Education and clinical pharmacist-led management strategies for the risk and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in general surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite the risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical patients are well defined, primary thromboprophylaxis (TP) can be neglected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of VTE and appropriateness of TP and to assess the effects of education and clinical pharmacy (CP) services. METHODS: This study was conducted in a total of 3 periods (n = 800): pre-education (n = 340), post-education (n = 269) and CP intervention period (n = 191) and the risk of VTE and the appropriateness of TP were evaluated. At the end of pre-education period, patients were re-evaluated after education was given about the guidelines on TP and an educative poster was posted in the services (post-education period). During the CP intervention period, the CP made recommendations in terms of optimal TP use to the physicians in charge. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference in the optimal TP rate administered to the patients before and after education (138/340, 40.6% vs. 122/269, 45.4%; p = 0.238); this rate was increased to 113/191 (59.2%) in the CP intervention period (p = 0.004). High-risk patients who received one type of TP constituted the majority of patients who did not receive optimal TP. While the ratio of high-risk patients undergoing a single type of TP in the pre- and post-education periods (104/340, 30.6% vs. 83/269, 30.9%), was similar (p = 0.819); with the CP interventions, this rate was reduced to 35/191 (18.3%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Even though education has positive influence on surgeons, the implementation of CP practices is more effective especially in terms of maintaining optimal TP.

Clinical pharmacist-led assessment and management of anticholinergic burden and fall risk in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the risk of fall with the surrogate outcome of the Aachen Falls Prevention Scale and to assess the clinical pharmacist interventions in order to minimize anticholinergic drug burden and associated risk of fall according to a fall risk assessment scale in the older adults. METHODS: Patients who admitted to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital and taking at least one anticholinergic drug were evaluated both retrospectively and prospectively as groups of different patients by the clinical pharmacist. Patients' anticholinergic burden was assessed using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. For fall risk assessment, the Aachen Falls Prevention Scale was also administered to each patient whose anticholinergic burden was determined in the prospective phase of the study. RESULTS: A total of 601 patients were included. Risk of falls increased 2.50 times in patients with high anticholinergic burden (OR (95% CI) = 2.503 (1.071-5.852); p = 0.034), and the existing history of falls increased the risk of high anticholinergic burden 2.02 times (OR (95%CI) = 2.026 (1.059-3.876); p = 0.033). In addition, each unit increase in the fall scale score in the prospective phase increased the risk of high anticholinergic burden by 22% (p = 0.028). Anticholinergic burden was significantly reduced as a result of interventions by the clinical pharmacist in the prospective phase (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that incorporating a clinical pharmacist in the handling of geriatric patients aids in the detection, reduction, and prevention of anticholinergic adverse effects.

COVID-19 and antiepileptic drugs: an approach to guide practices when nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is co-prescribed.

Management and dose adjustment are a major concern for clinicians in the absence of specific clinical outcome data for patients on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), in the event of short-term (5 days) nirmatrelvir/ritonavir co-exposure. Therefore, in this report, we identified drugs that require dose adjustment because of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and AEDs. We hereby used four databases (Micromedex Drug Interaction, Liverpool Drug Interaction Group for COVID-19 Therapies, Medscape Drug Interaction Checker, and Lexicomp Drug Interactions) and DDI-Predictor.In the light of applying the DDI-Predictor, for carbamazepine, clobazam, oxcarbazepine, eslicarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, rufinamide, and valproate as CYP3A4 inducers, we recommend that a dose adjustment of short-term nirmatrelvir/ritonavir as a substrate (victim) drug would be more appropriate instead of these AEDs to avoid impending DDI-related threats in patients with epilepsy.

Liposomal amphotericin B related late-onset hyperphosphatemia in a pediatric patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at risk for serious electrolyte abnormalities. CASE REPORT: We reported a case of hyperphosphatemia in a child with acute myeloid leukemia who received liposomal amphotericin B (AMBL) for the treatment of an invasive fungal infection. The findings of this case suggest that cumulative dose accumulation due to long term AMBL treatment may result in late-onset hyperphosphatemia. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: This is the first case report in the literature that of late-onset hyperphosphatemia (day 56) in a patient with low-dose AMBL treatment (3-5 mg/kg/day) and normal renal function. DISCUSSION: We highlight the importance of increasing awareness of AMBL related hyperphosphatemia among healthcare providers.

