The correlation between altmetric score and traditional measures of article impact for studies pertaining to spine trauma.

PURPOSE: It is becoming increasingly common for researchers to share scientific literature via social media. Traditional bibliometrics have long been utilized to measure a study's academic impact, but they fail to capture the impact generated through social media sharing. Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) is a weighted count of all the online attention garnered by a study, and it is currently unclear whether a relationship with traditional bibliometrics exists. METHODS: We identified the five highest-rated spine-specific and five highest-rated general orthopedic journals by Scopus CiteScore 2020. We then identified all the spine trauma studies across a 5-year span (2016-2020) within these journals and compared AAS with traditional bibliometrics using Independent t-tests and Pearson's correlational analyses. RESULTS: No statistically significant relationships were identified between AAS and traditional bibliometrics for articles pertaining to spine trauma: Level of Evidence (R = - 0.02, p = 0.34), H-Index Primary Author (R = < - 0.01, p = 0.50), H-Index Senior Author (R = - 0.04, p = 0.24), and Number of Citations (R = 0.01, p = 0.40). The top five articles by AAS include those pertaining to motorcycle injuries (AAS = 687), orthosis in thoracolumbar fractures (AAS = 199), golfing injuries (AAS = 166), smartphone-based teleradiology (AAS = 41), and auto racing injuries (AAS = 39). CONCLUSION: The lack of overlap between these types of metrics suggests that AAS or similar alternative metrics should be used to measure an article's social impact. The social impact of an article should likewise be a factor in determining an article's overall impact along with its academic impact as measured by bibliometrics.

[Does MIS in thoracolumbar fracture care really improve outcome? ]. / Minimal-invasive Interventionen bei thorakolumbalen Frakturen. Effekte auf das Outcome.

Minimally invasive surgery in spine trauma is an expanding treatment option, and has some emerging support based on early publications. Its exact role in spine trauma care, however, remains to be seen as we await longer-term data and look to learn more about its limitations and its role relative to nonoperative care.

Radiographic analysis of type II odontoid fractures in a geriatric patient population: description and pathomechanism of the "Geier"-deformity.

INTRODUCTION: Type II odontoid fractures are one among the most common cervical spine fractures in the elders. We reviewed a consecutive series of patients, aged 65 years and older, presenting to our institution with type II odontoid fractures. Our analysis focused on the radiographic outcome, union rate and the development of cervical spine postural deformity. PATIENTS/METHODS: Indications for surgical treatment (OP) included displaced or unstable injuries. Stable, non-displaced injuries or patients with significant co-morbidities were treated nonoperatively (non-op). RESULTS: Ninety patients (50 f, 40 m) with an average age of 83 years (65-101) were identified. 31 (34.4%) patients were received OP and 57 (63.3%) were received non-op treatments. The hospital length of stay was significantly longer after OP (mean 10 days vs. 6 days non-op) treatment (p = 0.007). At follow-up, higher union rates were noted in the OP (76.2%) than in the non-op group (58.3%). CONCLUSION: We observed a characteristic cervical spine deformity in geriatric patients with type II odontoid fractures, and have termed this the "Geier-deformity". Clinical findings of the deformity include sagittal imbalance and kyphosis of the lower cervical spine.

Encephalocele--a single institution African experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to find out the presentation, management and complications of encephaloceles in an African setting. DESIGN: a retrospective study reviewing the age and sex of the patients, type and contents of encephaloceles, associated anomalies, preoperative evaluation and investigations, surgical approaches, intra- and post-operative complications as well as follow-up outcomes. SETTING: Bethany Crippled Children's centre and Bethanykids at Kijabe Hospital (BKKH), between January 1998 and August 2006. PATIENTS: Of the 53 patients seen, 23 were males and 30 females. The median age at presentation was four months. RESULTS: The follow-up period extended to eight years. Twenty nine patients had occipital encephaloceles, and 39 were operated using the direct external approach. Cererobrospinal fluid leak was the most common post-operative complication. Recurrence occurred in four patients and death in six. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the encephalocele patients manage d at BKKH had good outcomes and proceeded to live normal or near-normal lives. Our study confirms that even in resource-constrained areas, children with encephaloceles can be successfully managed with acceptable outcomes.

The atherosclerotic popliteal aneurysm: report of diagnosis and treatment in twenty-six cases.

Twenty-six popliteal aneurysms in eighteen patients are presented. There was a 45 per cent incidence of bilaterality and a 33 per cent incidence of extrapopliteal aneurysms. Rest pain and/or gangrene secondary to thrombosis of the aneurysm were the most common presenting symptoms. Eleven reconstructive procedures were carried out with good results and no mortality. All popliteal aneurysms should be repaired when found regardless of size, and due to the high incidence of extrapopliteal aneurysm, these patients should undergo a thorough search for aneurysms at other sites. They may be excised with end-to-end anastomosis with the graft or simply ligated and bypass grafting accomplished. Saphenous vein or Dacron graft may be used with equally satisfactory results. Long-term follow-up is recommended because of propensity for recurrence of aneurysms in the residual popliteal artery and to rule out extrapopliteal aneurysm formation.

Exercise-induced asthma in adolescent gym class population.

The prevalence of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) was determined in a population of 12- and 13-year-old schoolchildren whose parents returned a questionnaire regarding a previous diagnosis of asthma, recent asthmatic symptoms and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. EIA was defined as a greater than 15% fall in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) following 6 min of free running in a gymnasium. Among the 201 children studied, 18 (8.9%) demonstrated EIA. Of 21 children with symptomatic asthma in the 6 months prior to study, 9 (43%) developed EIA compared to none of 6 children with asymptomatic asthma (p less than 0.0001). Among 48 children with a history of allergic rhinitis alone, 7 (14.6%) demonstrated EIA. The mean postexercise changes in PEFR were 14.9% for 16 children with both asthma and allergic rhinitis, 6.4% among 48 children with allergic rhinitis only, and 1.8% among 125 normal children. Recent symptoms of asthma and a history of allergic rhinitis appeared to be risk factors for EIA. EIA was readily demonstrated in a gym class setting; the use of such screening may facilitate its diagnosis and treatment.