Surgical Management of Full-Thickness Macular Holes in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: A Global Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To report on macular hole repair in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel2). DESIGN: Global, multicenter, retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing surgery for MacTel2-associated full-thickness macular hole (MTMH). METHODS: Standardized data collection sheet distributed to all surgeons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anatomic closure and visual outcomes of MTMH. RESULTS: Sixty-three surgeries in 47 patients with MTMH were included from 30 surgeons. Mean age was 68.1 years, with 62% female, 72% White, 21% East or South Asian, 2% African American, and 2% Hispanic or Latino. Procedures included 34 internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling alone, 22 ILM flaps, 5 autologous retinal transplantations (ARTs), 1 retinotomy, and 1 subretinal bleb. For ILM peeling, preoperative visual acuity (VA) was 0.667 ± 0.423 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Minimum hole diameter (MHD) was 305.5 ± 159.4 µm (range, 34-573 µm). Sixteen of 34 ILM peels (47%) resulted in MTMH closure. At postoperative month 6, VA was stable at 0.602 ± 0.516 logMAR (P = 0.65). VA improved by at least 2 lines in 43% and at least 4 lines in 24%. For ILM flaps, preoperative VA was 0.878 ± 0.552 logMAR. MHD was 440.8 ± 175.5 µm (range, 97-697 µm), which was significantly larger than for ILM peels (P < 0.01). Twenty of 22 ILM flaps (90%) resulted in MTMH closure, which was significantly higher than for ILM peels (P < 0.01). At postoperative month 6, VA improved to 0.555 ± 0.405 logMAR (P < 0.05). VA improved by at least 2 lines in 56% and at least 4 lines in 28%. For ARTs, preoperative VA was 1.460 ± 0.391 logMAR. MHD was 390.2 ± 203.7 µm (range, 132-687 µm). All 5 ARTs (100%) resulted in MTMH closure. At postoperative month 6, VA was stable at 1.000 ± 0.246 logMAR (P = 0.08). Visual acuity improved at least 2 lines in 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical closure of macular holes improved VA in 57% of MTMHs. Internal limiting membrane flaps achieved better anatomic and functional outcomes than ILM peeling alone. Autologous retinal transplantation may be an option for refractory MTMHs. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

PATIENT-PHYSICIAN FACE MASKING'S INFLUENCE ON THE POST-INTRAVITREAL INJECTION ENDOPHTHALMITIS.

PURPOSE: The authors sought to determine if universal face mask guidelines implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic significantly influenced the incidence of endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections (IVI). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the electronic health records from a retina-only practice located in Michigan. This study evaluated patients receiving IVIs over two distinct time periods of April 2019 to March 2020 and April 2020 to March 2021, which comprised our unmasked and masked groups, respectively. The authors then calculated the incidence of endophthalmitis following IVI and evaluated the cases of post-injection endophthalmitis for both time periods. RESULTS: A total of 121,384 IVIs performed over the 2-year period of interest. Of these, 63,114 were unmasked and 58,270 were masked patient encounters. A total of 46 post-injection endophthalmitis cases were identified. Of these, 29 cases were from the unmasked period and 17 were from the masked period. This resulted in an incidence of endophthalmitis of 0.046% and 0.038% in the masked and unmasked groups, respectively. This difference did not rise to the level of statistical significance ( P = 0.1336). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the incidence of post-injection endophthalmitis was not influenced by the implementation of ophthalmologist-patient face masking after IVI during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