Potential drug-drug interactions with psychotropic drugs in paediatric inpatients: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are important problems that necessitate more attention in paediatric inpatients. This study aimed to determine and evaluate DDIs in paediatric inpatients using psychotropic drugs. METHODS: It was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study. Inpatients consulted by child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs) and had at least one psychotropic drug-using between January 2016 and September 2017 were retrospectively included. To determine the clinical significance of DDIs by Micromedex® and DDI Predictor online databases. DDIs between psychotropic and other drugs, the type, severity, and duration of potential DDIs were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 564 patients' records were reviewed and 200 patients were considered eligible and included in the study. The median (min-max) age was 13.70 (1.5-17.83) years. The mean (SD) number of psychotropics used during hospitalisation was 1.29 (0.55) and the total number of drugs was 7.39 (4.45). A total of 336 potential DDIs were detected (2.19 DDIs/patient) in all patients. The most common potential outcome of psychotropic DDIs was drug-induced QTc prolongation (67.56%). While 92.85% of the potential DDIs were "contraindicated" or "major," only 18.46% had a "good" or "excellent" strength of evidence. The risk of psychotropic polypharmacy (OR:0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.92; p:0.006) and DDIs (OR:0.69, 95% CI 0.35-0.76; p:0.033) was significantly higher in patients without primary psychiatric disorders. When the total number of drugs and the total number of potential DDIs were compared amongst all inpatient units, significant differences were found between paediatric hematology-general paediatrics (mean difference: 2.002; P < .001) and paediatric hematology-paediatric ICU (mean difference: 1.650; P = .012), respectively. CONCLUSION: Psychotropic drug-related DDI is a major problem in the paediatric population and the clinical significance of the potential DDIs' risk should be determined in patient-centred care and managed by the multidisciplinary team.

Do Antiepileptic Drugs Used During Electroconvulsive Therapy Impact Treatment Process?

PURPOSE: Whether the antiepileptic agents used by patients before the treatment should be discontinued after the initiation of the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is one of the most effective treatment options in psychiatry, is a dilemma frequently faced by clinicians. Recently, there has been an increased interest in this subject. This study aimed to determine the impact of antiepileptic agents on ECT process in the event of continued use in the course of the therapy. METHODS: From among the patients on an ECT therapy in the Psychiatry Clinic of Hacettepe University Hospital since 2010, a total of 39 patients who continued to use the antiepileptic agent they were taking prior to the ECT therapy were determined and included in the study. As for the control group, on the list of ECT patients, the 39 patients coming immediately after the patients using antiepileptics were taken up in the study. The patients using antiepileptics were compared with the control subjects on the basis of their sociodemographic characteristics, number of active sessions, energy levels of the past seizures, seizure durations, some clinical outcomes, and characteristics of the first and the last seizures. RESULTS: There were no differences between the control subjects and those using the antiepileptics in terms of average age, body mass index, Clinical Global Impression scores, and sex distribution. Energy levels required to induce the first and the last seizures and total amounts of energy used in active seizures were significantly higher in patients taking the antiepileptics than the control group. Besides, the durations of the first peripheral and central seizures were significantly less in patients using the antiepileptics as compared with the control subjects. When sociodemographic variables and numeric data about the seizures were brought into the equation in the binary logistic regression analysis for determination of being included in either the group of patients taking antiepileptics or the control group, the only meaningful variable was found to be "duration of the first central seizure." CONCLUSIONS: Continued use of the antiepileptics during ECT by the patients to undergo ECT may lead to an increased dose of energy to be used during the therapy. When all variables are taken into consideration, it was determined that the use of antiepileptic significantly shortened purely the duration of the first seizure. In the light of the present results, it does not seem meaningful to suggest as a conclusive requirement to discontinue the antiepileptics used before ECT prior to the commencement thereof.

