Seven-year Outcomes of Adolescent Forearm Fractures Treated With Plate Fixation.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric forearm fractures are common injuries and can sometimes require surgical treatment. Few studies have evaluated the long-term outcomes of pediatric forearm fracture plating. We evaluated long-term functional outcomes and satisfaction in children with forearm fractures treated with plate fixation. METHODS: We performed a single-institution case series at a pediatric level 1 trauma center. Inclusion criteria were: patients with radius and/or ulna diaphyseal fractures, index surgery at 18 years of age or younger, plate fixation, and a minimum of 2 years follow-up. We surveyed patients with the QuickDASH outcome measure and supplemented this with functional outcomes and satisfaction questions. Demographics and surgery characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical record. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients met the eligibility criteria, of whom 17 completed the survey with a mean follow-up of 7.2 ± 1.4 years. The mean age at index surgery was 13.1 ± 3.6 years (range, 4 to 17), with 65% males. All patients reported at least one symptom, with aching (41%) and pain (35%) occurring most frequently. There were 2 complications (12%), including one infection and one compartment syndrome treated with fasciotomy. Hardware removal occurred in 29% of patients. There were no refractures. The mean QuickDASH score was 7.7 ± 11.9, with an occupation module score of 1.6 ± 3.9 and a sports/performing arts module score of 12.0 ± 19.7. The mean surgery satisfaction was 92% and scar satisfaction was 75%. All patients returned to prior activities and 88% reported a return to their preoperative baseline level of function. CONCLUSIONS: Plate fixation for pediatric forearm fractures achieves osseous union but not without the potential for long-term sequelae. All patients reported residual symptoms 7 years later. Scar satisfaction and return to baseline function were imperfect. Patient education for long-term outcomes of surgery is essential, especially in the transition to adulthood. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Disparities in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Pre-vaccine and Post-Vaccine Availability.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant disruptions in medical care, resulting in an estimated 40% of US adults avoiding care. However, the return to baseline health care utilization following COVID-19 restrictions within the pediatric orthopedic population remains unexplored. We sought to analyze the visit volume and demographics of pediatric orthopedic patients at 3 timepoints: prepandemic (2019), pandemic (2020), and pandemic post-vaccine availability (2021), to determine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on our single-center, multisite institution. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 6318 patients seeking treatment at our institution from May through August in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Patient age, sex, address, encounter date, and ICD-10 codes were obtained. Diagnoses were classified into fractures and dislocations, non-fracture-related trauma, sports, elective, and other categories. Geospatial analysis comparing incidence and geospatial distribution of diagnoses across the time periods was performed and compared with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) social vulnerability index (SVI). RESULTS: The total number of pediatric orthopedic visits decreased by 22.2% during the pandemic ( P <0.001) and remained 11.6% lower post-vaccine availability compared with prepandemic numbers ( P <0.001). There was no significant difference in age ( P =0.097) or sex ( P =0.248) of the patients across all 3 timepoints; however, patients seen during the pandemic were more often White race (67.7% vs. 59.3%, P <0.001). Post-vaccine availability, trauma visits increased by 18.2% ( P <0.001) and total fractures remained 13.4% lower than prepandemic volume ( P <0.001). Sports volume decreased during the pandemic but returned to prepandemic volume in the post-vaccine availability period ( P =0.298). Elective visits did not recover to prepandemic volume and remained 13.0% lower compared with baseline ( P <0.001). Geospatial analysis of patient distribution illustrated neighborhood trends in access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer patients from high SVI and low socioeconomic status neighborhoods seeking fracture care during the pandemic than prepandemic. Post-vaccine availability, fracture population distribution resembled prepandemic levels, suggesting a return to baseline health care utilization. CONCLUSION: Pediatric orthopedic surgery visit volume broadly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return to prepandemic levels. All categories increased in the post-vaccine availability time point except elective visits. Geospatial analysis revealed that neighborhoods with a high social vulnerability index (SVI) were associated with decreased fracture visits during the pandemic, whereas low SVI neighborhoods did not experience as much of a decline. Future research is needed to study these neighborhood trends and more completely characterize factors preventing equitable access to care in the pediatric orthopedic population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective Study, Level III.

