RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Critical access hospitals (CAHs) play an important role in providing access to care for many patients in rural communities. Prior studies have shown that these facilities are able to provide timely and quality care for patients who undergo various elective and emergency general surgical procedures. However, little is known about the quality and reimbursement of surgical care for patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures at CAHs compared with non-CAH facilities. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: Are there any differences in 90-day complications, readmissions, mortality, and Medicare payments between patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures at CAHs and those undergoing surgery at non-CAHs? METHODS: The 2005 to 2014 Medicare 100% Standard Analytical Files were queried using ICD-9 procedure codes to identify Medicare-eligible beneficiaries undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (79.15, 79.35, and 78.55), hemiarthroplasty (81.52), and THA (81.51) for isolated closed hip fractures. This database was selected because the claims capture inpatient diagnoses, procedures, charged amounts and paid claims, as well as hospital-level information of the care, of Medicare patients across the nation. Patients with concurrent fixation of an upper extremity, lower extremity, and/or polytrauma were excluded from the study to ensure an isolated cohort of hip fractures was captured. The study cohort was divided into two groups based on where the surgery took place: CAHs and non-CAHs. A 1:1 propensity score match, adjusting for baseline demographics (age, gender, Census Bureau-designated region, and Elixhauser comorbidity index), clinical characteristics (fixation type and time to surgery), and hospital characteristics (whether the hospital was located in a rural ZIP code, the average annual procedure volume of the operating facility, hospital bed size, hospital ownership and teaching status), was used to control for the presence of baseline differences in patients presenting at CAHs and those presenting at non-CAHs. A total of 1,467,482 patients with hip fractures were included, 29,058 of whom underwent surgery in a CAH. After propensity score matching, each cohort (CAH and non-CAH) contained 29,058 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess for differences in 90-day complications, readmissions, and mortality between the two matched cohorts. As funding policies of CAHs are regulated by Medicare, an evaluation of costs-of-care (by using Medicare payments as a proxy) was conducted. Generalized linear regression modeling was used to assess the 90-day Medicare payments among patients undergoing surgery in a CAH, while controlling for differences in baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures were less likely to experience many serious complications at a critical access hospital (CAH) than at a non-CAH. In particular, after controlling for patient demographics, hospital-level factors and procedural characteristics, patients treated at a CAH were less likely to experience: myocardial infarction (3% (916 of 29,058) versus 4% (1126 of 29,058); OR 0.80 [95% CI 0.74 to 0.88]; p < 0.001), sepsis (3% (765 of 29,058) versus 4% (1084 of 29,058); OR 0.69 [95% CI 0.63 to 0.78]; p < 0.001), acute renal failure (6% (1605 of 29,058) versus 8% (2353 of 29,058); OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.61 to 0.69]; p < 0.001), and Clostridium difficile infections (1% (367 of 29,058) versus 2% (473 of 29,058); OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.67 to 0.88]; p < 0.001) than undergoing surgery in a non-CAH. CAHs also had lower rates of all-cause 90-day readmissions (18% (5133 of 29,058) versus 20% (5931 of 29,058); OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.86]; p < 0.001) and 90-day mortality (4% (1273 of 29,058) versus 5% (1437 of 29,058); OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.82 to 0.95]; p = 0.001) than non-CAHs. Further, CAHs also had risk-adjusted lower 90-day Medicare payments than non-CAHs (USD 800, standard error 89; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who received hip fracture surgical care at CAHs had a lower risk of major medical and surgical complications than those who had surgery at non-CAHs, even though Medicare reimbursements were lower as well. Although there may be some degree of patient selection at CAHs, these facilities appear to provide high-value care to rural communities. These findings provide evidence for policymakers evaluating the impact of the CAH program and allocating funding resources, as well as for community members seeking emergent care at local CAH facilities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.
