Adhesive Taping Shows Better Cosmetic Outcomes Than Tissue Adhesives for Sutured Upper Extremity Incisions: A Single-Blind Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Adhesive taping is commonly used to reinforce wound closure and approximate minor lacerations. Recently, tissue adhesives such as 2-octylcyanoacrylate have gained popularity because of their high tensile strength, bacteriostatic properties, and spontaneous peeling. We sought to evaluate the cosmetic result of upper extremity incisions closed primarily by subcuticular suture, randomizing the application of tissue adhesive vs adhesive taping to different halves of the same surgical incision. Subjects were recruited from patients undergoing common procedures at the senior surgeon's hand surgery clinic. After primary closure, we applied either quarter-inch adhesive tape or tissue adhesive to the proximal and distal aspects of the wounds, based on a preoperative randomization protocol. We assessed the scars at approximately 3 months (range, 2-5 months). Subjects completed a validated scar assessment questionnaire, and a blinded photograph was obtained to allow 2 independent surgeons to assess the scar. Mean age was 63 years (SD, 11.8 years; range, 21-88 years); 56% of patients were women, and 44% were men. Most of the incisions were open carpal tunnel release and thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty (14 each). Adhesive taping showed a better overall mean score based on evaluation by the hand surgeons, a finding that was statistically significant. The greatest differences were observed between color and size, but no subcategories were significantly different. Patients reported nonstatistical, but slightly better overall cosmetic outcomes with adhesive taping rather than tissue adhesive. Adhesive strips provide a modest but significant improvement in cosmetic outcomes vs more expensive tissue adhesive. Future evaluation of closure methods that evaluate cost, speed of application, suture technique, and dressing will optimize scar appearance. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(1):e42-e46.].

Pseudarthrosis Following Lumbar and Lumbosacral Fusion Using the Antepsoas Technique.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pseudarthrosis following antepsoas (ATP) lumbar and lumbosacral fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Pseudarthrosis is a feared complication following spinal fusions and may affect their clinical outcomes. To date there are no sufficient data on the fusion rate following ATP lumbar and lumbosacral arthrodesis. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 220 patients who underwent lumbar minimally invasive antepsoas (MIS-ATP) fusions between January 2008 and February 2019 who have at least 1-year postoperative computed tomography (CT) follow-up scans. Fusion was graded using CT scans imaging and adopting a 1-4 grading scale (1, definitely fused; 2, likely fused; 3, likely not fused; 4, definitely not fused/nonunion). Grades 3 or 4 indicate pseudarthrosis. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients (average age: 66 years, 82 males (37.2%), and 127 (57.7%) smokers) were included. Eight patients (3.6%) developed pseudarthrosis. A total of 693 discs were addressed using the ATP approach. Of those, 681 (98.3%) were considered fused (641 levels [92.5%] were "definitely fused" and 40 levels [5.8%] were "Likely fused") and 12 discs (1.7%) developed pseudarthrosis (seven levels [1.0%] were "likely not fused" and five levels (0.7%) were "definitely not fused"). The highest rate of pseudarthrosis was found at L5-S1 (4.8%) compared to the L1-L5 discs (0-2%). Of 127 smokers, six developed pseudarthrosis (odds ratio = 2.3, P = 0.3). The fusion rates were 95.3% and 97.8% for smokers and nonsmokers, respectively. Of the eight patients who developed pseudarthrosis, only four (50%) were symptomatic, of whom two (25%) required revision surgery. Both of these patients were smokers. The overall revision rate due to pseudarthrosis was 0.9% (two of 220 patients). CONCLUSION: The MIS-ATP technique results in a high fusion rate (96.4% of patients; 98.3% of levels). Pseudarthrosis was noted mostly at the L5-S1 discs and in smokers.Level of Evidence: 4.