Selective estrogen receptor modulation prevents scoliotic curve progression: radiologic and histomorphometric study on a bipedal C57Bl6 mice model.

PURPOSE: Previous work has suggested that progression of experimental scoliotic curves in pinealectomized chicken and bipedal C57BL6 mice models may be prevented and reversed with Tamoxifen treatment. Raloxifene is another Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) with estrogen agonist effects on bone and increases bone density but with fewer side effects on humans. To investigate whether scoliosis progression in bipedal C57Bl6 mice model could be prevented with SERM treatment and the mechanisms associated with this effect. METHODS: Eighty C57BL6 mice were rendered bipedal and divided into Tamoxifen (TMX), Raloxifene (RLX) and control groups. TMX and RLX groups received orally administered TMX and RLX for 40 weeks. Anteroposterior X-ray imaging and histomorphometric analysis (at 20th and 40th weeks) were performed. RESULTS: At 20th week, TMX and RLX groups displayed higher rates (p = 0.033, p = 0.029) and larger curve magnitudes (p = 0.018). At 40th week, curve rates were similar between the groups but the curve magnitudes in TMX and RLX groups were smaller (p = 0.001). Histomorphometry revealed that treated animals had higher trabecular density (p = 0.04), lower total intervertebral disc (p = 0.038) and growth plate volumes (p = 0.005) and smaller vertebral bodies (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with TMX or RLX did not reduce the incidence of scoliosis but decreased the curve magnitudes at 40 weeks. The underlying mechanism associated with the decrease in curve magnitudes may be the early maturation of growth plates, thereby possible deceleration of the growth rate of the vertebral column and increase in bone density. RLX is as effective as TMX in preventing the progression of scoliotic curves in melatonin deficient bipedal mice.

Adherence to medical treatment for Wilson's disease in children and adolescents: a cohort study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess medication adherence and demographic, clinical, and psychopathological parameters such as quality of life, depression, and anxiety levels that can affect pediatrics with Wilson's Disease (WD). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at an outpatient clinic in Turkey among pediatric patients (2 to 18 years) with WD between November 2022 and April 2023. The Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) as a subjective and Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) as an objective assessment were scored. Physical, genetic and biochemical parameters, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for both parents and patients, Childhood Depression Inventory, State Trait Anxiety Inventory were also administered. RESULTS: A total of 30 pediatric outpatients who were prescribed D-penicillamine (n = 27) or trientine (n = 3) as chelators and zinc (n = 29) and pyridoxine (n = 19) as supplements were included. Proteinuria (n = 3), skin rash (n = 2), and gastrointestinal upset (n = 2) were observed. When the correlation between MARS-5 and duration of follow-up was examined, a significant negative correlation was found (p = 0.014). According to MPRs, non-adherence rates (missed doses ≥ 20%) were 29.6%, 17.2% and 5.3% for D-penicillamine, zinc and pyridoxine, respectively. PedsQL scores were higher than those of parents, with a positive correlation between them (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between PedsQL and State Anxiety Inventory (p < 0.001). Comparing the change in urinary copper levels between different levels of treatment knowledge, significant differences were observed between high- and low levels (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, nonadherence rates were 23.3% based on MARS-5 and 5.3-29.6% based on MPR. It is essential to consider factors such as the duration of follow-up, biochemical parameters, treatment knowledge, quality of life and anxiety as potential influencers of medication adherence.