Assuntos
Fixação de Fratura/normas , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/normas , Fraturas do Quadril/cirurgia , Hospitais/normas , Indicadores de Qualidade em Assistência à Saúde/normas , Serviços de Saúde Rural/normas , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Fixação de Fratura/efeitos adversos , Fixação de Fratura/economia , Fixação de Fratura/mortalidade , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde/normas , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/economia , Fraturas do Quadril/diagnóstico por imagem , Fraturas do Quadril/economia , Fraturas do Quadril/mortalidade , Humanos , Reembolso de Seguro de Saúde/normas , Masculino , Medicare/economia , Medicare/normas , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Readmissão do Paciente , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/mortalidade , Indicadores de Qualidade em Assistência à Saúde/economia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Fatores de Risco , Serviços de Saúde Rural/economia , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do Tratamento , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Background: The surgical treatment of moderate and severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis is controversial. Treatment ranges from pinning in situ to open dislocation and reduction of the slipped epiphysis. The modified Dunn procedure has been associated with variable avascular necrosis with rates, ranging between 0% and 67%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and complications of patients who have undergone a subcapital realignment osteotomy (SCRO) in our center. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study of the osteotomies performed between 2009 and 2019 in a tertiary referral center for Pediatric Orthopedics in Queensland, Australia. Patient demographics, stability, and severity of slip and surgical outcomes were collected. Results: A total of 123 procedures were performed on 116 patients. The mean age was 12.4 years, 65 (56%) patients were male and the mean posterior sloping angle was 60.10 with 93 (75%) being severe slips. There were 51 (41.5%) Loder's stable and 72 (58%) unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Our overall avascular necrosis rate following SCRO was 17.8%. Time between surgery and diagnosis did not have an effect on avascular necrosis. Conclusion: The subcapital realignment osteotomy remains a controversial and complex procedure for the management of moderate and severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We found that our cohort demonstrated an avascular necrosis rate in keeping with the existing literature. This indicates that when performed in a high-volume center with experienced surgical staff, it can be an effective treatment option for these patients. Level of evidence: Level IV.
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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects nearly 1 million people and is estimated to cost $85.4 billion in the United States annually. People with MS have significant barriers to receiving care and telemedicine could substantially improve access to specialized, comprehensive care. In cross-sectional analyses, telemedicine has been shown to be feasible, have high patient and clinician satisfaction, reduce patient costs and burden, and enable a reasonable assessment of disability. However, no studies exist evaluating the longitudinal impact of telemedicine care for MS. Here we describe the study protocol for VIRtual versus UsuAL In-office care for Multiple Sclerosis (VIRTUAL-MS). The main objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of telemedicine for MS care on: patient clinical outcomes, economic costs, patient, and clinician experience. METHODS: This two-site randomized clinical trial will enroll 120 adults with a recent diagnosis of MS and randomize 1:1 to receive in-clinic vs. telemedicine care for 24 months. The primary outcome of the study is worsening in any one of the four Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite 4 (MSFC4) measures at 24 months. Other study outcomes include patient and clinician satisfaction, major healthcare costs, Expanded Disability Status Scale, treatment adherence, and digital outcomes. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will directly address the key gaps in knowledge about longitudinal telemedicine-enabled care in an MS population. It will inform clinical care implementation as well as design of trials in MS and other chronic conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05660187.
Assuntos
Esclerose Múltipla , Satisfação do Paciente , Telemedicina , Humanos , Esclerose Múltipla/terapia , Esclerose Múltipla/economia , Telemedicina/organização & administração , Adulto , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde , Estados UnidosRESUMO
PURPOSE: Vertebral body tethering (VBT) is a recent procedure to correct and reduce spinal curves in skeletally immature patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the expected curve reduction and potential complications for adolescent patients after VBT. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases were searched until February 2022. Records were screened against pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data sources were prospective and retrospective studies. Demographics, mean differences in Cobb angle, surgical details and complication rates were recorded. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. RESULTS: This systematic review includes 19 studies, and the meta-analysis includes 16 of these. VBT displayed a statistically significant reduction in Cobb angle from pre-operative to final (minimum 2 years) measurements. The initial mean Cobb angle was 47.8° (CI 95% 42.9-52.7°) and decreased to 22.2° (CI 95% 19.9-24.5°). The mean difference is - 25.8° (CI 95% - 28.9-22.7) (p < 0.01). The overall complication rate was 23% (CI 95% 14.4-31.6%), the most common complication was tether breakage 21.9% (CI 95% 10.6-33.1%). The spinal fusion rate was 7.2% (CI 95% 2.3-12.1%). CONCLUSION: VBT results in a significant reduction of AIS at 2 years of follow-up. Overall complication rate was relatively high although the consequences of the complications are unknown. Further research is required to explore the reasons behind the complication rate and determine the optimal timing for the procedure. VBT remains a promising new procedure that is effective at reducing scoliotic curves and preventing spinal fusion in the majority of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review of Therapeutic Studies with evidence level II-IV.