Impact of novel psychosocial programming on readmission and recidivism rates among patients with violence-related trauma.

INTRODUCTION: The Victims of Crime Advocacy and Recovery Program (VOCARP) provides advocacy, mental health resources, and educational materials. This study will report complications, readmissions, and recidivism among crime victims, and who used or did not use victim services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients engaged with programming from 3/1/17 until 12/31/18 were included. Control groups were patients injured by violent trauma without VOCARP use (N = 212) and patients injured by unintentional injuries (N = 201). Readmissions, complications, reoperations, and trauma recidivism were reported. RESULTS: 1019 patients (83%) used VOCARP. VOCARP users were less often male (56% vs. 71%), less commonly married (12% vs. 41%), and had fewer gunshot wounds (GSWs, 26% vs. 37%) and sexual assaults (4.1% vs. 8%), all p < 0.05. Of all 1,423 patients, 6.6% had a readmission and 7.4% developed a complication. VOCARP patients had fewer complications (4.5% vs. 13.7%), infections (2% vs. 9%), wound healing problems (1% vs. 3.3%), and deep vein thromboses (0.3% vs. 1.9%), all p < 0.05, but no differences in unplanned operations (4.5%). GSW victims had the most complications, readmissions, and unplanned surgeries. Prior trauma recidivism was frequent among all groups, with crime victim patients having 40% prior violence-related injury (vs 9.0% control, p < 0.0001). Trauma recidivism following VOCARP use occurred in 8.5% (vs 5.7% for non-users, p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: Crime victims differ from other trauma patients, more often with younger age, single marital status, and unemployment at baseline. Complications were lower for VOCARP patients. GSW patients had the most complications, readmissions, and unplanned secondary procedures, representing a population for future attention.

The Influence of Retrograde Femoral Nail Removal With and Without Interpositional Fat Grafting on Distal Femoral Physeal Behavior: A Sheep Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have demonstrated that up to 7% of the distal femoral physis can be violated using a rigid, retrograde nail without growth inhibition or arrest. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the behavior of the distal femoral physis after retrograde femoral nail removal in a sheep model, with and without placement of an interpositional fat graft. METHODS: Retrograde femoral nails were placed in 8 skeletally immature sheep. Implants were removed at 8 weeks, with the residual defects left open (n=4) or filled with autologous fat graft (n=4). Differences in femoral length between surgical versus contralateral control femurs were measured after an additional 3 (n=4) or 5 months (n=4) before sacrifice, and the physis was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: When compared with control limbs, femoral length was significantly shorter in limbs sacrificed at 3 months (mean: 3.9±1.3 mm; range: 2.7 to 5.7 mm) compared with limbs at 5 months (mean: 1.0±0.4 mm; range: 0.4 to 1.2 mm) ( P =0.005). No significant difference in mean shortening was appreciated in limbs without (2.4±1.6 mm) versus with fat grafting (2.5±2.3 mm) ( P =0.94). Histologic analysis revealed no osteoid formation across the physis in sheep sacrificed at 3 months, whereas there was evidence of early osteoid formation across the physis in sheep at 5 months. All specimens demonstrated evidence of an active physes. CONCLUSIONS: Femurs undergoing retrograde implant placement were significantly shorter when compared with control limbs in sheep sacrificed at 3 months, whereas differences were nominal in sheep sacrificed at 5 months after retrograde implant removal, suggesting growth inhibition with nail removal improved with time. Fat grafting across the distal femoral physis did not result in a significant difference in femoral lengths. Histologic evidence at 5 months revealed early development of a bone bridge, emphasizing the importance of follow-up to skeletal maturity in patients treated with retrograde nailing across an open physis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Interfacet distance at L4 is increased in spines with high-pelvic incidence.