LONG-TERM USE OF ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY FOR NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE: Although pivotal trials have demonstrated efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, there is a paucity of clinical data about the long-term (>5 years) treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were actively treated, had received >40 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections, and were followed for ≥5 years. Snellen-corrected visual acuity, initial drug choice, and times elapsed between treatments were collected. Rates of endophthalmitis and outcomes of submacular hemorrhage were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients (162 eyes) met the inclusion criteria: the average patient age was 86.3 years with an average follow-up period of 7.6 years. The average total number of injections per eye was 69 (18.0 SD); a total of 11,208 injections were given throughout the study period, and 6 cases (0.05%) of endophthalmitis were observed. Overall, there was a clinical and statistical difference in average Snellen-corrected visual acuity at Injections #2,#3, #4, #5, #6, #10, and #20, as compared with baseline ( P = 0.03, P < 0.01, P = 0.02, P < 0.01, P = 0.01, P = 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). Patients in the Snellen-corrected visual acuity subgroup 20/20 to 20/40 maintained vision until injection #30. Seven eyes experienced a visually significant submacular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: This neovascular age-related macular degeneration cohort received on average eight anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections per year for approximately 8 years; eyes with good (≥20/40) initial baseline vision maintained their visual acuity, whereas those with worse Snellen-corrected visual acuity (≤20/50) had a robust initial improvement that diminished with time. Most patients were maintained on the same initial drug of choice and the rate of endophthalmitis was low.

27-GAUGE PARS PLANA/PLICATA VITRECTOMY FOR PEDIATRIC VITREORETINAL SURGERY.

PURPOSE: To report on the feasibility of 27-gauge (G) vitrectomy for pediatric patients. METHODS: This study is an international, multicenter, retrospective, interventional case series. Participants were patients 17 years or younger who underwent 27-G vitrectomy for various indications. RESULTS: The records of 56 eyes from 47 patients were reviewed. Mean age was 5.7 ± 5.2 years. Diagnoses included retinopathy of prematurity (Stages 3 with vitreous hemorrhage, 4A, 4B, and 5), Terson's syndrome, traumatic macular hole, posterior capsular opacification, endophthalmitis, and others. Instruments used were the 27-G infusion, 27-G vitreous cutter, 27-G light pipe, and 27-G internal limiting membrane forceps. Instrument bending was noted in one (1.8%) case. There were no cases with intraoperative complications, infusion issues, or postoperative endophthalmitis. There were 67/145 (46%) sclerotomies that required suturing, of which most (51/145) were sutured out of precaution. There were four cases (7.1%) that required conversion to a larger gauge and three cases (5.3%) that developed postoperative hypotony. Mean visual acuity improved from logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.32 (20/420) to 0.72 (20/105), after a mean follow-up of 125.1 days (P = 0.01). Anatomic success was achieved in 96.4% of eyes after a single surgery. CONCLUSION: Twenty-seven-gauge vitrectomy was safe and feasible in selected pediatric vitreoretinopathies. Further studies are warranted to examine indications and outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence for Retinopathy of Prematurity: Validation of a Vascular Severity Scale against International Expert Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To validate a vascular severity score as an appropriate output for artificial intelligence (AI) Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) through comparison with ordinal disease severity labels for stage and plus disease assigned by the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, Third Edition (ICROP3), committee. DESIGN: Validation study of an AI-based ROP vascular severity score. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 34 ROP experts from the ICROP3 committee. METHODS: Two separate datasets of 30 fundus photographs each for stage (0-5) and plus disease (plus, preplus, neither) were labeled by members of the ICROP3 committee using an open-source platform. Averaging these results produced a continuous label for plus (1-9) and stage (1-3) for each image. Experts were also asked to compare each image to each other in terms of relative severity for plus disease. Each image was also labeled with a vascular severity score from the Imaging and Informatics in ROP deep learning system, which was compared with each grader's diagnostic labels for correlation, as well as the ophthalmoscopic diagnosis of stage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weighted kappa and Pearson correlation coefficients (CCs) were calculated between each pair of grader classification labels for stage and plus disease. The Elo algorithm was also used to convert pairwise comparisons for each expert into an ordered set of images from least to most severe. RESULTS: The mean weighted kappa and CC for all interobserver pairs for plus disease image comparison were 0.67 and 0.88, respectively. The vascular severity score was found to be highly correlated with both the average plus disease classification (CC = 0.90, P < 0.001) and the ophthalmoscopic diagnosis of stage (P < 0.001 by analysis of variance) among all experts. CONCLUSIONS: The ROP vascular severity score correlates well with the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity committee member's labels for plus disease and stage, which had significant intergrader variability. Generation of a consensus for a validated scoring system for ROP SaMD can facilitate global innovation and regulatory authorization of these technologies.

