Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors' Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Outcomes: Quantitative Measures versus Semistructured Interviews.

Rationale: Increasingly, patients are surviving acute respiratory failure (ARF), prompting the need to better understand standardized outcome measures commonly used during ARF follow-up studies. Objectives: Investigate standardized outcome measures (patient-reported physical and mental health measures, and cognitive testing) compared with findings from semistructured, qualitative interviews. Methods: As part of two ARF multicenter follow-up studies, standardized outcome measures were obtained, followed by qualitative evaluation via an in-depth, semistructured interview conducted and coded by two independent researchers. Qualitative interviews revealed the following post-ARF survivorship themes: physical impairment; anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms; and cognitive impairment. Scores from standardized measures related to these themes were compared for ARF survivors reporting versus not reporting these themes in their qualitative interviews. Results: Of 59 invited ARF survivors, 48 (81%) completed both standardized outcome measures and qualitative interviews. Participants' median (interquartile range) age was 53 (43-64) years; 54% were female, and 88% were living independently before hospitalization. The two independent reviewers classifying the presence or absence of themes from the qualitative interviews had excellent agreement (κ = 0.80). There were significantly worse scores on standardized outcome measures for survivors reporting (vs. not reporting) physical and mental health impairments in their qualitative interviews. However, standardized cognitive test scores did not differ between patients reporting versus not reporting cognitive impairments in their qualitative interviews. Conclusions: These findings support the use of recommended, commonly used standardized outcome measures for physical and mental health impairments in ARF survivorship research. However, caution is needed in interpreting self-reported cognitive function compared with standardized cognitive testing.

Patients' Outcomes After Acute Respiratory Failure: A Qualitative Study With the PROMIS Framework.

BACKGROUND: As mortality rates for patients treated in intensive care units decrease, greater understanding of the impact of critical illness on patients' well-being is needed. OBJECTIVE: To describe the survivorship experience of patients who had acute respiratory failure by using the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) framework. METHODS: A total of 48 adult patients who had acute respiratory failure completed at least 1 semistructured telephone-based interview between 5 and 18 months after their stay in the intensive care unit. Participants were asked about overall well-being and important health outcomes. RESULTS: Major themes were identified within each of the 3 PROMIS components: physical health, mental health, and social health. The following themes were particularly prominent: mobility impairments, pulmonary symptoms, fatigue, anxiety and depression symptoms, and decreased ability to work and participate in valued activities. Impacts on overall well-being and on relationships with friends and family members varied among the survivors. Some survivors reported gratitude, increased appreciation of life, and closer relationships to loved ones. Other survivors reported boredom, social isolation, and wishing they had not survived. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of acute respiratory failure reported substantial issues with their physical, mental, and social health. Holistic assessments of outcomes of survivors of critical illness should capture the complex beneficial and adverse impacts of critical illness on survivors' well-being and social health.

Management of Nasal Fractures in Sports.

Nasal fractures represent approximately 60% of all maxillofacial injuries that occur in athletic activities; however, there are no current guidelines regarding immediate sideline management of these injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to (1) summarize the anatomy, etiology, and incidence of nasal fractures, and (2) evaluate the current body of literature regarding immediate on-field and subsequent outpatient management. It is imperative to establish that the athlete's airway is not compromised and there are no other severe concomitant injuries, such as a concussion, ocular injury, or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Immediate closed reduction should not be attempted unless there is airway compromise or the practitioner has experience in performing it. The majority of athletes with these injuries in isolation may return to play; however, in our practice, we recommend they wear a face mask for 6 weeks after their injury. Despite our recommendations, we know there is a paucity of clinical studies on immediate sideline and longer-term management. Future studies should focus on establishing therapeutic algorithms that will allow physicians to make treatment recommendations to patients with strong evidence to support their decision.

When Do You Drain Epidural Abscesses of the Spine?

BACKGROUND: How the relative volume of an epidural abscess on MRI affects outcomes with antibiotics alone has limited literature. The purpose of this study was to identify which infected epidural collections will reabsorb with antibiotics alone. Specifically, what is the critical size and enhancement on contrast MRIs to require a drainage procedure? MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all spinal osteomyelitis patients from 2001-2012 was performed. Inclusion criteria included appropriate initial imaging, lab results, no drainage procedures of collections, and no treatment prior to admission at an outside institution. Large size epidural abscess was defined as abscesses with a volume greater than 1400 mm3. Clearance and mortality rates were evaluated. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 128 patients including 76 men and 52 women who had a mean age of 62 years (range, 21 to 90 years) and had a mean follow-up of 38 months (range, 24 to 72 months). Patients with a large epidural abscess had a greater clearance rate of the infection and decreased mortality rate when treated with surgery or drainage compared to patients treated with antibiotics alone [clearance: p=0.048; mortality: p=0.048]. Those small epidural abscesses had similar clearance and mortality rates when treated with surgery or drainage compared to antibiotics alone [clearance: p=0.75; mortality: p=0.13]. Patients with non-enhancing epidural abscesses had similar clearance rates-but increased mortality rates-when treated with antibiotics alone compared to surgery or drainage [clearance: p>0.9; mortality: p=0.03]. Those with enhancing epidural collections had similar clearance and mortality rates when treated with antibiotics alone compared to surgery or drainage [clearance: p=0.08, mortality: p=0.10]. CONCLUSION: Large epidural infected collections require surgery or a percutaneous drainage procedure. Clearance rates are higher and mortality rates are lower compared to non-operative management in these instances. Neurologically intact patients with a small epidural collection can be treated with antibiotics alone with good expected outcomes.