Pelvic incidence (PI) is an angular measurement linked to spinal pathologies. There is an increasing distance between facet joints moving caudally down the sagittal plane of the spine. We defined pedicle divergence (PD) as the ratio of interfacet distance (IFD) between adjacent levels. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PI and PD. Two hundred and thirty specimens were obtained from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection. Specimens were catalogued for age, sex, race, PI, PD, and lumbar facet angle. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between variables. IRB approval was not required. Average age at death was 57.0 years ±6.2 years. There were 211 (92%) male specimens and 176 (77%) were white. Average PI was 47.1 ± 10.5°. For PD between L3/L4, there was a relationship with PI (ß = -0.18, p = 0.008). For PD between L4/L5, there was an opposite relationship with PI (ß = 0.21, p = 0.003). Regression analyses of the interfacet to body ratio at each level found an association with PI only at L4 (p = 0.008). This study demonstrated that PI has a significant association with IFD in the lower lumbar spine. Increasing PI was associated with increased PD between L3/L4 and decreased PD between L4/L5. These results further support the close relationship between pelvic morphology and the lower lumbar spine, and suggest that L4 may have an important role in compensating for aberrant PI.

The Impact of Smoking in Workers' Compensation Patients Receiving Spinal Cord Stimulation.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of smoking on clinical outcomes in workers' compensation (WC) patients receiving spinal cord stimulation (SCS). One hundred and ninety-six patients from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were identified who received SCS with implantation occurring between 2007-2012. Patients were divided into smokers (n = 120) and nonsmokers (n = 76). Population characteristics before and after implantation were analyzed between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression was run to determine predictors of return to work (RTW) status. Our regression determined smoking (p = 0.006; odds ratio [OR] = 0.260) and body mass index (p = 0.036; OR = 0.905) to be negative predictors of RTW status. After implantation, smokers were less likely to RTW after 6 months and had higher pain scores after 6 and 12 months. Both smokers and nonsmokers had significance reductions in opioid use after SCS implantation. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 30(3):185-189, 2021).

Torsional Deformity Significantly Impacts Lateral Ankle Radiographic Imaging Parameters.

Background Optimal lateral ankle imaging is important for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple ankle conditions. The effects of limb deformity on lateral ankle imaging are not well described and are clarified in this osteological study. Materials and methods We utilized an osteological collection and imaged all specimens after the first positioning of the talus in the lateral position and positioning the tibia and fibula to match. We then measured the relative positions of the tibia and fibula and their widths to calculate standard ratios. All measurements were evaluated for reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients. Multiple regression analysis determined how patient characteristics, tibial torsion, and medial proximal tibial angle affected various lateral ankle imaging ratios. Results The intra-class correlation coefficient was excellent for all measurements. In the multiple regression analysis, all five imaging ratios had at least one statistically significant outcome. The anterior tibiofibular interval (ATFI)-tibial width (TW) ratio (ATFI:TW) had only one association with sex and had the lowest standard deviation. All other parameters had variation with tibial torsion and/or medial proximal tibia angle (MPTA). The mean ATFI was 1.06 ± 0.21 cm and 1.19 ± 0.23 cm for females and males, respectively. Conclusions Patient sex and tibial torsion impacted the fidelity of lateral imaging parameters. ATFI:TW may pose the greatest utility given its minimal association with deformity parameters and low standard deviation.

Analyzing Pelvic Asymmetry by Sex and Ancestry: Insights From an Osteological Collection.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic asymmetry has been noted in pelvic imaging, and might influence the development of various spinal pathologies, most notably scoliosis. There is a limited understanding of the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and sex and ancestry, and limited use of 3D modeling. The purpose of this study was to identify pelvic asymmetry and morphology differences between sex and ancestry utilizing 3D modeling on young adults in an osteological collection. METHODS: Thirty-three osteological pelvic specimens aged 18-25 years (average age 21.4 ± 2.0 years) were scanned to create virtual 3D models for analysis. Pelvic asymmetry and morphology were measured and compared across sex (male and female) and ancestry (European American and African American). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the variables measured. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated statistically significant relationships between innominate-pelvic ring ratio and both sex (p < 0.001) and ancestry (p= 0.003) with larger ratios in male and African American specimens respectively. There was also a statistically significant relationship of greater sacral 1 coronal tilt in European American specimens (p= 0.042). There were no statistically significant differences with sex or ancestry in terms of innominate or sacral asymmetry. CONCLUSION: Although there are differences in overall pelvic shape between sex and ancestry, there is no relationship between these two variables versus pelvic asymmetry in the axial or sagittal planes in young adult osteological specimens.

