Using Kane's framework to build an assessment tool for undergraduate medical student's clinical competency with point of care ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is a portable imaging technology used in clinical settings. There is a need for valid tools to assess clinical competency in POCUS in medical students. The primary aim of this study was to use Kane's framework to evaluate an interpretation-use argument (IUA) for an undergraduate POCUS assessment tool. METHODS: Participants from Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Calgary, and the University of Ottawa were recruited between 2014 and 2018. A total of 86 participants and seven expert raters were recruited. The participants performed abdominal, sub-xiphoid cardiac, and aorta POCUS scans on a volunteer patient after watching an instruction video. The participant-generated POCUS images were assessed by the raters using a checklist and a global rating scale. Kane's framework was used to determine validity evidence for the scoring inference. Fleiss' kappa was used to measure agreement between seven raters on five questions that reflected clinical competence. The descriptive comments collected from the raters were systematically coded and analyzed. RESULTS: The overall agreement between the seven raters on five questions on clinical competency ranged from fair to moderate (κ = 0.32 to 0.55). The themes from the qualitative data were poor image generation and interpretation (22%), items not applicable (20%), poor audio and video quality (20%), poor probe handling (10%), and participant did not verbalize findings (14%). CONCLUSION: The POCUS assessment tool requires further modification and testing prior before it can be used for reliable undergraduate POCUS assessment.

Waste and recycling among orthopedic subspecialties.

Background: It is estimated that one-quarter to half of all hospital waste is produced in the operating room. Recycling of surgical waste in the perioperative setting is uncommon, even though there are many recyclable materials. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of waste produced in the preoperative and operative periods for several orthopedic subspecialties and to assess how much of this waste was recycled. Methods: Surgical cases at 1 adult and 1 pediatric tertiary care hospital in Calgary, Alberta, were prospectively chosen from 6 orthopedic subspecialties over a 1-month period. Waste was collected, weighed and divided into recyclable and nonrecyclable categories in the preoperative period and into recyclable, nonrecyclable, linen and biological categories in the intraoperative period. Waste bags were weighed using a portable hand-held scale. The primary outcome was the amount of recyclable waste produced per case. Secondary outcomes included the amount of nonrecyclable, biological and total waste produced. An analysis of variance was performed to test for statistically significant differences among subspecialties. Results: This study included 55 procedures. A total of 341.0 kg of waste was collected, with a mean mass of 6.2 kg per case. Arthroplasty produced a greater amount of recyclable waste per case in the preoperative (2017.1 g) and intraoperative (938.6 g) periods as well as total recyclable waste per case, resulting in a greater ratio of waste recycling per case then nearly all other subspecialties in the preoperative (86%) and intraoperative (14%) periods. Arthroplasty similarly produced a greater amount of nonrecyclable waste per case (5823.6 g) than the other subspecialties, most of which was produced during the intraoperative period (5512.9 g). Overall an average of 27% of waste was recycled per case. Conclusion: Among orthopedic subspecialties, arthroplasty is one of the largest waste producers and it has the highest potential for recycling of materials. Effective recycling programs in the operating room can reduce our ecological footprint by diverting waste from landfills, as our study revealed that nearly three-quarters of this waste is recyclable.