Postintubation Decline in Oxygen Saturation Index Predicts Mortality in COVID-19: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory failure from COVID-19 pneumonia is a major cause of death after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated whether PaO2/FiO2, oxygenation index (OI), SpO2/FiO2, and oxygen saturation index (OSI), commonly used to assess the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), can predict mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this single-centered retrospective pilot study, we enrolled 68 critically ill mechanically ventilated adult patients with confirmed COVID-19. Physiological variables were recorded on the day of intubation (day 0) and postintubation days 3 and 7. The association between physiological parameters, PaO2/FiO2, OI, SpO2/FiO2, and OSI with mortality was assessed using multiple variable logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of the predictive models. RESULTS: The ARDS severity indices were not statistically different on the day of intubation, suggesting similar baseline conditions in nonsurviving and surviving patients. However, these indices were significantly worse in the nonsurviving as compared to surviving patients on postintubation days 3 and 7. On intubation day 3, PaO2/FiO2 was 101.0 (61.4) in nonsurviving patients vs. 140.2 (109.6) in surviving patients, p=0.004, and on day 7 106.3 (94.2) vs. 178.0 (69.3), p < 0.001. OI was 135.0 (129.7) in nonsurviving vs. 84.8 (86.1) in surviving patients (p=0.003) on day 3 and 150.0 (118.4) vs. 61.5 (46.7) (p < 0.001) on day 7. OSI was 12.0 (11.7) vs. 8.0 (10.0) (p=0.006) on day 3 and 14.7 (13.2) vs. 6.5 (5.4) (p < 0.001) on day 7. Similarly, SpO2/FiO2 was 130 (90) vs. 210 (90) (p=0.003) on day 3 and 130 (90) vs. 230 (50) (p < 0.001) on day 7, while OSI was 12.0 (11.7) vs. 8.0 (10.0) (p=0.006) on day 3 and 14.7 (13.2) vs. 6.5 (5.4) (p < 0.001) on day 7 in the nonsurviving and surviving patients, respectively. All measures were independently associated with hospital mortality, with significantly greater odds ratios observed on day 7. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for mortality prediction was greatest on intubation day 7 (AUC = 0.775, 0.808, and 0.828 for PaO2/FiO2, OI, SpO2/FiO2, and OSI, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Decline in oxygenation indices after intubation is predictive of mortality in COVID-19 patients. This time window is critical to the outcome of these patients and a possible target for future interventions. Future large-scale studies to confirm the prognostic value of the indices in COVID-19 patients are warranted.

Anesthesia Considerations in Neurological Emergencies.

Airway obstruction and respiratory failure are common complications of neurological emergencies. Anesthesia is often employed for airway management, surgical and endovascular interventions or in the intensive care units in patients with altered mental status or those requiring burst suppression. This article provides a summary of the unique airway management and anesthesia considerations and controversies for neurologic emergencies in general, as well as for specific commonly encountered conditions: elevated intracranial pressure, neuromuscular respiratory failure, acute ischemic stroke, and acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Spinal Anesthesia Associated With Increased Length of Stay Compared to General Anesthesia for Ankle Open Reduction Internal Fixation: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

General and spinal anesthesia are both utilized for patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation of the ankle, but there are little data comparing early complication rates. The purpose of this study was to compare duration of surgery, length of stay, and rates of postoperative adverse events within 30 days in patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation of ankle fracture using spinal versus general anesthesia. Adult patients who underwent open reduction internal fixation of a closed ankle fracture from 2012 to 2016 were retrospectively identified from American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Duration of surgery, length of stay, 30-day adverse events, and unplanned readmissions were compared between patients who received general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. Propensity adjustment with respect to known risk factors for complications and adjunctive regional block was used to match patients. Of the 10,795 patients included after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 9862 (91.36%) received general anesthesia and 933 (8.64%) received spinal anesthesia. Using propensity-scored matching, 841 patients in the spinal cohort were matched to 3364 patients in the general cohort. Spinal anesthesia was associated with increased length of stay (+0.5 days, 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.77, p < .001). There were no differences in the rates of major/minor complications, mortality, transfusions, unplanned readmissions, or duration of surgery. General anesthesia is predominantly used for fixation of ankle fractures. While spinal anesthesia is associated with lower complication rates in hip and knee surgery, we found that it is associated with increased length of stay in patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation of the ankle within 30 days of surgery.

Radiographic assessments of pediatric supracondylar fractures and mid-term patient-reported outcomes.

