women who were unable to return to duty had a higher frequency of arthritic conditions (58% [48 of 83] of women versus 35% [133 of 378] of men, p=0.002; relative risk [RR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.307-2.067) and lower frequencies of general chronic pain (1% [one of 83] of women versus 19% [59 of 378] of men, p<0.001; RR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.011-0.549) and neurogenic pain disorders (1% [one of 83] of women versus 7% [27 of 378] of men, p=0.0410; RR, 0.169; 95% CI, 0.023-1.224). Women had more severely rated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with men (38%±23% versus 19%±17%). Forty-eight percent (64 of 133) of battle-injured women were unable to return to active duty, resulting in a lower return-to-duty rate compared with men (34% [450 of 1333]; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: After deployment-related injury, women have higher rates of arthritis, lower rates of pain disorders, and more severely rated PTSD compared with men. Women are unable to return to duty more often than men injured in combat. These results suggest some difference between men's and women's outcomes after deployment injury, important information for military and Veterans Administration providers seeking to minimize postdeployment disability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Approaches to treatment of unifocal langerhans cell histiocytosis: is biopsy alone enough?

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a variable disorder involving either single bone or multiorgan systems. The most effective treatment of unifocal osseous lesions is debated in the literature. This study describes the treatment approaches for LCH and demonstrates the effectiveness of biopsy in providing symptom resolution. METHODS: Records of 61 patients diagnosed with LCH at a single institution over an 11-year period were reviewed. Thirty-nine patients with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses of unifocal osseous LCH were included in the analysis. At this institution, lesions are surgically treated by incisional biopsy, trocar biopsy, or curettage and grafting. Patients receive chemotherapy on a case-by-case basis, depending on the lesion location and size. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare time with symptom resolution across treatment groups. RESULTS: In the 39 patients with unifocal osseous LCH, treatment approaches included incisional biopsy (n = 18, 46.15%), trocar biopsy (n = 8, 20.51%), incisional biopsy and chemotherapy (n = 8, 20.51%), and biopsy with bone grafting (n = 5, 12.82%). The median time from biopsy to symptom resolution was 5.43 weeks, with an average length of follow-up of 1.59 years. The median time to symptom resolution was 3.86 weeks with incisional biopsy, 5.43 weeks with biopsy and grafting, 5.64 weeks with trocar biopsy, and 16.57 weeks with biopsy and chemotherapy. Overall, there was a significant difference (P = 0.0262) in the time to symptom resolution across the different treatment approaches. Time to symptom resolution was significantly different between incisional biopsy and chemotherapy treatment compared with the incisional biopsy treatment (P = 0.0027), as well as biopsy with grafting treatment (P = 0.0264). CONCLUSIONS: Symptom resolution occurred rapidly after biopsy and did not significantly differ among patients who received incisional biopsy, trocar biopsy, or biopsy with grafting. Unifocal osseous LCH likely does not require aggressive surgical or medical management. Biopsy alone both confirms the diagnosis and precedes a predictable resolution of symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative therapeutic study.

Spine-related disability following combat injury.

Spine-related disability for military personnel injured in combat is not known. The goal of this study was to characterize spine-related disability in a cohort of soldiers wounded in recent military operations. The authors reviewed the U.S. Army Physical Evaluation Board database medical discharge records of 450 wounded soldiers for long-term disability causing a medical discharge from active duty service. Fourteen percent of the cohort had at least one spine-related disability resulting in medical discharge from the military. For the 54 unfitting conditions attributed to back pain, 33% had no precipitating injury. Eighteen soldiers had a spinal cord injury, 10 of which were complete. The average percent disability for back pain was 11%, and the average disability for a spinal cord injury was 77%. Twenty-one percent of the soldiers with spine-related disability also had disability attributed to psychological conditions. Spine-related disability is common after combat injury, though not all spine disability is directly related to an actual injury. Spinal cord injury with persistent neurological dysfunction results in higher permanent disability.

Improving the Patient Experience During Care in the Orthopedic Cast Room.

Patients regularly have casts, splints, and wounds that require attention in the clinic. Patients commonly experience anxiety and pain during such visits. We hypothesized that aromatherapy and music would improve these patients' pain and anxiety when compared with no exposure. Patients in the orthopedic cast room were randomly exposed to no experience, music, or aromatherapy. Postprocedural surveys using an abbreviated form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (5 items; 4-point Likert scale) and a visual analog scale (0 to 10) were used to collect patient perceptions that were then compared using Spearman rank correlation calculations, t tests, and ordinal regression. Correlation results for the anxiety inventory were not different for patients with music or aromatherapy exposure vs no exposure; however, lower anxiety inventory scores were correlated with lower pain scores for upset, frightened, nervous, and confused measures. Mean reported pain scores were statistically lower for patients exposed to music (3.0) or aromatherapy (3.9) compared with patients who had no exposure (5.1; P=.004). These results support our hypothesis that exposure to music or aromatherapy improves pain. Although neither music nor aromatherapy resulted in significantly lower scores on the anxiety inventory items, the attention to patients' pain could have an indirect effect on their anxiety. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(2):e90-e92.].