Prolonged Time to Brake Following Lower Extremity Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: No guidelines exist for recommending return to driving. This study will examine time to brake (TTB) after lower extremity injuries versus in uninjured people. The potential effect of various types of lower extremity injuries on TTB will be measured. METHODS: Patients with injuries to the pelvis, hip, femur, knee, tibia, ankle, and foot underwent testing using a driving simulator to assess TTB. Comparison was with a control group of uninjured people. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirty-two patients with lower extremity injuries participated. The majority were in the tibia and ankle regions (47%). Mean TTB for control subjects was 0.74 seconds, compared with 0.83 for injured patients, noting a 0.09-second difference (P = 0.017). Left-sided injuries averaged TTB of 0.80 seconds, right-sided injuries averaged TTB of 0.86 seconds, and bilateral injuries averaged TTB of 0.83 seconds, all prolonged versus control subjects. The longest TTB was exhibited after ankle and foot injuries (0.89 seconds) while the shortest was after tibial shaft fractures (0.76 seconds). DISCUSSION: Any lower extremity injury caused a prolonged TTB compared with control patients. Left, right, and bilateral injuries all had longer TTB. Ankle and foot injuries experienced the longest TTB. Additional investigation is warranted to develop safe guidelines for return to driving.

Quantifying the Economic Impact of Depression for Spine Patients in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the incremental health care costs of depression in patients with spine pathology and offer insight into the drivers behind the increased cost burden. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain is estimated to cost over $100 billion per year in the United States. Depression has been shown to negatively impact clinical outcomes in patients with low back pain and those undergoing spine surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2007 to 2015. Spine patients were identified and stratified based on concurrent depression International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Health care utilization and expenditures were analyzed between patients with and without depression using a multivariate 2-part logistic regression with adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and Charlson Comorbidity Index. RESULTS: A total of 37,094 patients over 18 years old with a spine condition were included (mean expenditure: $7829±241.67). Of these patients, 7986 had depression (mean expenditure: $11,455.41±651.25) and 29,108 did not have depression (mean expenditure: $6837.89±244.51). The cost of care for spine patients with depression was 1.42 times higher (95% confidence interval, 1.34-1.52; P<0.001) than patients without depression. The incremental expenditure of spine patients with depression was $3388.22 (95% confidence interval, 2906.60-3918.96; P<0.001). Comorbid depression was associated with greater inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, home health, and prescription medication utilization and expenditures compared with the nondepressed cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Spine patients with depression had significantly increased incremental economic cost of nearly $3500 more annually than those without depression. When extrapolated nationally, this translates to an additional $27.5 billion annually in incremental expenditures that can be attributed directly to depression among spine patients, which equates to roughly 10% of the total estimated spending on depression nationally. Strategies focused on optimizing the treatment of depression have the potential for dramatically reducing health care costs in spine surgery patients.

Modified Grammont Soft-Tissue Distal Patellar Realignment and Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Patellofemoral Instability in Pediatric Patients.

Patellar dislocation is a relatively common pediatric injury, which often results in recurrent patellofemoral instability. An increased tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance predisposes to patellofemoral instability and can be corrected with a distal realignment procedure. Soft-tissue distal realignment procedures must be used in the pediatric population to avoid the risks of premature physeal closure associated with tibial tubercle osteotomies. Several soft-tissue distal realignment procedures have been described, with no consensus as to the optimal technique. When combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, distal realignment procedures can restore patellofemoral stability through the entire flexion arc. This article describes a modification of the Grammont distal patellar realignment procedure in conjunction with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for the management of pediatric patellofemoral instability.