Radiographic parameters are commonly used to determine the need for surgical supracondylar humeral (SCH) fracture reduction and the postoperative quality of reduction. We studied whether such parameters are correlated with mid-term patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores in pediatric patients.We retrospectively reviewed data from 213 patients (104 girls) treated surgically for Gartland type-II (n = 84) or type-III (n = 129) SCH fractures from 2008-2016. Mean (± standard deviation) age at surgery was 5.1 ±â€Š2.1 years. Mean time from initial treatment to outcome survey completion was 5.0 ±â€Š2.1 years (range, 2.0-10 years). We evaluated preoperative radiographs for coronal/sagittal fracture displacement, presence of impaction/comminution, Gartland classification, and rotation. Patients, parents were asked via telephone to complete the QuickDASH (Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) and PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Strength Impact, Upper Extremity, and Pain Interference questionnaires. Parents were also asked whether the previously fractured arm appeared normal or abnormal. We evaluated postoperative radiographs for coronal/sagittal deformity, Baumann angle, and rotation and classified reductions as near complete/complete or incomplete. Anterior humeral line through the capitellum, Baumann angle in the 7.5th to 92.5th percentile of the sample, or rotation ratio between 0.85 and 1.15 were considered near complete/complete reductions; all others were considered incomplete. Bivariate analysis was used to determine whether radiographic parameters and arm appearance were associated with QuickDASH and PROMIS scores.Patients with Gartland type-III fractures had significantly greater disability on the QuickDASH at follow-up compared with those with Gartland type-II fractures (P < .01). It is unknown if this statistical difference translates to clinical relevance. No other preoperative or postoperative radiographic parameter was significantly associated with PRO scores. There was no association between fractured arm appearance at follow-up and PRO scores.Radiographic parameters that are used to evaluate the need for and quality of pediatric SCH fracture reduction are not significantly associated with mid-term PROMIS and QuickDASH scores.LOE: Prognostic Level III.

National Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tear in Patients Without Arthritis.

Both rotator cuff repair (RCR) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) are effective treatment options for chronic large degenerative rotator cuff tear (RCT) in the elderly. The goal of this study was to evaluate national trends for surgical management of chronic RCT among patients without glenohumeral arthritis. The authors conducted a retrospective review from 2007 to 2015 using the PearlDiver database. The study included patients who had the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis of chronic RCT without shoulder arthritis. Procedural codes from the Current Procedural Terminology and the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, were used to identify patients undergoing RCR or RTSA. Chi-square analysis assessed differences between the groups, and Cochran-Armitage trend tests were used to evaluate trends over time. Overall, 428,651 patients had chronic RCT without arthritis; 364,141 (84.9%) were treated nonoperatively, 53,566 (12.5%) underwent RCR, and 10,944 (2.6%) underwent RTSA. Patients who were 60 to 79 years old had the highest rate of surgical intervention (70.8% of all surgical patients), with 69.2% and 78.4% who underwent RCR and RTSA, respectively. A 3-fold increase in RTSA use was noted among patients 60 years and older vs patients younger than 60 years. Overall revision rates 2 years after RCR and RTSA among patients 60 to 79 years old were 13.0% and 3.7%, respectively. Revision rates after RCR remained constant over time (9.3% to 13.0%; P=.082), whereas revision rates after RTSA decreased significantly over time (12.1% to 2.2%; P=.016). Older patients were more likely to be treated nonoperatively compared with younger patients, but among those patients treated with RTSA, there was a 3-fold increase in the use of RTSA in patients older than 60 years compared with patients younger than 60 years. Further, the authors found that revision rates after RTSA decreased over time (from 12% to 2%), suggesting better implant design, improved knowledge of implant positioning, and increased surgical proficiency. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(5):e409-e414.].

Mid-term Patient-reported Outcomes After Lateral Versus Crossed Pinning of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning in a crossed or lateral configuration is the standard treatment for supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures. We compared mid-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs), radiographic outcomes, and complication rates between patients treated with crossed versus lateral pinning. METHODS: We reviewed 508 pediatric patients treated surgically for Gartland type-III SCH fractures from 2008 to 2017. We included patients aged 5 to 17 years at the time of telephone interviews, who had available radiographs. We excluded those unable to be reached by telephone; those who declined to be surveyed; and those lost to follow-up. Our sample comprised 142 participants (28%) (mean±SD age at surgery, 5.2±2.0 y), 93 (65%) of whom were treated with lateral pinning and 49 (35%) with crossed pinning. Participants' parents completed the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Parent Proxy at a mean 4.4 years (range: 2 to 10 y) postoperatively. Postoperative radiographs were reviewed to assess reduction. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differed by pinning technique (α=0.05). RESULTS: The proportions of participants achieving complete reduction were not significantly different between pin configuration groups (P=0.71). At follow-up, the 2 groups did not differ significantly in any PRO scores (all, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: We found no differences between crossed and lateral pinning of Gartland type-III SCH fractures in terms of radiographic reduction, PROs, or complication rates at mid-term follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for predicting early postoperative complications after proximal humerus fracture fixation.

BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia is a marker for malnourishment and is associated with poor outcomes in the setting of hip fractures, periprosthetic joint fractures, and spine surgery. We hypothesized that hypoalbuminemia is associated with higher rates of early complication in patients undergoing surgical treatment for proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: Utilizing the ACS NSQIP database, all proximal humerus fractures treated with plate fixation were extracted from 2006 to 2015. Two cohorts were compared based on hypoalbuminemia (albumin <3.5 g/dL) versus normoalbuminemia (albumin >3.5 g/dL). Patient demographics and postoperative complications were analyzed with multivariable regression. RESULTS: Out of 916 patients undergoing PHF surgery, 290(31.7%) satisfied criteria for hypoalbuminemia (mean age: 65.9, female: 71%). Among 339 obese patients with BMI>30, 87 (25.7%) were hypoalbuminemic. Patients with hypoalbuminemia were overall at higher risk of any (29.7% vs 12.1%, p < 0.001), major (10.0% vs 2.4%, p < 0.001), and minor complications (24.1% vs 11.0%, p < 0.001) as well as readmissions (12.7% vs 5.1%, p < 0.001). Obese hypoalbuminemic patients had similar rates of complication as non-obese hypoalbuminemic patients. Multivariable regression showed that hypoalbuminemia had an odds ratio of 1.85(p = 0.003) for predicting any complication within 30 days of surgery. CONCLUSION: Hypoalbuminemia is associated with higher risk for complications and readmission after PHFs. It occurs more frequently in patients with chronic disease and is predictive of malnourishment. Paradoxically, hypoalbuminemia is not uncommon in obese patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; Retrospective Cohort Study.

Half of Unplanned Readmissions Following One or Two-Level Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Are Unrelated to Surgical Site.

MINI: In this study we analyze rates of readmission, and the timing and reasons for readmission after one to two level anterior cervical decompression and fusion. Among 18,833 patients who underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion, 3% were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. 39.5% of readmissions were for reasons related to surgical site. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a national database. OBJECTIVE: In this study we analyze rates of readmission, and the timing and reasons for readmission after one to two level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The safety profile of ACDF has been previously described with readmission rates typically between 2% and 4%. However no studies have investigated the primary diagnoses driving readmission, and whether these diagnoses are related to the surgical site. METHODS: Demographics, comorbidities, and procedural characteristics were collected for all patients undergoing one or two-level ACDF for degenerative indications identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. The incidence of 30-day complications and readmissions was calculated, and the reasons for readmission as well as the timing of readmission were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with complications or readmissions within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: Eighteen thousand eight hundred thirty three patients underwent ACDF (15,464 single-level and 3369 two-level, mean age 53.7 yrs, standard deviation [SD]: 11.6; 50% male). Postoperative complication rate of was 4.3% in two-level fusions and 3.5% in single-level fusion (P = 0.027). Five hundred sixty nine unplanned readmissions were identified (3.0%), of which 39.5% were related to the surgical site and 49.7% were unrelated to the surgical site (10.5% unknown cause of readmission). The most frequent reason for 30-day readmission was pneumonia (9.3%, mean time to readmission of 11.3 d) followed by dysphagia (7.4%, 6.3 d), and acute postoperative pain (7.2%, 11.4 d). CONCLUSION: In this nationwide analysis of 18,833 ACDF cases, 3.0% of patients were readmitted within 30 days, of which at least 49.7% were for reasons unrelated to the surgical site. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Retrospective review of a national database. In this study we analyze rates of readmission, and the timing and reasons for readmission after one to two level anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). The safety profile of ACDF has been previously described with readmission rates typically between 2% and 4%. However no studies have investigated the primary diagnoses driving readmission, and whether these diagnoses are related to the surgical site. Demographics, comorbidities, and procedural characteristics were collected for all patients undergoing one or two-level ACDF for degenerative indications identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. The incidence of 30-day complications and readmissions was calculated, and the reasons for readmission as well as the timing of readmission were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with complications or readmissions within 30 days of surgery. Eighteen thousand eight hundred thirty three patients underwent ACDF (15,464 single-level and 3369 two-level, mean age 53.7 yrs, standard deviation [SD]: 11.6; 50% male). Postoperative complication rate of was 4.3% in two-level fusions and 3.5% in single-level fusion (P = 0.027). Five hundred sixty nine unplanned readmissions were identified (3.0%), of which 39.5% were related to the surgical site and 49.7% were unrelated to the surgical site (10.5% unknown cause of readmission). The most frequent reason for 30-day readmission was pneumonia (9.3%, mean time to readmission of 11.3 d) followed by dysphagia (7.4%, 6.3 d), and acute postoperative pain (7.2%, 11.4 d). In this nationwide analysis of 18,833 ACDF cases, 3.0% of patients were readmitted within 30 days, of which at least 49.7% were for reasons unrelated to the surgical site. Level of Evidence: 3.