Contexte: On estime qu'un quart à la moitié de tous les déchets produits en hôpital proviennent des salles d'opération. Le recyclage des déchets produits en contexte opératoire est assez rare, bien que de nombreux matériaux soient recyclables. Cette étude visait à déterminer la quantité de déchets produits pendant les périodes préopératoire et peropératoire pour plusieurs surspécialités orthopédiques, et à évaluer la quantité de déchets recyclés. Méthodes: Pour y arriver, on a étudié de façon prospective pendant 1 mois les chirurgies effectuées dans 2 hôpitaux de soins tertiaires de Calgary (Alberta), 1 hôpital pédiatrique et 1 hôpital pour adulte, pour 6 surspécialités orthopédiques. Nous avons recueilli les déchets, les avons pesés et les avons répartis dans les catégories « recyclable ¼ et « non recyclable ¼ pour la période préopératoire, et « recyclable ¼, « non recyclable ¼, « textile ¼ et « biologique ¼ pour la période peropératoire. Les sacs de déchets ont été pesés à l'aide d'une balance portative. L'issue principale était la quantité de déchets produits par cas, et l'issue secondaire, la quantité de déchets non recyclables et biologiques et la quantité totale de déchets. On a ensuite procédé à une analyse de la variance pour déterminer la présence de différences statistiquement significatives entre les surspécialités. Résultats: Au total, 55 opérations ont été étudiées, et 341,0 kg de déchets ont été recueillis, pour une moyenne de 6,2 kg par cas. Les arthroplasties produisaient une plus grande quantité de déchets recyclables par cas dans les périodes préopératoire (2017,1 g) et peropératoire (938,6 g) ainsi qu'une plus grande quantité totale de déchets recyclables par cas, ce qui leur donne un meilleur ratio de recyclage par cas que pratiquement toutes les autres surspécialités dans les périodes préopératoire (86 %) et peropératoire (14 %). De même, les arthroplasties produisaient une plus grande quantité de déchets non recyclables par cas (5823,6 g) que les autres surspécialités, et la plupart de ces déchets étaient produits pendant la période peropératoire (5512,9 g). En moyenne, 27 % de l'ensemble des déchets étaient recyclés. Conclusion: Parmi les surspécialités orthopédiques, l'arthroplastie est l'une de celles qui produisent le plus de déchets et qui ont le plus grand potentiel de recyclage. Notre étude a révélé que près des trois quarts des déchets sont recyclables; ainsi, des programmes de recyclage efficaces en salle d'opération peuvent réduire notre empreinte écologique en empêchant l'enfouissement de certains déchets.

Lung cancer screening: does pulmonary nodule detection affect a range of smoking behaviours?

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%. Screen-detected abnormalities may provide teachable moments for smoking cessation. This study assesses impact of pulmonary nodule detection on smoking behaviours within the first UK trial of a novel auto-antibody test, followed by chest x-ray and serial CT scanning for early detection of lung cancer (Early Cancer Detection Test-Lung Cancer Scotland Study). METHODS: Test-positive participants completed questionnaires on smoking behaviours at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months. Logistic regression compared outcomes between nodule (n = 95) and normal CT groups (n = 174) at 3 and 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the nodule and normal CT groups for any smoking behaviours and odds ratios comparing the nodule and normal CT groups did not vary significantly between 3 and 6 months. There was some evidence the nodule group were more likely to report significant others wanted them to stop smoking than the normal CT group (OR across 3- and 6-month time points: 3.04, 95% CI: 0.95, 9.73; P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary nodule detection during lung cancer screening has little impact on smoking behaviours. Further work should explore whether lung cancer screening can impact on perceived social pressure and promote smoking cessation.

Bone Mineral Density Changes in the Hip and Spine of Men and Women 1-Year After Primary Cemented Total Knee Arthroplasty: Prospective Cohort Study.

This study evaluated age- and sex-adjusted changes in total hip and spine bone mineral density (BMD) within 1 year of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a prospective, longitudinal cohort with a one-year follow-up. Preoperatively, subjects underwent routine bone mineral densitometry of their hip and spine, which was repeated 12 months postoperatively. Of 108 subjects, 97 (90%) completed BMD testing. Total hip BMD decreased significantly over time (1.80% change, P<0.001) with females losing more than males (P<0.001). The pattern was similar, but attenuated in the spine. Subjects undergoing primary cemented TKA had significant bone loss in the hip within 12 months, beyond that expected with age.

Being a woman and an orthopaedic surgeon-A primer on the challenges we face.

A higher number of women are graduating from medical schools than men, yet orthopedic surgery continues to register the lowest proportion of female surgeons and residents of the surgical specialties. This trend is observed not only in North America but also globally. The presence of a more diverse workforce has been shown to lead to improved patient outcomes, enhanced efficiencies, and overall wellness within healthcare systems and would be of benefit to the orthopedic surgery profession. This primer aims to provide surgeons and leaders with evidence-based insights into diversity, equity, and equality, as well as define barriers and potential solutions pertaining to women in orthopedic surgery.

Improving clinical reasoning and communication during handover: An intervention study of the BRIEF-C tool.