Web Survey of Turkish Pharmacy Students Comparing First and Fifth Years' Antidepressant Awareness and Stigmatizing Attitudes Regarding Depression and Anxiety.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety has increased day by day. Prejudice, self-stigma, and public stigma, on the other hand, continue to prevent patients from seeking adequate treatment, particularly in traditional communities. In this web-based, cross-sectional study, both the presence of depression and anxiety, and the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of first- and fifth (final)-year pharmacy students were examined via an online survey. The aim was to demonstrate the potential impact of public information and five years of pharmacy school on knowledge, attitude, and awareness. Our study population consisted of first- and fifth-year pharmacy students enrolled in one faculty of pharmacy during the spring semester of 2022-2023. The Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Scale were utilized to measure the presence of depression and anxiety, while the Depression and Antidepressant Awareness and Knowledge Scale (DAKAS) was applied to assess their knowledge, attitude, and awareness. Fifth-year participants (n = 101) exhibited noticeably fewer stigmatizing attitudes than first-year participants (n = 104) (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety scores in first- and fifth-year pharmacy students. Being in the fifth class (OR: 3.690; p = 0.025), being of female gender (OR: 4.653; p < 0.001), and having a relationship with someone who took a psychotropic (OR: 3.060; p = 0.008) were associated with a lower overall stigma score by multiple linear regression analysis. The students' awareness of antidepressants and familiarity with mental health issues at the end of their pharmacy education were higher and stigmatization behavior was lower than in first-year students. The positive attitudes at the end of their training towards depression will reduce the likelihood of future pharmacists' patients from being exposed to stigmatization, prevents the formation of an additional stress factor, and likely will improve pharmacy practices.

Optimization of appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis in general surgery: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) are characterized by infections occurring in the surgical incision site, organ or cavity in the postoperative period. Adherence to surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is paramount in mitigating the occurrence of SSIs. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of SAP use in patients undergoing surgical procedures in the field of general surgery according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guideline and to determine the difference between the pre-training period (pre-TP) and the post-training period (post-TP) organized according to this guideline. METHODS: It is a single-center prospective study conducted in general surgery wards between January 2022 and May 2023, with 404 patients pre-TP and 406 patients post-TP. RESULTS: Cefazolin emerged as the predominant agent for SAP, favored in 86.8% (703/810) of cases. Appropriate cefazolin dosage increased significantly from 41% (129 patients) in pre-TP to 92.6% (276 patients) in post-TP (p < 0.001), along with a rise in adherence to recommended timing of administration from 42.2% (133 patients) to 62.8% (187 patients) (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients receiving antibiotics during hospitalization in the ward postoperatively decreased post-TP (21-14.3%; p = 0.012), as did antibiotic prescription at discharge (16.8-10.3%; p = 0.008). The incidence of SSI showed a slight increase from 9.9% in pre-TP to 13.3% in post-TP (p = 0.131). CONCLUSIONS: Routine training sessions for surgeons emerged as crucial strategies to optimize patient care and enhance SAP compliance rates, particularly given the burden of clinical responsibilities faced by surgical teams.

Effect of Modulator Therapies on Nutritional Risk Index in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Modulator therapies improve weight and body mass index (BMI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. We aimed to compare the nutritional risk index (NRI) in adult CF patients receiving modulator (MT) or only non-modulator (conventional) therapies (non-MT). Methods: A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted between June and December 2023. The NRI based on weight gain and albumin was calculated at beginning and end of a 12-week period in both groups. This design was pragmatic, since it was based on individual patient access to MT for 12 weeks. Results: In total, 107 patients were included [mean (SD) age: 23.85 (4.98) years, 54.7% male, 46.7% MT]. In the MT group, mean (SD) weight (kg) and albumin (g/dL) increased significantly [changes: +3.09 (2.74) and +0.17 (0.37); p < 0.001]. In the non-MT group, weight and albumin decreased significantly [changes: -0.99 (1.73) and -0.12 (0.30); p < 0.001]. Compared to the MT group, baseline mean (SD) NRI in the non-MT group was significantly higher [100.65 (11.80) vs. 104.10 (10.10); p = 0.044]. At the end of the 12 weeks, mean (SD) NRI in the MT group was higher than in the non-MT group [104.18 (10.40) vs. 102.58 (12.39); p = 0.145]. In the MT group, the NRI category improved in 22 (44%), and worsened in 3 (6%) patients (p < 0.001). In the non-MT group, the NRI category improved in 2 (3.5%), and worsened in 10 (17.5%) patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This is the first study reporting on a positive effect of MT on NRIs, based on weight gain and albumin. Personalized nutrition and routine follow-up of adults with CF based on NRI is recommended prior to MT initiation.