Bad to the bone. Not all bone tumors are cancer: Case of long bone osteomyelitis.

Long bone osteomyelitis could mimic bony tumor in clinical presentation and imaging studies. We present a case of a 47-year man who presented with leg pain, weight loss and night sweats that initially was thought to be related to osteosarcoma, later suffered a pathologic fracture from Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis. This case highlights the importance of source control of infection and careful clinical evaluation including radiographic and pathologic findings that can help physicians to differentiate between competing diagnoses.

The changing face of disability in the US Army: the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom effect.

Orthopaedic disorders account for significant disability among adults in the United States. Previous studies have demonstrated long-term disability in military personnel with musculoskeletal conditions. However, these studies focused primarily on battlefield-injured service members and did not evaluate the entire population. The goal of this study was to determine and compare the disabling conditions of the entire United States Army during peacetime and war. We identified the conditions leading to separation from military service before and during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During war, more soldiers are found to be unfit for duty, and they have more conditions per individual that make them unfit. Orthopaedic conditions account for the greatest number of soldiers separated from military service at both time points studied (ie, January through March 2001, January through March 2009). Back pain and osteoarthritis are the two most common causes of separation from military service; these conditions are responsible for the most disability during peacetime and war.

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis caused by battlefield injuries: the primary source of disability in warriors.

The Army Physical Evaluation Board results for wounded warriors from a previously described cohort were reviewed to identify permanently disabling conditions and whether the conditions were preexisting or caused by battlefield injury. Arthritis was the most common unfitting condition in this cohort, with 94.4% of cases attributed to combat injury and only 5.6% attributed to preexisting conditions or documented in the health records prior to battle injury. The most common causes of injury that resulted in arthritis were intra-articular fractures secondary to explosions, traumatic arthrotomies resulting from fragment projectiles, and gunshot wounds. Arthritis was recognized as a disabling condition an average of 19 ± 10 months after injury. Research is needed to enhance prevention and management of joint injuries in order to minimize the disabling effects of joint degeneration in this young patient population.

Musculoskeletal Conditions and Secondary Cardiovascular Morbidity Increase Veterans' Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Service Utilization.

Background Musculoskeletal conditions often affect patients' mobility and ability to participate in health behaviors such as exercise, potentially affecting their systemic health. The purpose of this research is to determine how frequently cardiac-related comorbidities present in a veteran population with musculoskeletal service-connected disability and how this affects musculoskeletal health care utilization.  Methodology A retrospective cohort of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who received a Veterans Affairs (VA) disability determination for service-connected musculoskeletal disability were categorized according to the diagnosis of cardiac comorbidity including diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity, and atherosclerosis disease documented by ICD-9 codes in the VA administrative data. Among veterans with musculoskeletal service-connected disability, logistic regression was modeled to determine if musculoskeletal clinic utilization was associated with also having a cardiac comorbid condition.  Results Veterans with musculoskeletal disability had a comorbid cardiac disorder 43% of the time. Post-traumatic arthritis was the only musculoskeletal condition positively associated with comorbid cardiac conditions. Veterans with comorbid cardiac diagnoses had 26-37% higher odds of receiving care by physical and occupational therapy, physical medicine, and orthopaedic surgery clinics compared to veterans without comorbid cardiac disease. Conclusions Veterans in this cohort with musculoskeletal service-connected disability, plus cardiac conditions had greater clinic use for musculoskeletal and rehabilitation services compared to those without cardiac conditions. These results have implications for the rehabilitation and other health service needs of a new generation of veterans.

The VA vascular injury study: A glimpse at quality of care in Veterans with traumatic vascular injury repair.

OBJECTIVE: The high number of limb injuries among Post-9/11 Veterans and their long-term care pose significant challenges to clinicians. Current follow-up for extremity arterial vascular injury (EVI) is based on guideline-concordant care for treatment of peripheral vascular disease (GCC-PVD), including anticoagulant/antiplatelet or statin therapy and duplex ultrasound. No best practices exist for arterial EVI. Our goal was to determine correlates of GCC-PVD and other care among Post-9/11 Veterans with combat-related arterial EVI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified Post-9/11 Veterans with arterial EVI who underwent initial limb salvage repair or ligation (e.g., for single-vessel injury) attempt per DoD Trauma Registry validated by chart abstraction. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data characterized the cohort in the first five years of VHA care. Models predicted (a) GCC-PVD, (b) pain clinic use, (c) mental/behavioral health care, (d) long-term opioid use, and (e) time to complication, controlling for injury severity and type, mental health parameters, and demographics. RESULTS: The 490-Veteran cohort with validated arterial injury was 77% White averaging 25.2 years at injury (range: 18-56). Mechanism of injury was primarily explosive (63%). Veterans had Injury Severity Scores classified as mild (60%), moderate (25%) and severe (15%). Approximately 25% received at least one component of VHA GCC-PVD including 8% arterial ultrasounds, 5% statins, and 11% anticoagulants/antiplatelets; 77% had mental/behavioral healthcare. GCC-PVD, as well as PTSD and substance use disorders, were associated with receipt of mental/behavioral health care. Complications affected 46% of the cohort and were more common among those prescribed 90+ days of opioids or receiving GCC-PVD. CONCLUSION: Despite injury severity (40% moderate/severe), only 25% of cohort patients received VHA GCC-PVD, and nearly half had complications from their arterial injury. Receiving GCC-PVD appeared to potentiate receiving care for mental and behavioral disorders. IMPACT: The treatment gap in Veterans with arterial EVI may be due to lack of appropriate guidelines, lack of vascular specialists in VHA or accessing care outside the VHA. Focused study of care options and their outcomes will help define optimal care processes for combat Veterans with arterial EVI.

Intramedullary Canal Injection of Vancomycin- and Tobramycin-loaded Calcium Sulfate: A Novel Technique for the Treatment of Chronic Intramedullary Osteomyelitis.

Aim: In this study, we present a detailed surgical technique for treating chronic osteomyelitis (COM) of the intramedullary canal with injectable tobramycin and vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate (CS). Background: Chronic osteomyelitis of the long bones has been treated using antibiotic-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which typically requires a second procedure for removal. Technique: Removal of the infected intramedullary nail (if any), copious irrigation, canal reaming, and intramedullary canal injection of vancomycin- and tobramycin-loaded calcium sulfate as a single-stage procedure for the treatment of COM of long bones. Conclusion: Intramedullary injection of vancomycin- and tobramycin-loaded CS can be used as a single-stage procedure for the treatment of long bone intramedullary COM. Further studies are necessary to compare the long-term outcomes of antibiotic-coated CS vs other antibiotic carriers for infection eradication. Clinical significance: The authors have endeavored to explain the best surgical technique to eradicate long bones COM with injectable tobramycin and vancomycin-loaded CS. How to cite this article: Elhessy AH, Rivera JC, Shu HT, et al. Intramedullary Canal Injection of Vancomycin- and Tobramycin-loaded Calcium Sulfate: A Novel Technique for the Treatment of Chronic Intramedullary Osteomyelitis. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2022;17(2):123-130.

Using the articularis genu to test peri-articular muscle health during knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) involves peri-articular sarcopenia. The infrapatellar articularis genu (AG) links to the quadriceps femoris (QF) and can be sampled from discarded tissue during arthroplasty. We predict disuse-mediated changes in AG myofiber type ratio and atrophy similar to reports on the QF during OA. OA AGs (n = 40) were preserved and grouped by poor (≤ 85°; n = 11), fair (90°-110°; n = 19), and good (≥ 115°; n = 10) range of motion (ROM). Immunolabeling of slow and fast myosin heavy chains in AG sections allowed comparing distribution and cross-sectional area (CSA) of type-I (T1) and type-II (T2) myofibers between groups and associating to ROM. T1/T2 ratios in fair and poor ROM groups was consistent with those published in OA QF. Increasing mean ± SD T2 percentages from good (43.31 ± 11.76), to fair (50.96 ± 5.85), and poor (60.02 ± 8.29) ROM groups was significant between poor versus fair (p = 0.018) and good (p < 0.0001) in association with ROM deficits (r = - 0.729; p < 0.0001). T1 and T2 CSA decreased with worsening ROM, which associates with lower symptom scores (r = 0.3198; p = 0.0472). In-depth evaluation of the OA AG as a surrogate for the OA QF relative to serum and/or synovial fluid biomarkers of sarcopenia could refine diagnostics of peri-articular muscle health to guide individualized strength rehabilitation after surgery.

Motorized Intramedullary Nail Lengthening in the Older Population.

Limb lengthening has not been widely employed in the elderly population due to concerns that outcomes will be inferior. The purpose of this multicenter, retrospective case-control series was to report the bone healing outcomes and complications of lower limb lengthening in older patients (≥60 years) using magnetic intramedullary lengthening nail (MILN). Our hypothesis was that healing parameters including consolidation days, the consolidation index, maturation days, and the maturation index, as well as the number of adverse events reported in the older population, would be no different to those of the general adult population. We retrospectively reviewed charts and radiographs from patients ≥60 years of age with limb-length discrepancies who underwent femoral or tibial lengthening using a MILN. Parameters were compared among the age categories "≤19 years," "20-39 years," "40-59 years," or "≥60 years" and propensity-matched cohorts for the age groups 20-59 years and ≥60 years. Complications were reported as percentages for each age category. In the study period, 354 MILN were placed in 257 patients. Sixteen nails were placed in patients 60 years of age or older (mean 65 ± 5 years; range 60-72 years). Comparisons of healing parameters showed no difference between those aged 60+ and the younger cohort. Complication percentages were not statistically significant (p = 0.816). Limb lengthening with MILN may therefore be considered a safe and feasible option for a generally healthy elderly population.