BACKGROUND: Existing handover communication tools often lack a clear theoretical foundation, have limited psychometric evidence, and overlook effective communication strategies for enhancing diagnostic reasoning. This oversight becomes critical as communication breakdowns during handovers have been implicated in poor patient care. To address these issues, we developed a structured communication tool: Background, Responsible diagnosis, Included differential diagnosis, Excluded differential diagnosis, Follow-up, and Communication (BRIEF-C). It is informed by cognitive bias theory, shows evidence of reliability and validity of its scores, and includes strategies for actively sending and receiving information in medical handovers. DESIGN: A pre-test post-test intervention study. SETTING: Inpatient internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery units at one tertiary care hospital. INTERVENTION: The BRIEF-C tool was presented to internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery faculty and residents who participated in an in-person educational session, followed by a 2-week period where they practised using it with feedback. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical handovers were audiorecorded over 1 week for the pre- and again for the post-periods, then transcribed for analysis. Two faculty raters from internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery scored the transcripts of handovers using the BRIEF-C framework. The two raters were blinded to the time periods. RESULTS: A principal component analysis identified two subscales on the BRIEF-C: diagnostic clinical reasoning and communication, with high interitem consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 and 0.99, respectively). One sample t-test indicated significant improvement in diagnostic clinical reasoning (pre-test: M=0.97, SD=0.50; post-test: M=1.31, SD=0.64; t(64)=4.26, p<0.05, medium to large Cohen's d=0.63) and communication (pre-test: M=0.02, SD=0.16; post-test: M=0.48, SD=0.83); t(64)=4.52, p<0.05, large Cohen's d=0.83). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates evidence supporting the reliability and validity of scores on the BRIEF-C as good indicators of diagnostic clinical reasoning and communication shared during handovers.

Tricompartment offloader knee brace reduces sagittal plane knee moments, quadriceps muscle activity, and pain during chair rise and lower in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

The Levitation tricompartment offloader (TCO) knee brace provides an assistive knee extension moment with the goal of unloading all three compartments of the knee and reducing pain for individuals with multicompartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to determine the effect of the TCO brace on sagittal plane knee moments, quadriceps muscle activity, and pain in individuals with multicompartment knee OA. Lower limb kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography data were collected during a chair rise and lower to determine differences between bracing conditions. TCO brace use significantly decreased the peak net knee external flexion moment in high power mode, providing extension assistance during chair rise [p<0.001; mean difference (MD) (98.75% CI) -0.8 (-1.0, -0.6)%BWxH] and bodyweight support during chair lower [p<0.001; -1.1 (-1.6, -0.7)%BWxH]. Quadriceps activation intensity was significantly reduced with brace use by up to 67% for the vastus medialis [Z = -2.55, p = 0.008] and up to 39% for the vastus lateralis [Z = -2.67, p = 0.004]. Participants reported significantly reduced knee pain with the TCO brace worn in high power mode compared to the no brace condition [p = 0.014; MD (97.5% CI) -18.8 (-32.22, -2.34) mm]. These results support the intended mechanism of joint unloading via extension assistance with the TCO brace. The observed biomechanical changes were accompanied by immediate reductions in user reported pain levels, and support the use of the TCO for conservative management to reduce knee pain in patients with multicompartment knee OA.

Exploring the Study of Simulation as a Continuing Professional Development Strategy for Physicians.

INTRODUCTION: Practicing physicians have the responsibility to engage in lifelong learning. Although simulation is an effective experiential educational strategy, physicians seldom select it for continuing professional development (CPD) for reasons that are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to explore existing evidence on simulation-based CPD and the factors influencing physicians' engagement in simulation-based CPD. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature on simulation-based CPD included MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases. Studies involving the use of simulation for practicing physicians' CPD were included. Information related to motivations for participating in simulation-based CPD, study objectives, research question(s), rationale(s), reasons for using simulation, and simulation features was abstracted. RESULTS: The search yielded 8609 articles, with 6906 articles undergoing title and abstract screening after duplicate removal. Six hundred sixty-one articles underwent full-text screening. Two hundred twenty-five studies (1993-2021) were reviewed for data abstraction. Only four studies explored physicians' motivations directly, while 31 studies described incentives or strategies used to enroll physicians in studies on simulation-based CPD. Most studies focused on leveraging or demonstrating the utility of simulation for CPD. Limited evidence suggests that psychological safety, direct relevance to clinical practice, and familiarity with simulation may promote future engagement. DISCUSSION: Although simulation is an effective experiential educational method, factors explaining its uptake by physicians as a CPD strategy are unclear. Additional evidence of simulation effectiveness may fail to convince physicians to participate in simulation-based CPD unless personal, social, educational, or contextual factors that shape physicians' motivations and choices to engage in simulation-based CPD are explored.

Tricompartment offloader knee brace reduces contact forces in adults with multicompartment knee osteoarthritis.

The levitation tricompartment offloader (TCO) brace is designed to unload all three knee compartments by reducing compressive forces caused by muscle contraction. This study aimed to determine the effect of the TCO on knee contact forces and quadriceps muscle activity in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Lower limb kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography data were collected during a chair rise-and-lower task. A three-dimensional inverse dynamics model of the lower leg and foot was used with a sagittal plane knee model to compute knee joint forces. TCO brace use significantly decreased forces in the tibiofemoral [p = 0.001; mean difference, MD (97.5% confidence interval, CI) -0.62 (-0.91, -0.33) body weight (BW)] and patellofemoral [p = 0.001; MD (97.5% CI) -0.88 (-1.36, -0.39) BW] compartments in high-power mode. Significant reductions in quadriceps tendon force [p = 0.002; MD (97.5% CI) -0.53 (-0.83, -0.23) BW] and electromyography intensity of the vastus medialis [p = 0.018, MD (97.5% CI) -30.7 (-59.1, -2.3)] and vastus lateralis [p = 0.012, MD (97.5% CI) -26.2 (-48.5, -3.9)] were also observed. The TCO significantly reduced tibiofemoral and patellofemoral contact forces throughout chair lower, and when knee flexion was greater than 50° during chair rise in high power. These results demonstrate that the TCO reduces contact forces in the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint compartments and confirms that the TCO unloads the joint by reducing compressive forces caused by the quadriceps. Clinical significance: The magnitude of knee joint unloading provided by the TCO is similar to that achieved by clinically recommended levels of bodyweight loss and is therefore expected to result in clinical benefits for knee osteoarthritis patients.

Rates of Burnout in Female Orthopaedic Surgeons Correlate with Barriers to Gender Equity.

BACKGROUND: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between career burnout and the barriers to gender equity identified by Canadian female orthopaedic surgeons. A secondary purpose was to assess relationships between the demographic characteristics of the female surgeons and career burnout and job satisfaction. METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to 330 Canadian female orthopaedic surgeons. Demographic variables including age, stage and years in practice, practice setting, and marital status were collated. The survey included the Gender Bias Scale (GBS) questionnaire and 2 questions each about career burnout and job satisfaction. The Pearson r correlation coefficient evaluated the relationships among the higher- and lower-order factors of the GBS, burnout, and job satisfaction. Spearman rank correlation coefficient assessed relationships among burnout, job satisfaction, and demographic variables. RESULTS: Survey responses were received from 218 (66.1%) of the 330 surgeons. A total of 110 surgeons (50.5%) agreed or strongly agreed that they felt career burnout (median score = 4). Burnout was positively correlated with the GBS higher-order factors of Male Privilege (r = 0.215, p < 0.01), Devaluation (r = 0.166, p < 0.05), and Disproportionate Constraints (r = 0.152, p < 0.05). Job satisfaction (median = 4) was reported by 168 surgeons (77.1%), and 66.1% were also satisfied or very satisfied with their role in the workplace (median = 4). Burnout was significantly negatively correlated with surgeon age and job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the female orthopaedic surgeons reported symptoms of career burnout. Significant relationships were evident between burnout and barriers to gender equity. Identification of the relationships between gender-equity barriers and burnout presents an opportunity to modify organizational systems to dismantle barriers and reduce this occupational syndrome. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given the relationships between gender inequity and career burnout in this study of female orthopaedic surgeons, actions to dismantle gender barriers and address systemic biases are necessary at all career stages to reduce burnout.

Pediatric focal intracranial suppuration: a UK single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Brain abscess (BA) and subdural empyema (SDE) are uncommon but clinically important conditions in childhood. Treatment involves surgery and prolonged courses of antibiotics. There is no consensus on the optimal approach. The objective was to review management and outcome of BA and SDE in a single UK center. METHODS: This retrospective case notes review of children with brain abscess or subdural empyema admitted to a tertiary pediatric infectious diseases and neurosurgical center from 2001 to 2009. RESULTS: Forty-two children were included in the study; 17 children were with BA, 23 with SDE, and two both with BA and SDE. The causative factors found in 88 % of the patients were most commonly sinusitis and meningitis with congenital heart disease and immunocompromise unusual. Streptococcus anginosus group organisms were most common; 10 % of the children had a resistant pathogen and 86 % had surgical intervention. Fifteen patients with BA underwent surgery; nine of these patients underwent burrhole aspiration, three had craniotomy, two had stereotactic surgery, and one had endoscopic aspiration. Remaining 19 patients with SDE underwent surgery: seven had burrhole aspiration, 11 underwent craniotomy, and one had aspiration via the anterior fontanel. The most common antibiotic regime was cefotaxime, metronidazole, and amoxicillin. Mean duration of treatment was 14.4 weeks. Mean time until normalization of C reactive protein was 23 days. Survival was 95 % and 20 % had ongoing neurological sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: BA and SDE remain important childhood infections in the UK. Antibiotics are essential in the management of these cases. Empiric antibiotic choices require knowledge of likely pathogens and local resistance. Selected infections can be treated without surgical intervention. Long courses of antibiotics were administered. Outcome is good, and neurological sequelae were less common than found in previous series.

Experiences of Canadian Female Orthopaedic Surgeons in the Workplace: Defining the Barriers to Gender Equity.

BACKGROUND: Only 13.6% of orthopaedic surgeons in Canada are women, even though there is nothing inherent to the practice of orthopaedic surgery that favors men over women. Clearly, there is a need to identify, define, and measure the barriers faced by women in orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to 330 female-identifying Canadian orthopaedic surgeons and trainees and included the validated Gender Bias Scale (GBS) and questions about career burnout. The barriers for women in Canadian orthopaedics were identified using the GBS. The relationships between the GBS and burnout were investigated. Open-text questions explored the barriers perceived by female orthopaedic surgeons. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 220 female orthopaedic surgeons and trainees (66.7%). Five barriers to gender equity were identified from the GBS: Constrained Communication, Unequal Standards, Male Culture, Lack of Mentoring, and Workplace Harassment. Career burnout correlated with the GBS domains of Male Privilege (r = 0.215; p < 0.01), Disproportionate Constraints (r = 0.152; p < 0.05), and Devaluation (r = 0.166; p < 0.05). Five main themes emerged from the open-text responses, of which 4 linked closely to the barriers identified in the GBS. Work-life integration was also identified qualitatively as a theme, most notably the difficulty of balancing disproportionate parental and childcare responsibilities alongside career aspirations. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 5 barriers to workplace equity for Canadian female orthopaedic surgeons were identified using the validated GBS and substantiated with qualitative assessment using a mixed-methods approach. Awareness of these barriers is a necessary step toward dismantling them and changing the prevailing culture to be fair and equitable for all. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A just and equitable orthopaedic profession is imperative to have healthy and thriving surgeons who are able to provide optimal patient care.

Preliminary Evaluation of a New Orthotic for Patellofemoral and Multicompartment Knee Osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: Traditional knee osteoarthritis (OA) braces are usually indicated for a minority of patients with knee OA, as they are only suitable for those with unicompartmental disease affecting the tibiofemoral joint. A new assistive brace design is intended for use in a wider range of knee OA patients with heterogeneous symptoms characteristic of patellofemoral, tibiofemoral, or multicompartmental knee OA. The purpose of this case series was to explore whether the use of this novel "tricompartment offloader" (TCO) brace was associated with clinically relevant improvements in pain and function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of individuals with knee OA (n = 40) was conducted to assess pain, function, physical activity, and use of medication and other treatments before and after brace use. Validated outcome measures including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) were used to assess pain and physical function (primary outcome measures). Exploratory measures were used to quantify physical activity levels and use of medication and other treatments (secondary outcome measures). RESULTS: Average total pain (VAS) scores decreased by 36.6 mm and physical function (LEFS) scores increased by 16.0 points following the use of the TCO brace. Overall, 70% of the participants indicated increased weekly physical activity and 60% reported a decrease in their use of at least one other treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this case series suggest that the TCO brace shows strong potential to fill a conservative treatment gap for patients with heterogeneous symptoms of knee OA that are characteristic of patellofemoral or multicompartment disease. Further investigation is warranted.

Reintervention after mobile-bearing Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Medial compartment osteoarthritis is a common disorder that often is treated by unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Although the Oxford 3 prosthesis is commonly used based on revision rate and cumulative survival, our experience suggests that although there may be adequate implant survival rates, we observed a worrisome and undisclosed reintervention rate of nonrevision procedures. PURPOSE: We describe the frequency and cause of repeat intervention subsequent to implanting this device. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2005, 398 patients underwent UKA using the Oxford 3 prosthesis. The minimum followup was 12 months (mean, 43 months; range, 12-102 months). RESULTS: Forty of the 398 (10%) patients had 55 (13.8%) repeat anesthetics (reintervention). There were 38 nonrevision reinterventions. Revision was performed in 15 patients (3.8%), but two patients had a second revision (17 revisions or 4.3%). We revised the UKA to a second UKA in seven of the 15 cases but two subsequently were rerevised to a TKA; eight were revised directly to a TKA. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data confirm the reported revision rates for this prosthesis, we observed a substantial reintervention rate. Most of the reinterventions are minor and are diagnosed frequently and treated arthroscopically. If revision is required, a second UKA may be considered and performed successfully in patients with isolated loosening of one component. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Musculoskeletal education: a curriculum evaluation at one university.

BACKGROUND: The increasing burden of illness related to musculoskeletal diseases makes it essential that attention be paid to musculoskeletal education in medical schools. This case study examines the undergraduate musculoskeletal curriculum at one medical school. METHODS: A case study research methodology used quantitative and qualitative approaches to systematically examine the undergraduate musculoskeletal course at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) Faculty of Medicine. The aim of the study was to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum guided by four questions: (1) Was the course structured according to standard principles for curriculum design as described in the Kern framework? (2) How did students and faculty perceive the course? (3) Was the assessment of the students valid and reliable? (4) Were the course evaluations completed by student and faculty valid and reliable? RESULTS: The analysis showed that the structure of the musculoskeletal course mapped to many components of Kern's framework in course design. The course had a high level of commitment by teachers, included a valid and reliable final examination, and valid evaluation questionnaires that provided relevant information to assess curriculum function. The curricular review identified several weaknesses in the course: the apparent absence of a formalized needs assessment, course objectives that were not specific or measurable, poor development of clinical presentations, small group sessions that exceeded normal 'small group' sizes, and poor alignment between the course objectives, examination blueprint and the examination. Both students and faculty members perceived the same strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum. Course evaluation data provided information that was consistent with the findings from the interviews with the key stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: The case study approach using the Kern framework and selected questions provided a robust way to assess a curriculum, identify its strengths and weaknesses and guide improvements.

Lung cancer CT screening: Psychological responses in the presence and absence of pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychological response (thoughts, perceptions and affect) to a diagnosis of pulmonary nodules following a novel antibody blood test and computed tomography (CT) scans within a UK population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was nested within a randomised controlled trial of a blood test (Early CDT®-Lung test), followed by a chest x-ray and serial CT-scanning of those with a positive blood test for early detection of lung cancer (ECLS Study). Trial participants with a positive Early CDT®-Lung test were invited to participate (n = 338) and those agreeing completed questionnaires assessing psychological outcomes at 1, 3 and 6 months following trial recruitment. Responses of individuals with pulmonary nodules on their first CT scan were compared to those without (classified as normal CT) at 3 and 6 months follow-up using random effects regression models to account for multiple observations per participant, with loge transformation of data where modelling assumptions were not met. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the nodule and normal CT groups in affect, lung cancer worry, health anxiety, illness perceptions, lung cancer risk perception or intrusive thoughts at 3 or 6 months post-recruitment. The nodule group had statistically significantly fewer avoidance symptoms compared to the normal CT group at 3 months (impact of events scale avoidance (IES-A) difference between means -1.99, 95%CI -4.18, 0.21) than at 6 months (IES-A difference between means 0.88, 95%CI -1.32, 3.08; p-value for change over time = 0.003) with similar findings using loge transformed data. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of pulmonary nodules following an Early CDT®-Lung test and CT scan did not appear to result in adverse psychological responses compared to those with a normal CT scan.

Bicompartmental knee arthroplasty vs total knee arthroplasty for the treatment of medial compartment and patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Interest in bicompartmental knee arthroplasty (BKA) for the treatment of medial patellofemoral osteoarthritis (MPFOA) has grown in recent years because BKA offers a bone and ligament-preserving alternative to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). BKA only resurfaces the diseased compartments, while preserving proprioception and native knee kinematics. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess knee function, perioperative morbidity, and implant survivability in patients undergoing BKA vs TKA for MPFOA. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE, PUBMED, and EMBASE were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized comparative studies comparing BKA with TKA for the treatment of MPFOA were included for further analysis. The primary outcome of interest was knee function. Secondary outcomes included range of movement, operation length, intraoperative blood loss, hospital length of stay, postoperative complications, and rate of revision length. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was performed by pooling the results of the selected studies when possible. RESULTS: Six studies were selected for inclusion (4 prospective studies and 2 retrospective cohort studies). In total, 274 patients and 277 knees were included for analysis. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups at any time points in terms of knee function, length of stay, complication rate, or revision rate, when monolithic BKA designs were controlled for. BKA did result in significantly decreased intraoperative blood loss, at the expense of increased operative length compared with TKA. CONCLUSIONS: The use of modular BKA for MPFOA is comparable with TKA in terms of short-term function, complication rate, and revision rate. BKA reduces intraoperative blood losses, but it is also more technically demanding, resulting in increased operation length. The use of modular BKA has acceptable short-term outcomes, but more long-term data are needed before it can be recommended for routine use in the treatment of MPFOA. The selection of modular BKA should be determined on a patient-specific basis. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest the use of monolithic BKA designs because of their high revision and failure rate.

Periprosthetic total knee fracture after remote reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Distal femoral fracture is a rare, but significant, postoperative complication of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. However, there has not been a reported case of periprosthetic total knee arthroplasty fracture associated with a previous anterior cruciate ligament repair. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 51-year-old white man with a history of total knee arthroplasty and remote anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, who presented with a distal femoral periprosthetic fracture at the site of a previous anterior cruciate ligament augmentation staple. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, it may be important to consider removal of previous anterior cruciate ligament hardware prior to total knee arthroplasty to reduce risk of periprosthetic fracture, which should be determined on a patient-specific basis.

The Effect of Synovectomy in Total Knee Arthroplasty for Primary Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this study is to assess pain, function, and morbidity in patients undergoing synovectomy during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis (OA). A meta-analysis, which included randomized controlled trials comparing TKA with and without synovectomy for OA, was completed. The primary outcome was postoperative knee pain. Secondary outcomes included performance, perioperative complications, validated functional scores, operation length, and hospitalization length. A literature search produced 487 unique references, of which 3 randomized controlled trials were selected for inclusion. A total of 304 patients (354 knees) were included, with an average age of 67 years. Follow-up intervals between studies ranged from 26 weeks to 12 months. Included studies were of moderate- to high-quality evidence with low risk of bias. There was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to postoperative pain, Knee Society Score, or postoperative range of motion. Postoperative blood loss was significantly lower in synovium-retaining TKA group (MD = 99.41 mL; 95% confidence interval, 45.08-153.75). Based on these results, there is currently no evidence to support the use of synovectomy in TKA for primary OA, as it provides no clinical benefit and increases postoperative blood loss.

Simulation in the clinical setting: towards a standard lexicon.

Simulation-based educational activities are happening in the clinical environment but are not all uniform in terms of their objectives, delivery, or outputs. While these activities all provide an opportunity for individual and team training, nuances in the location, timing, notification, and participants impact the potential outcomes of these sessions and objectives achieved. In light of this, there are actually many different types of simulation-based activity that occur in the clinical environment, which has previously all been grouped together as "in situ" simulation. However, what truly defines in situ simulation is how the clinical environment responds in its' natural state, including the personnel, equipment, and systems responsible for care in that environment. Beyond individual and team skill sets, there are threats to patient safety or quality patient care that result from challenges with equipment, processes, or system breakdowns. These have been labeled "latent safety threats." We submit that the opportunity for discovery of latent safety threats is what defines in situ simulation and truly differentiates it from what would be more rightfully called "on-site" simulation. The distinction between the two is highlighted in this article, as well as some of the various sub-types of in situ simulation.