Revisiting the surgical indication of mid-shaft clavicle fractures: Clavicle asymmetry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate whether clavicular symmetry was a valid assumption and to assess the factors that could predict clavicular asymmetry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2021 and April 2021, a total of 100 consecutive patients (61 males, 39 females; mean age: 63.6±15.5 years; range, 27 to 94 years) whose both clavicles were adequately seen on chest computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively analyzed. Clavicular lengths were measured on three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of chest CTs by two independent orthopedic surgeons on two separate occasions. The longest distance passing the straight line between the most lateral part of the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint and the most medial point of the clavicle on the sternoclavicular joint was given as the clavicle length after adjusting tilt of convertible 3D CTs. Clavicular length difference was calculated by subtracting the short clavicle's length from the long clavicle's length. Patients' age and sex were noted. The calculated clavicular length differences were assigned into three groups: ≤5 mm, >5 mm and ≤10 mm, and >10 mm. RESULTS: The mean right and left clavicle lengths were 13.9±1.3 cm and 14.1±1.2 cm, respectively (p<0.001). A total of 29 patients (29%) had >5 mm clavicle asymmetry and six patients (6%) had more than 10 mm clavicular length difference. Age, sex, and clavicular length were not associated with the clavicular length difference. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that 29% of the patients had >5 mm clavicular length asymmetry. The clavicular symmetry may not be a valid assumption in the decision making for the surgical treatment of mid-shaft clavicle fractures; thus, this assumption may lead to maltreatment. More factors that can predict clavicle asymmetry should be investigated in future studies.

Impact of clinical pharmacist-led intervention for drug-related problems in neonatal intensive care unit a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Drug-related problems (DRPs) incidence is higher in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), compared to other pediatric wards due to aspects like off-label medications, pharmacokinetic/dynamic variability, or organ dysfunction/immaturity. This study aimed to determine whether and to what extent a clinical pharmacist intervention improves medication safety and prevents DRPs [medication errors (MEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs)]. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled study in NICU-admitted neonates was conducted. NICU patients were randomly assigned to the intervention (clinical pharmacist-led) (IG) or control group (standard care such as clinical diagnosis, pharmacotherapy) (CG). The clinical pharmacist was involved in the IG to identify-prevent-intervene MEs, or identify and monitor ADRs and DDIs. The primary outcome was the number of neonates who developed at least one DRP compared with those seen across IG and CG. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, total number of drugs or DRP type. Results: Neonates were randomly assigned to CG (n = 52) or IG (n = 48). In total, 45%, 42%, and 16% of patients had at least 1 MEs, ADRs, and clinically significant DDIs, respectively. The number of patients with at least 1 ME was 28 (53%) and 17 (35%) in the CG and IG (p>0.05). The median (range) number of ME was higher in CG [1 (0-7)] than in IG [0 (0-4)] (p = 0.003). Applying regression analysis, the CG had 2.849 times more MEs than the IG (p<0.001). Furthermore, the number of patients (CG to IG) with at least one detected ADR or clinical DDI was 19 (36%) to 23 (47%) (p>0.05) and 4 (7%) to 12 (25%), respectively (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Clinical pharmacist availability to systematically and standardized identify, prevent and resolve DRPs among NICU patients is effective. Daily detailed clinical pharmacist observations and interventions enables prevention and monitoring of DRPs. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04899960.