Early Advanced Weight-Bearing After Periarticular Fractures: A Randomized Trial Comparing Antigravity Treadmill Therapy Versus Standard of Care.

SUMMARY: In current clinical practice, weight-bearing is typically restricted for up to 12 weeks after definitive fixation of lower extremity periarticular fractures. However, muscle atrophy resulting from restricting weight-bearing has a deleterious effect on bone healing and overall limb function. Antigravity treadmill therapy may improve recovery by allowing patients to safely load the limb during therapy, thereby reducing the negative consequences of prolonged non-weight-bearing while avoiding complications associated with premature return to full weight-bearing. This article describes a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing outcomes after a 10-week antigravity treadmill therapy program versus standard of care in adult patients with periarticular fractures of the knee and distal tibia. The primary hypothesis is that, compared with patients receiving standard of care, patients receiving antigravity treadmill therapy will report better function 6 months after definitive treatment.

Cognitive-Behavioral-Based Physical Therapy for Improving Recovery After Traumatic Orthopaedic Lower Extremity Injury (CBPT-Trauma).

SUMMARY: Physical and psychological impairment resulting from traumatic injuries is often significant and affects employment and functional independence. Extremity trauma has been shown to negatively affect long-term self-reported physical function, the ability to work, and participation in recreational activities and contributes to increased rates of anxiety and/or depression. High pain levels early in the recovery process and psychosocial factors play a prominent role in recovery after traumatic lower extremity injury. Cognitive-behavioral therapy pain programs have been shown to mitigate these effects. However, patient access issues related to financial and transportation constraints and the competing demands of treatment focused on the physical sequelae of traumatic injury limit patient participation in this treatment modality. This article describes a telephone-delivered cognitive-behavioral-based physical therapy (CBPT-Trauma) program and design of a multicenter trial to determine its effectiveness after lower extremity trauma. Three hundred twenty-five patients from 7 Level 1 trauma centers were randomized to CBPT-Trauma or an education program after hospital discharge. The primary hypothesis is that compared with patients who receive an education program, patients who receive the CBPT-Trauma program will have improved physical function, pain, and physical and mental health at 12 months after hospital discharge.

The Military Orthopedics Tracking Injuries and Outcomes Network: A Solution for Improving Musculoskeletal Care in the Military Health System.

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal injuries are an endemic amongst U.S. Military Service Members and significantly strain the Department of Defense's Military Health System. The Military Health System aims to provide Service Members, military retirees, and their families the right care at the right time. The Military Orthopedics Tracking Injuries and Outcomes Network (MOTION) captures the data that can optimize musculoskeletal care within the Military Health System. This report provides MOTION structural framework and highlights how it can be used to optimize musculoskeletal care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MOTION established an internet-based data capture system, the MOTION Musculoskeletal Data Portal. All adult Military Health System patients who undergo orthopedic surgery are eligible for entry into the database. All data are collected as routine standard of care, with patients and orthopedic surgeons inputting validated global and condition-specific patient reported outcomes and operative case data, respectively. Patients have the option to consent to allow their standard of care data to be utilized within an institutional review board approved observational research study. MOTION data can be merged with other existing data systems (e.g., electronic medical record) to develop a comprehensive dataset of relevant information. In pursuit of enhancing musculoskeletal injury patient outcomes MOTION aims to: (1) identify factors which predict favorable outcomes; (2) develop models which inform the surgeon and military commanders if patients are behind, on, or ahead of schedule for their targeted return-to-duty/activity; and (3) develop predictive models to better inform patients and surgeons of the likelihood of a positive outcome for various treatment options to enhance patient counseling and expectation management. RESULTS: This is a protocol article describing the intent and methodology for MOTION; thus, to date, there are no results to report. CONCLUSIONS: MOTION was established to capture the data that are necessary to improve military medical readiness and optimize medical resource utilization through the systematic evaluation of short- and long-term musculoskeletal injury patient outcomes. The systematic enhancement of musculoskeletal injury care through data analyses aligns with the National Defense Authorization Act (2017) and Defense Health Agency's Quadruple Aim, which emphasizes optimizing healthcare delivery and Service Member medical readiness. This transformative approach to musculoskeletal care can be applied across disciplines within the Military Health System.