Clinical and Ultrasonographic Evaluations of the Shoulders of Elite Swimmers.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is a common problem in competitive swimmers, but the structural alterations in elite-level competitive swimmers are not well known. HYPOTHESIS: Adaptive changes are common in the rotator cuff, bursa, labrum, and capsule in elite swimmers, and such abnormalities are related to factors concerning training and correlate with symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: The study population was the 2008 United States Olympic swimming team. All athletes completed standardized scales on shoulder pain and function and provided data on their training history and history of shoulder pain or injuries. Each athlete also underwent a comprehensive physical examination of both shoulders, followed by an evaluation of the rotator cuff, biceps, and bursa using ultrasound with dynamic images to assess for subcoracoid impingement and subacromial impingement. RESULTS: A history of shoulder pain was reported by 29 of 42 (66%) athletes. Morphological changes consistent with tendinosis were common in the biceps (33/46 shoulders; 72%) and supraspinatus/infraspinatus (44/46 shoulders; 96%). Subcoracoid impingement was seen in 17 of 46 shoulders (37%), with subacromial impingement seen in 34 of 41 shoulders (83%). There was an increased odds ratio (OR) for biceps tendinosis in older swimmers (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.23-3.00; P = .004) and in swimmers who had missed a competition because of shoulder pain (OR, 9.76; 95% CI, 1.13-84.3; P = .038). There was an increased OR for rotator cuff tendinosis in swimmers who reported worse scores for pain with activities (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-0.78; P = .028) and in those with a positive sulcus sign (OR, 33.2; 95% CI, 3.09-355; P = .004). There was an increased OR for impingement in swimmers with a positive sulcus sign (OR, 5.40; 95% CI, 0.80-36.3; P = .083), worse pain scores (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22-0.87; P = .019), and a partial rotator cuff tear (OR, 31.2; 95% CI, 3.58-272; P = .002). CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of rotator cuff and biceps tendinopathy, which was associated with increased symptoms. Tendinosis was also more common in swimmers with a positive sulcus sign, suggesting a role for shoulder laxity.

Management strategies for total hip arthroplasty in sickle cell patients.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy in which there is a structural change to the erythrocyte from round to crescent shaped or sickled. These abnormally shaped cells can block small vessels resulting in compromise of vascular supply, pain, and end-organ damage. These patients are particularly susceptible to hip osteonecrosis, which in late stages may require a total hip arthroplasty. Historically, total hip arthroplasty had inferior outcomes in this patient population due to poorer clinical outcomes and higher perioperative complications. During recent decades, however, there have been some improvements in the medical management of these patients, which has potentially improved the clinical outcomes of this procedure. In this article, we review all reported management strategies for the perioperative care of sickle cell anemia patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

Patellar fractures following total knee arthroplasty: a review.

There are several periprosthetic complications associated with total knee arthroplasty, with femoral fracture as the most common and patellar fractures as the second most common. Patellar fractures are challenging complications that occur almost exclusively on the resurfaced patellae, although unresurfaced patellar fractures have been reported in literature. The purpose of this study is to describe the anatomy of the patella, the etiology of patellar fractures, and strategies to treat and manage these fractures following knee arthroplasty. The vascular supply to the patella may be compromised during total knee arthroplasty and special care must be taken to preserve it. Vessel injury may result in further complications, most notably avascular necrosis with subsequent fracture. Other patient-, surgical-, and prosthetic-related factors can contribute to increased risk of patellar fracture. Patellar fractures are classified into three types. Type I fractures have an intact extensor mechanism with a stable implant. Type II fractures have a complete disruption of the extensor mechanism with or without a stable implant. Type III fractures, which are further subclassified into types IIIa and IIIb, have an intact extensor mechanism but a loose patellar component. While type IIIa fractures have reasonable remaining bone stock, type IIIb fractures have poor bone stock. Type I patellar fractures may be best managed nonoperatively, but types II and III patellar fractures often necessitate surgical intervention. Patellectomy should be reserved for comminuted fractures, as well as fractures in patients with poor bone stock. Larger prospective randomized studies are necessary to better evaluate the treatment algorithm for patellar fractures following total knee arthroplasty.