Gender Trends in Authorship of Foot and Ankle Academic Literature Over 24 Years.

Underrepresentation of females in surgery is reflected in research productivity across academic medicine, with male faculty being more likely to publish research than their female counterparts. In this study, we aimed to describe the representation and longevity of female investigators among the authors of articles in 3 foot and ankle research journals from 1993 to 2017. In this retrospective bibliometric analysis, authors from 3 prominent foot and ankle research journals (Foot and Ankle International, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and Foot and Ankle Clinics) were identified. The proportion of female authors who were first, middle, and senior authors and the total publication count per author were determined. From 1993 to 2017, 8132 original articles were published and a total of 6597 (81.1%) had an accessible author list. This allowed us to identify 25,329 total authors, of whom 22,961 (90.7%) were successfully matched to a gender. A total of 9273 unique authors were identified (females, 19.2%). Female representation increased for first and senior authors over the years from 6.5% and 5.9% (1993 to 1997) to 16.9% and 13.1% (2013 to 2017, p < .001), respectively. However, compared with male authors, female authors published fewer articles (mean: 1.7 versus 2.4, p < .001). Of the 2691 authors who first published during 2006 to 2011, 369 authors (13%), consisting of 8.1% females and 15% males (p < .001), continued to publish 5 years after their initial publication. Female representation in academic foot and ankle research has increased >2-fold over the past 2 decades. But despite these advances, compared to male authors, female authors are less likely to continue publishing 5 years after initial publication, and on average publish fewer articles.

Diagnostic Modalities for Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Extremities: A Systematic Review.

IMPORTANCE: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) can cause catastrophic tissue damage leading to permanent muscle and nerve loss. Acute compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis, with intracompartmental pressure (ICP) used in equivocal cases. There are no reliable diagnostic methods. The clinical evaluation is impossible to standardize, and the threshold for ICP has been known to be unreliable; thus, guidelines for diagnosis can result in overtreatment or delayed diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To present and review the advantages and disadvantages of each diagnostic modality and identify gaps that need to be addressed in the future and to review the most used and appropriate animal and human ACS models. EVIDENCE REVIEW: We included clinical studies and animal models investigating diagnostic modalities for ACS of the extremities. A MEDLINE and Web of Science search was performed. The protocol for the study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017079266). We assessed the quality of the clinical studies with Newcastle-Ottawa scale and reported level of evidence for each article. FINDINGS: Fifty-one articles were included in this study, reporting on 38 noninvasive and 35 invasive modalities. Near-infrared spectroscopy and direct ICP measurement using a Stryker device were the most common, respectively. Cadaveric studies used saline infusions to create an ACS model. Most studies with human participants included injured patients with acquired ACS or at risk of developing ACS. In healthy human participants, tourniquets formed the most commonly used ACS model. Application of tourniquets and infusion of saline or albumin were the most used ACS models among animal studies. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This article reports on the most common as well as many new and modified diagnostic modalities, which can serve as inspiration for future investigations to develop more effective and efficient diagnostic techniques for ACS. Future studies on diagnostic modalities should include the development of tools for continuous assessment of ICP to better identify the earliest alterations suggestive of impending ACS. With the advent of such technologies, it may be possible to develop far less aggressive and more effective approaches for early detection of ACS.