Development and validation of a machine learning-based detection system to improve precision screening for medication errors in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Aim: To develop models that predict the presence of medication errors (MEs) (prescription, preparation, administration, and monitoring) using machine learning in NICU patients. Design: Prospective, observational cohort study randomized with machine learning (ML) algorithms. Setting: A 22-bed capacity NICU in Ankara, Turkey, between February 2020 and July 2021. Results: A total of 11,908 medication orders (28.9 orders/patient) for 412 NICU patients (5.53 drugs/patient/day) who received 2,280 prescriptions over 32,925 patient days were analyzed. At least one physician-related ME and nurse-related ME were found in 174 (42.2%) and 235 (57.0%) of the patients, respectively. The parameters that had the highest correlation with ME occurrence and subsequently included in the model were: total number of drugs, anti-infective drugs, nervous system drugs, 5-min APGAR score, postnatal age, alimentary tract and metabolism drugs, and respiratory system drugs as patient-related parameters, and weekly working hours of nurses, weekly working hours of physicians, and number of nurses' monthly shifts as care provider-related parameters. The obtained model showed high performance to predict ME (AUC: 0.920; 95% CI: 0.876-0.970) presence and is accessible online (http://softmed.hacettepe.edu.tr/NEO-DEER_Medication_Error/). Conclusion: This is the first developed and validated model to predict the presence of ME using work environment and pharmacotherapy parameters with high-performance ML algorithms in NICU patients. This approach and the current model hold the promise of implementation of targeted/precision screening to prevent MEs in neonates. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04899960.

Development and validation of machine learning-based clinical decision support tool for identifying malnutrition in NICU patients.

Hospitalized newborns have an increased risk of malnutrition and, especially preterm infants, often experience malnutrition-related extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). The aim of this study was to predict the discharge weight and the presence of weight gain at discharge with machine learning (ML) algorithms. The demographic and clinical parameters were used to develop the models using fivefold cross-validation in the software-R with a neonatal nutritional screening tool (NNST). A total of 512 NICU patients were prospectively included in the study. Length of hospital stay (LOS), parenteral nutrition treatment (PN), postnatal age (PNA), surgery, and sodium were the most important variables in predicting the presence of weight gain at discharge with a random forest classification (AUROC:0.847). The AUROC of NNST-Plus, which was improved by adding LOS, PN, PNA, surgery, and sodium to NNST, increased by 16.5%. In addition, weight at admission, LOS, gestation-adjusted age at admission (> 40 weeks), sex, gestational age, birth weight, PNA, SGA, complications of labor and delivery, multiple birth, serum creatinine, and PN treatment were the most important variables in predicting discharge weight with an elastic net regression (R2 = 0.748). This is the first study on the early prediction of EUGR with promising clinical performance based on ML algorithms. It is estimated that the incidence of EUGR can be improved with the implementation of this ML-based web tool ( http://www.softmed.hacettepe.edu.tr/NEO-DEER/ ) in clinical practice.

Pharmacogenetic testing in psychiatry: Perspective on clinical utility.

Pharmacogenetic studies the influence of inherited characteristics on medication. While different from pharmacogenomics, which is a study of the entire genome in relation to medication effect, their distinction remains inconsistent, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Although the potential of pharmacogenomics in psychiatry is apparent and its clinical utility is suboptimal, the uptake of recommendations and guidelines is minimal and research into PGx is not diverse. This article offers an overview of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in psychiatry, explores the difficulties, and provides recommendations on improving its applicability and clinical utility.

Ischiofemoral impingement: evaluation with new MRI parameters and assessment of their reliability.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with ischiofemoral impingement (IFI) and to evaluate the reliability of these MRI findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy hips of 50 patients with hip pain and quadratus femoris muscle (QFM) edema and 38 hips of 30 control cases were included in the study. The QFM edema and fatty replacement were assessed visually. Ischiofemoral space (IFS), quadratus femoris space (QFS), inclination angle (IA), hamstring tendon area (HTA), and total quadratus femoris muscle volume (TQFMV) measurements were performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists. The intra- and interobserver reliabilities were obtained for quantitative variables. RESULTS: IFS, QFS, and TQFMV values of the patient group were significantly lower than those of controls (P < 0.001). HTA and IA measurements of the patient group were also significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.05). The QFM fatty replacement grades were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Inter- and intra-observer reliabilities were strong for all continuous variables. CONCLUSION: Clinicians and radiologists should be aware of IFI in patients with hip or groin pain, and MRI should be obtained for the presence of the QFM edema/fatty replacement, narrowing of the IFS-QFS, and other features that may help in the clinical diagnosis of IFI for the proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease.