A Survey of Personal Health Habits, Wellness, and Burnout in Practicing Orthopaedic Surgeons-Are We Taking Care of Ourselves?

INTRODUCTION: The personality traits of those who become orthopaedic surgeons may also lead to overwork, work-life balance issues, and burnout. Health and wellness practices of orthopaedic surgeons have not been widely explored. This study evaluated the personal health habits, wellness, and burnout of practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the United States. METHODS: An anonymous self-assessment survey was completed by 234 practicing orthopaedic surgeon alumni from two large residency programs. The survey assessed exercise habits according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, compliance with preventive medical care practices according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force, prioritization of occupational wellness strategies, and the presence of burnout via an adapted Maslach Burnout Inventory. Survey responders' mean age was 52 years, 88% were male, and 93% had a body mass index <30 kg/m2. Surgeons were stratified according to practice type, years in practice, and subspecialty. RESULTS: Among orthopaedic surgeons, compliance with aerobic and strength exercise recommendations was 31%. Surgeons in academic practice were significantly (P = 0.007) less compliant with exercise recommendations (18%) compared with private (34%) or employed (43%) practicing surgeons. Most (71%) had seen their primary care provider within 2 years and were up to date on age-appropriate health care screening including a cholesterol check within 5 years (79%), colonoscopy (89%), and mammogram (92%). Protecting time away from work for family/friends and finding meaning in work were the most important wellness strategies. The overall burnout rate was 15% and remained not significantly different (P > 0.3) regardless of years in practice, practice type, or subspecialty. CONCLUSION: This survey study identifies practicing orthopaedic surgeons' health habits and wellness strategies, including limited compliance with aerobic and strength exercise recommendations. Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of areas of diminished personal wellness to improve quality of life and avoid burnout.

Intertrochanteric fracture fixation in solid organ transplant patients: outcomes and survivorship.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients have complex medical and surgical risk factors; however, the outcomes of these patients undergoing surgical fixation of hip fractures are unknown. This study sought to evaluate SOT patients' outcomes and survivorship after intertrochanteric (IT) fracture fixation. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 12 SOT patients who underwent cephalomedullary (CMN) nail fixation for IT fractures and were matched (1:2) to a cohort of 24 non-SOT IT fracture patients. Perioperative results and complications, mortality/patient survivorship, and clinical outcomes were compared between the cohorts. RESULTS: The time from presentation to surgical fixation was within 48 h of presentation for the non-SOT patients, while only 75% of SOT patients underwent surgery within 48 h of presentation (p = 0.034). The 90-day readmission rate for SOT patients was 25% versus 13% in the non-SOT group (p = 0.38). Similarly, the SOT cohort experienced a higher rate of major medical complication (25% vs. 13%, p = 0.38). There were two (16%) reoperations in the SOT group and three (13%) in the non-SOT matched group (p = 0.99). Respectively, the 90-day and 1-year estimated patient survivorship was similar between the two cohorts: SOT patients with 92% (95% CI 54-99%) and 73% (95% CI 24-93%) versus 86% (95% CI 62-95%) and 72% (95% CI 47-86%, HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.18-4.62, p = 0.92) in non-SOT patients. CONCLUSION: SOT patients who underwent CMN fixation for IT fractures required more time from hospital presentation to surgical management than non-SOT patients. Although not statistically significant, SOT patients demonstrated more acute complications and readmissions, but similar mortality compared to those without transplant.

Outcomes of Femoral Neck Fracture Treated With Hip Arthroplasty in Solid Organ Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplant (SOT) patients have increased risk of complications, infection, and mortality after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). The study aims to compare SOT recipients' clinical outcomes to a matched group of nontransplant patients after nonelective THA and hemiarthroplasty for acute femoral neck fracture (FNF). METHODS: A retrospective review identified 31 SOT patients undergoing hip arthroplasty (24 hemiarthroplasty and 7 THA) for FNF and were matched 1:1 to non-SOT patients based on age, sex, body mass index, surgical procedure, and year of surgery. Patient survivorship, perioperative outcomes, complications, and reoperations were compared. The mean follow-up was 3 years. RESULTS: The estimated survivorship free from mortality for SOT and non-SOT patients at 1- year was not different (77% and 84%, respectively, P = .52). The 90-day readmission rate was significantly higher with 8 (26%) in the SOT cohort and none in the non-SOT group (P < .01). Major medical complications occurred in 16% of SOT patients compared to 5% in controls (P = .21). Three (10%) reoperations/revisions were required for SOT patients and none in non-SOT group (P = .24). CONCLUSION: SOT recipients undergoing nonelective hip arthroplasty for FNF demonstrated increased readmission rates compared to matched controls. For this rare clinical scenario, diligent perioperative care by surgeons and multidisciplinary transplant specialists is necessary to mitigate increased risk of SOT patients.

Liposomal bupivacaine reduces opioid consumption and length of stay in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Optimising postoperative pain management after total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been associated with improved patient outcomes. However, conclusions regarding the role of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) during THA remain mixed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether substituting a standard intraoperative wound infiltrate with LB as part of a multimodal pain management protocol would decrease subsequent opioid consumption and overall length of hospital stay in patients undergoing primary THA. METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected on 170 consecutive patients who underwent primary THA at a single institution from January 2014 to October 2014. Outcomes from the first 85 patients who received intraoperative LB were compared to the prior 85 patients who received a standard intraoperative "cocktail" without LB. The remainder of the multimodal pain management protocol was identical between groups. RESULTS: Total continuous and categorical postoperative hospital opioid consumption rates in the LB subgroup were significantly lower than the non-LB subgroup ( p < 0.001). The use of LB was associated with a relative reduction in opioid consumption on the day of surgery ( p = 0.001), postoperative day 1 ( p < 0.001), postoperative day 2 ( p < 0.001) and postoperative day 3 ( p < 0.001). Patients who received LB had decreased length of stay ( p = 0.001) and were discharged on lower doses of opioids. CONCLUSION: Substituting to LB from a standard wound infiltrate during primary THA, in addition to our standard multimodal pain management protocol, resulted in significantly lower postoperative opioid consumption and decreased length of stay.