Implementation of programming for survivors of violence-related trauma at a level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Prior investigation of violence intervention programs has been limited. This study will describe resources offered by Victims of Crime Advocacy and Recovery Program (VOCARP), their utilization, and effect on recidivism. METHODS: VOCARP was established in 2017 at our center, and all patients who engaged with programming (n=1019) were prospectively recorded. Patients are offered services in the emergency department, on inpatient floors and at outpatient clinic visits. Two control groups (patients sustaining violent injuries without VOCARP use (n=212) and patients with non-violent trauma (n=201)) were similarly aggregated. RESULTS: During 22 months, 96% of patients accepted education materials, 31% received financial compensation, 27% requested referrals, and 22% had crisis interventions. All other resources were used by <20% of patients. Patients who used VOCARP resources were substantially different from those who declined services; they were less often male (56% vs. 71%), more often single (79% vs. 51%), had greater unemployment (63% vs. 51%) and were less frequently shot (gunshot wound: 26% vs. 37%), all p<0.05. Overall recidivism rate was 9.4%, with no difference between groups. Use of mental health services was linked to lower recidivism rates (4.4% vs. 11.7%, p=0.016). While sexual assault survivors who used VOCARP resources had lower associated recidivism (2.4% vs. 12%, p=0.14), this was not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: This represents the largest violence intervention cohort reported to date to our knowledge. Despite substantial engagement, efficacy in terms of lower recidivism appears limited to specific subgroups or resource utilization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. Therapeutic.

Time to Surgery Affects Return to Work Rates for Workers' Compensation Patients With Single-Level Lumbar Disk Herniation.

The optimal timing of lumbar diskectomy in patients with lumbar disk herniation and radiculopathy has not been studied in the workers' compensation (WC) population. A total of 10,592 patients received lost-work compensation from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for a lumbar disk herniation between 2005 and 2012. The primary outcome was whether subjects return to work (RTW). To determine the impact time to surgery had on RTW status, the authors performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis. They compared other secondary outcomes using chi-square and t tests. The authors identified 1287 WC patients with single-level disk herniation and radiculopathy. Average time from injury to surgery was 364 days (range, 2-2710 days). The WC patients with shorter duration of radiculopathy before diskectomy had higher RTW rates; fewer physical therapy, chiropractic, and psychotherapy sessions; and fewer postoperative diagnoses of psychological illnesses (P<.05). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that time to surgery was an independent, negative predictor of RTW (odds ratio [OR], 0.97 per month; P<.01). Legal representation (OR, 0.56; P<.01), psychological comorbidity (OR, 0.32; P=.01), and mean household income (OR, 1.01 per $1000; P<.01) also significantly affected RTW status. These results confirm that the duration of radiculopathy due to single-level lumbar disk herniation has a predictive value for the WC population undergoing diskectomy. Within 12 weeks of injury, post-diskectomy patients do reasonably well, with 70.0% of subjects returning to work. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(1):e43-e49.].

Shorter Time to Surgery Is Associated With Better Outcomes for Spondylolisthesis in the Workers' Compensation Population.

This study sought to determine the impact of time to surgery on clinical outcomes in patients with spondylolisthesis in the workers' compensation (WC) population. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of time to surgery on patients with spondylolisthesis. Patients receiving WC are known to have worse outcomes following spine surgery compared with the general population. A total of 791 patients from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were identified who underwent lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis between 1993 and 2013. The patients were divided into those who had surgery within 2 years of injury date and after 2 years. Confounding factors were corrected for in a multivariate logistic regression to determine predictors of return to work (RTW) status. Multivariate logistic regression determined that longer time to surgery (P=.003; odds ratio, 0.89 per year), age at index fusion (P=.003; odds ratio, 0.98 per year), and use of physical therapy before fusion (P=.008; odds ratio, 0.54) were negative predictors of RTW status. Patients who had surgery within 2 years were more likely to RTW and have fewer days absent from work, lower medical costs, and fewer sessions of psychotherapy, physical therapy, and chiropractor care. The authors demonstrated that for WC patients with spondylolisthesis, longer time to surgery was a negative predictor of RTW status. Patients who had surgery within 2 years of injury date were significantly more likely to RTW compared with after 2 years. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(3):154-160.].