Accessibility and quality of online information for pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowships.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric orthopaedic fellowship applicants commonly use online-based resources for information on potential programs. Two primary sources are the San Francisco Match (SF Match) database and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) database. We sought to determine the accessibility and quality of information that could be obtained by using these 2 sources. METHODS: The online databases of the SF Match and POSNA were reviewed to determine the availability of embedded program links or external links for the included programs. If not available in the SF Match or POSNA data, Web sites for listed programs were located with a Google search. All identified Web sites were analyzed for accessibility, content volume, and content quality. RESULTS: At the time of online review, 50 programs, offering 68 positions, were listed in the SF Match database. Although 46 programs had links included with their information, 36 (72%) of them simply listed http://www.sfmatch.org as their unique Web site. Ten programs (20%) had external links listed, but only 2 (4%) linked directly to the fellowship web page. The POSNA database does not list any links to the 47 programs it lists, which offer 70 positions. On the basis of a Google search of the 50 programs listed in the SF Match database, web pages were found for 35. Of programs with independent web pages, all had a description of the program and 26 (74%) described their application process. Twenty-nine (83%) listed research requirements, 22 (63%) described the rotation schedule, and 12 (34%) discussed the on-call expectations. A contact telephone number and/or email address was provided by 97% of programs. Twenty (57%) listed both the coordinator and fellowship director, 9 (26%) listed the coordinator only, 5 (14%) listed the fellowship director only, and 1 (3%) had no contact information given. CONCLUSIONS: The SF Match and POSNA databases provide few direct links to fellowship Web sites, and individual program Web sites either do not exist or do not effectively convey information about the programs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Improved accessibility and accurate information online would allow potential applicants to obtain information about pediatric fellowships in a more efficient manner.

Usability study of a novel, self-lighted, disposable speculum: military applications.

STUDY DESIGN: Data collected from a postutilization questionnaire were used to evaluate the usability of the OfficeSPEC disposable vaginal speculum, specifically the effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability, in clinical, hospital, and austere environments. RESULTS: Usability data analysis showed the OfficeSPEC speculum had an effectiveness rating of 4.6/5, efficiency rating of 4.5/5, and acceptability rating of 4.6/5; overall usability in deployed environments was favorable. The overall rankings were 3.4 for plastic, 4.2 for metal (p < 0.001), and 4.5 for OfficeSPEC (p < 0.001). Cost analysis of the OfficeSPEC placed the disposable speculum as a reasonable alternative with yearly cost of $129,200, compared to traditional metal ($209,100) and plastic ($319,175). CONCLUSION: By evaluating the OfficeSPEC speculum within a usability framework, it proved to be practical, viable alternative in all environments, particularly in the forward deployed environment.

Age-related patterns of spine injury in children involved in all-terrain vehicle accidents.

BACKGROUND: With increases in use and power of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), there have been dramatic increases in both the number and severity of ATV-related injuries. The KIDS database showed a 240% increase in the number of children admitted to a hospital for an ATV-related injury between 1997 and 2006. Over the same time period, there was a 476% increase in the number of children with ATV-related spine injuries. To better understand the nature of these injuries, a series of pediatric ATV-related spine fractures at a regional pediatric trauma center were analyzed. METHODS: Records and radiographs of children and adolescents who presented to a regional pediatric trauma center with a spine injury as a result of an ATV accident were reviewed. In addition to demographic data, information was collected regarding length of stay, Glasgow Coma Score, Pediatric Trauma Score, treatment type, associated injuries, and hospital charges. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on age and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons guidelines for ATV use: younger children (age, 0 to 15 y) and older children (age, 16 to 18 y). RESULTS: Fifty-three spine injuries were identified in 29 children (mean, 1.8 injuries/child) with an average age of 15.7 years; 16 (55%) had associated nonspine injuries and 13 had multiple spine injuries, contiguous in 9 and noncontiguous in 4. Four patients, all in the younger age group, had neurological injuries. Children older than 16 years had significantly lower Pediatric Trauma Scores and were more likely to have a thoracic spine fracture than younger children, who were more likely to have a lumbar fracture. Fourteen patients required surgery for their injuries, 7 for spine injuries and 7 for nonspine injuries; the mean hospital charge was almost $75,000 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: ATV-related spine injuries in children and adolescents are high-energy injuries with a high rate of associated spine and nonspine injuries. ATV-related spine injuries are different from other ATV-related injuries in children in that they are more common in older children and in females. As musculoskeletal injuries are the most common ATV-related injuries in children, orthopaedic surgeons need to be aware of these differences, and have a high index of suspicion for associated injuries, including additional and often noncontiguous spine injuries.

Screws versus hooks: implant cost and deformity correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs of two spinal implants-hook and hybrid constructs and pedicle screw constructs-in posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) as they relate to intraoperative deformity correction. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: This retrospective study examined 50 patients with AIS who were treated with posterior spinal fusion using segmental hook-hybrid constructs (23) or pedicle screws (27). Radiographic parameters measured on immediate preoperative and initial standing postoperative scoliosis films were the coronal Cobb angles of the upper thoracic, middle thoracic, lumbar, and instrumented curves; global coronal and sagittal balance; thoracic kyphosis; lumbar lordosis; and type and number of implants used. Current implant cost data were obtained from three major spinal implant manufacturers to determine the total cost of the constructs, cost per degree of correction, cost per level fused, and cost per degree of correction of the major curve. RESULTS: After surgery, the average percentage of correction for the middle thoracic curve or major curve was 57 % in the hook-hybrid group compared to 73 % in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001). The average amount of correction of the major curve was 31.1° in the hook-hybrid group compared to 42.7° in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001). The average number of fused levels was 10.7 in the hook-hybrid group compared to 12.2 in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001). The average number of implants was 14.8 in the hook-hybrid group compared to 23.3 in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001). The average total cost of implants was $11,248 in the hook-hybrid group compared to $22,826 in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001), and the average cost per fused level was $1,058 in the hook-hybrid group compared to $1,878 in the pedicle screw group (P < 0.001). The average cost per degree of correction of the major curve was $415 in the hook-hybrid group compared to $559 in the pedicle screw group (P = 0.0014). The global coronal balance, global sagittal balance, thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Pedicle screw instrumentation was shown to be more expensive overall, per fused level, and per degree of correction. Also, more implants were used and more levels were fused in the pedicle screw group than in the hook-hybrid group. Pedicle screws showed a statistically significantly greater percentage of correction of the major curve. Physicians must evaluate each patient individually and determine if the increased percentage of correction warrants the increased cost for pedicle screw constructs.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy using various energy sources in swine: a histopathologic assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze energy-induced damage to the swine vagina during laparoscopic hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Laparoscopic colpotomy was performed in swine using ultrasonic, monopolar, and bipolar energy. Specimens (n = 22) from 13 swine were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome for energy-related damage. The distal scalpel-cut margin was used as reference. Energy induced damage was assessed by gynecologic and veterinary pathologists blinded to energy source. RESULTS: Injury was most apparent on Masson's trichrome, demonstrating clear injury demarcation, allowing consistent, quantitative damage measurements. Mean injury was 0 ± 0 µM (scalpel, n = 22), 782 ± 359 µM (ultrasonic, n = 7), 2016 ± 1423 µM (monopolar, n = 8), and 3011 ± 1239 µM (bipolar, n = 7). Using scalpel as the reference, all were significant (P < .001). CONCLUSION: All energy sources demonstrated tissue damage, with ultrasonic showing the least and bipolar the greatest. Further study of tissue damage relative to cuff closure at laparoscopic hysterectomy is warranted.