The AUSCAN and PRWHE Demonstrate Comparable Internal Consistency and Validity in Patients With Early Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) and Patient-Rated Wrist-Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) are 2 patient-related outcome measures to assess pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the AUSCAN and PRWHE in a large-scale, longitudinal cohort of patients with early thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) OA. METHODS: We obtained baseline data on 135 individuals (92 with early CMC OA participants and 43 asymptomatic controls) and at follow-up (year 1.5) on 83 individuals. We assessed the internal consistency using Cronbach alpha, and construct and criterion validity using other pain scales and objective measures of strength, respectively. We also examined the correlation between the AUSCAN and PRWHE and correlation coefficients at baseline and follow-up, as well as the correlation between changes in these instruments over the follow-up period. RESULTS: Internal consistency was high for both AUSCAN and PRWHE totals and subscales (Cronbach α > 0.70). Both instruments demonstrated construct validity compared with the Verbal Rating Scale ( r = 0.52-0.60, P < .01), an assessment of pain, and moderate criterion validity compared with key pinch and grip strength ( r = -.24 to -.33, P < .05). These instruments were highly correlated with each other at baseline and follow-up time points ( r = 0.76-.94, P < .01), and changes in a patient's total scores over time were also correlated ( r = 0.83, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The AUSCAN and PRWHE are both valid assessments for pain and/or disability in patients with early thumb CMC OA.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome in female athletes: A review of diagnoses, etiology and treatment options.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of knee pain and is present in females disproportionately more relative to males. PFPS causes tend to be multifactorial in nature and are described in this review. From a review of the current literature, it is clear that there needs to be further research on PFPS in order to better understand the complex etiology of this disorder in both males and females. It is known that females with patellofemoral pain syndrome demonstrate a decrease in abduction, external rotation and extension strength of the affected side compared with healthy patients. Conservative management, including optimizing muscle balance between the vastus medialis and lateralis around the patella along with formal therapy should be the first line of treatment in patients presenting with PFPS. Surgery should be reserved for patients in which all conservative management options have failed. This review aims to guide physicians in accurate clinicaldecision making regarding conservative and surgical treatment options when specifically faced with PFPS in a female athlete. Furthermore, we will discuss the anatomic variants, incidence and prevalence, etiology, diagnosis and treatment of PFPS.

Cost-Minimization Analysis of Open and Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel release is the most common upper-limb surgical procedure performed annually in the U.S. There are 2 surgical methods of carpal tunnel release: open or endoscopic. Currently, there is no clear clinical or economic evidence supporting the use of one procedure over the other. We completed a cost-minimization analysis of open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release, testing the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the procedures in terms of cost. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review using a private-payer and Medicare Advantage database composed of 16 million patient records from 2007 to 2014. The cohort consisted of records with an ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and a CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for carpal tunnel release. Payer fees were used to define cost. We also assessed other associated costs of care, including those of electrodiagnostic studies and occupational therapy. Bivariate comparisons were performed using the chi-square test and the Student t test. RESULTS: Data showed that 86% of the patients underwent open carpal tunnel release. Reimbursement fees for endoscopic release were significantly higher than for open release. Facility fees were responsible for most of the difference between the procedures in reimbursement: facility fees averaged $1,884 for endoscopic release compared with $1,080 for open release (p < 0.0001). Endoscopic release also demonstrated significantly higher physician fees than open release (an average of $555 compared with $428; p < 0.0001). Occupational therapy fees associated with endoscopic release were less than those associated with open release (an average of $237 per session compared with $272; p = 0.07). The total average annual reimbursement per patient for endoscopic release (facility, surgeon, and occupational therapy fees) was significantly higher than for open release ($2,602 compared with $1,751; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the total average fees per patient for endoscopic release were significantly higher than those for open release, although there currently is no strong evidence supporting better clinical outcomes of either technique. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Value-based health-care models that favor delivering high-quality care and improving patient health, while also minimizing costs, may favor open carpal tunnel release.