LONG-TERM VISUAL OUTCOMES AND THE TIMING OF SURGICAL REPAIR OF FOVEA-SPLITTING RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENTS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual outcomes and the affect of timing of surgical repair of fovea-splitting rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. METHOD: A retrospective, consecutive cohort from multiple surgeons at a single center. Fovea status (fovea-on, fovea-splitting, or fovea-off) was classified by preoperative optical coherence tomography. The primary outcome measure was the visual acuity at the last follow-up that was further correlated with the timing of surgical repair. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-five eyes were included with 62 fovea-on, 65 fovea-splitting, and 68 fovea-off detachments. The mean preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity for fovea-on, fovea-splitting, and fovea-off groups was 0.16 ± 0.21, 0.70 ± 0.56, and 1.67 ± 0.87, respectively (P = <0.001). Mean postoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity for fovea-on, fovea-splitting, and fovea-off groups were 0.07 ± 0.13, 0.10 ± 0.15, and 0.20 ± 0.22, respectively (P = <0.001). A statistically significant difference in mean postoperative logMAR visual acuity was found between fovea-off and fovea-on groups (P = 0.003) and between fovea-off and fovea-splitting groups (P = 0.013), however not between fovea-on and fovea-splitting groups (P = 0.827). Visual acuity improved when repair was performed earlier after presentation for fovea-on (R = 0.378, P = 0.002) and fovea-off groups (R = 0.277, P = 0.022), but not for the fovea-splitting group (R = 0.089, P = 0.481). CONCLUSION: We described the favorable visual outcomes of surgery for fovea-splitting rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and correlated these with the timing of surgical repair, which may help guide the management of this urgent, vision-threatening condition.

International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, Third Edition.

PURPOSE: The International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity is a consensus statement that creates a standard nomenclature for classification of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). It was initially published in 1984, expanded in 1987, and revisited in 2005. This article presents a third revision, the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, Third Edition (ICROP3), which is now required because of challenges such as: (1) concerns about subjectivity in critical elements of disease classification; (2) innovations in ophthalmic imaging; (3) novel pharmacologic therapies (e.g., anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents) with unique regression and reactivation features after treatment compared with ablative therapies; and (4) recognition that patterns of ROP in some regions of the world do not fit neatly into the current classification system. DESIGN: Review of evidence-based literature, along with expert consensus opinion. PARTICIPANTS: International ROP expert committee assembled in March 2019 representing 17 countries and comprising 14 pediatric ophthalmologists and 20 retinal specialists, as well as 12 women and 22 men. METHODS: The committee was initially divided into 3 subcommittees-acute phase, regression or reactivation, and imaging-each of which used iterative videoconferences and an online message board to identify key challenges and approaches. Subsequently, the entire committee used iterative videoconferences, 2 in-person multiday meetings, and an online message board to develop consensus on classification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Consensus statement. RESULTS: The ICROP3 retains current definitions such as zone (location of disease), stage (appearance of disease at the avascular-vascular junction), and circumferential extent of disease. Major updates in the ICROP3 include refined classification metrics (e.g., posterior zone II, notch, subcategorization of stage 5, and recognition that a continuous spectrum of vascular abnormality exists from normal to plus disease). Updates also include the definition of aggressive ROP to replace aggressive-posterior ROP because of increasing recognition that aggressive disease may occur in larger preterm infants and beyond the posterior retina, particularly in regions of the world with limited resources. ROP regression and reactivation are described in detail, with additional description of long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: These principles may improve the quality and standardization of ROP care worldwide and may provide a foundation to improve research and clinical care.

RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH INFERIOR RETINAL BREAKS: Primary Vitrectomy Versus Vitrectomy With Scleral Buckle (PRO Study Report No. 9).

INTRODUCTION: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with inferior retinal breaks are believed to have a higher risk of recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. This study compared anatomic and visual outcomes between primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and combination PPV with scleral buckle (PPV/SB) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with inferior retinal breaks. METHODS: This is an analysis of the Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes study, a multi-institutional cohort study of consecutive primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgeries from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. The primary outcome was single-surgery success rate. Only eyes with inferior retinal breaks (one break in the detached retina between five and seven o'clock) were included. RESULTS: There were 238 eyes that met the inclusion criteria, 95 (40%) of which underwent primary PPV and 163 (60%) that underwent combined PPV/SB. The single-surgery success rate was 76.8% for PPV and 87.4% for PPV/SB (P = 0.0355). This remained significant on multivariate analysis (P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that a superior single-surgery success rate of PPV/SB was especially noted in phakic eyes (85.2% vs. 68.6%; P = 0.0464). CONCLUSION: Retinal detachment with inferior retinal breaks had a higher single-surgery success rate if treated with PPV/SB compared with PPV alone, particularly in phakic eyes.

CHARACTERISTICS AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT IN OLDER ADULTS: A Multicenter Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To describe characteristics and outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in older adults (age ≥ 80). METHODS: Consecutive patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling (SB), or PPV/SB in the Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study were evaluated. Outcome measures included single surgery anatomic success and visual acuity. RESULTS: Of 2,144 patients included, 125 (6%) were 80 years or older. Compared with younger patients (age 40-79), older adults were more likely to be pseudophakic (P < 0.001), have macula-off detachments (P < 0.001), and have preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (P = 0.02). In older adults, initial surgery was PPV in 73%, PPV/SB in 27%, and primary SB in 0%. Single surgery anatomic success was 78% in older adults compared with 84% in younger patients (P = 0.03). In older adults, single surgery anatomic success was 74% for PPV and 91% for PPV/SB (P = 0.03). The final mean logMAR was lower for older adults (0.79 [20/125] vs. 0.40 [20/40], [P < 0.001]). In older adults, the final mean logMAR for eyes that underwent PPV was 0.88 (20/160) compared with 0.50 (20/63) for PPV/SB (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Octogenarians and nonagenarians presented with relatively complex pseudophakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Single surgery anatomic success and visual outcomes were worse compared with younger patients, and PPV/SB had better outcomes compared with PPV alone.

PERIPHERAL RETINAL ANGIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIS TYPE 2.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the retinal periphery in patients with idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasis or macular telangiectasis Type 2 (MacTel2), using widefield fluorescein angiography. METHODS: Single-center, retrospective, observational case series of 50 eyes of 50 patients with MacTel2 and 50 eyes of 50 age-matched controls. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes in the MacTel2 group (74%) showed peripheral capillary nonperfusion or dropout, compared with 37 eyes in the control group (74%, P = 1.0). Morphologically, the MacTel2 group trended toward having a higher proportion of pruning-type capillary dropout (44%) compared with controls (28%), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Patients with MacTel2 had a higher incidence of microaneurysms compared with controls (MacTel2 56%; controls 42%; P = 0.048), independent of age or systemic risk factors. There was no difference in the incidence of venous-venous shunts (MacTel2 10%; controls 10%; P = 1.0), arteriovenous shunts (MacTel2 14%; controls 18%; P = 0.60), venous tortuosity (MacTel2 60%; controls 66%; P = 0.58), or arterial tortuosity (MacTel2 54%; controls 68%; P = 0.20), which was mild in most cases. CONCLUSION: We note a high incidence of peripheral vascular and retinal findings in both patients with MacTel2 and age-matched controls, using widefield fluorescein angiography. Patients with MacTel2 had significantly more microaneurysms, independent of age or other systemic risk factors.

CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND TREATMENT COURSE OF EYES WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENDOPHTHALMITIS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical course of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) after developing endophthalmitis during their treatment with intravitreal injections. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective series. RESULTS: From April 2013 to October 2018, 196,598 intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections were performed, with 75 cases of endophthalmitis (incidence 0.0381%). There was no association between intravitreal anti-VEGF drug (P = 0.29), anesthetic method (P = 0.26), povidone concentration (P = 0.22), or any intraprocedure variable and endophthalmitis incidence. Seventy-two patients (96%) were treated with intravitreal tap and inject , while 3 underwent immediate pars plana vitrectomy. After endophthalmitis resolution, 17 patients (22.7%) were not re-treated for nAMD (in 10 cases due to inactive disease; follow-up, 115 ± 8.4 weeks). Patients required less frequent anti-VEGF injections after infection (7.4 ± 0.61 weeks vs. 11.5 ± 1.8 weeks; P = 0.004). Preinfection logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.585 ± 0.053 (∼20/77). It worsened with endophthalmitis (1.67 ± 0.08, ∼20/935; P < 0.001) and again on postendophthalmitis treatment day 1 (1.94 ± 0.064; count fingers; P < 0.001), but improved after reinitiating nAMD therapy (1.02 ± 0.11; ∼20/209; P < 0.001). Better visual acuity on postendophthalmitis week 1 (P = 0.002) and reinitiation of nAMD treatment (P = 0.008) were associated with better final visual acuity, and streptococcal culture with worse visual acuity (P = 0.028). The postendophthalmitis treatment interval was associated with the anti-VEGF drug used (aflibercept = ranibizumab > bevacizumab; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with nAMD required fewer injections after endophthalmitis, suggesting a biological change in disease activity. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration became quiescent in 13.3% of eyes. Most achieved better outcomes with anti-VEGF reinitiation.

Task-oriented exercises improve disability of working patients with surgically-treated proximal humeral fractures. A randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: General physiotherapy is a common means of rehabilitation after surgery for proximal humeral fracture (PHF). Better-targeted exercises seem worthy of investigation and the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a rehabilitation program including task-oriented exercises in improving disability, pain, and quality of life in patients after a PHF. METHODS: By means of a randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up, 70 working patients (mean age of 49 ± 11 years; 41 females), who were selected for open reduction and internal fixation with plates caused by PHF, were randomized to be included in an experimental (n = 35) or control group (n = 35). There was a permuted-block randomization plan, and a list of program codes was previously created; subsequently, an automatic assignment system was used to conceal the allocation. The first group underwent a supervised rehabilitation program of task-oriented exercises based on patients' specific job activities, and occupational therapy. The second group underwent general physiotherapy, including supervised mobility, strengthening and stretching exercises. Both groups individually followed programs of 60-min session three times per week for 12 weeks in the outpatient setting. The Disability Arm Shoulder Hand questionnaire (DASH; scores range from 0 to 100; primary outcome), a Pain intensity Numerical Rating Scale (scores range 0 to 10; secondary outcomes), and the Short-Form Health Survey (scores range from 0 to 100; secondary outcomes) assessed the interventions. Participants were evaluated before surgery, before and after rehabilitation (primary endpoint), and at the one-year follow-up (secondary endpoint). A linear mixed model analysis for repeated measures was carried out for each outcome measure (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Time, group and time by group showed significant effects for all outcome measures in favour of the experimental group. The DASH and the DASH work achieved clinically important between-group differences of 16.0 points (95% confidence interval [C.I.] 7.3 to 24.7) and 19.7 (95% C.I. 9.0 to 30.5) at follow-up, respectively. The NRS achieved a between-group difference of 2.9 (95% C.I. 1.0 to 3.9) at follow-up. As for SF-36, there were between-group differences ranging from 17.9 to 37.0 at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A rehabilitation program based on task-oriented exercises was useful in improving disability, pain, and quality of life in working patients after PHFs. Improvements lasted for at least 12 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: On 16/12/2019, the trial was retrospectively registered in the ISRCTN registry with the ID number 17996552 .

Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study: Pseudophakic Retinal Detachment Outcomes: Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study Report Number 3.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates outcomes of comparable pseudophakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or PPV with scleral buckle (PPV-SB). DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective, interventional cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Data were gathered from patients from multiple retina practices in the United States with RRD in 2015. METHODS: A large detailed database was generated. Pseudophakic patients with RRD managed with PPV or PPV-SB were analyzed for anatomic and visual outcomes. Eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, giant retinal tears, previous invasive glaucoma surgery, and ≤90 days of follow-up were excluded from outcomes analysis. Single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) was defined as retinal attachment without ongoing tamponade and with no other RRD surgery within 90 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Single surgery anatomic success and final Snellen visual acuity (VA). RESULTS: A total of 1158 of 2620 eyes (44%) with primary RRD were pseudophakic. A total of 1018 eyes had greater than 90 days of follow-up. Eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, previous glaucoma surgery, and giant retinal tears were excluded, leaving 893 pseudophakic eyes eligible for outcome analysis. A total of 461 (52%) were right eyes. A total of 606 patients (67%) were male, with a mean age of 65±11 years. Pars plana vitrectomy and PPV-SB as the first procedure were performed on 684 eyes (77%) and 209 eyes (23%), respectively. The mean follow-up was 388±161 days, and overall SSAS was achieved in 770 eyes (86%). Single surgery anatomic success was 84% (577/684) for PPV and 92% (193/209) for PPV-SB. The difference in SSAS between types of treatment was significant (P = 0.009). In eyes with macula-on RRD, SSAS was 88% in eyes treated with PPV and 100% in eyes treated with PPV-SB (P = 0.0088). In eyes with macula-off RRD, SSAS was 81% in eyes treated with PPV and 89% in eyes treated with PPV-SB (P = 0.029). Single surgery anatomic success was greater for PPV-SB than PPV for inferior (96% vs. 82%) and superior (90% vs. 82%) detachments. Mean final VA was similar for PPV (20/47) and PPV-SB (20/46; P = 0.805). CONCLUSIONS: In pseudophakic RRDs, SSAS was better in patients treated with PPV-SB compared with PPV alone, whereas visual outcomes were similar for both groups.

Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study Report Number 2: Phakic Retinal Detachment Outcomes.

PURPOSE: Anatomically similar rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) can be treated with scleral buckle (SB), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), or SB combined with PPV (PPV/SB). This study compares moderately complex phakic primary RRD treated with SB, PPV, or PPV/SB to review anatomic and visual outcomes. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective, interventional cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Data were gathered on all patients from multiple retina practices in the United States with RRD in 2015 and >90 days of follow-up. The cohort of phakic patients with moderately complex RRD was analyzed. METHODS: A large and detailed database was generated. Eyes with findings that would bias toward PPV (vitreous hemorrhage, dense cataract, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, giant retinal tear, among others) were excluded. Age <40 years (bias toward SB) was excluded. Comparable cases of moderately complex RRD were then chosen naive to surgeon, surgery, and outcome for subgroup analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Single surgery anatomic success (SSAS), defined as retinal attachment with no other RRD surgery within 90 days, is the main outcome measure. Final visual acuity is the secondary outcome measure. Pearson's chi-square and analysis of variance were used to test treatment effect of surgery type on SSAS and vision. RESULTS: Single surgery anatomic success was noted in 155 of 169 SB cases (91.7%), 207 of 249 PPV cases (83.1%), and 271 of 297 PPV/SB cases (91.2%). Scleral buckle and PPV/SB were superior to PPV for SSAS (P = 0.0041). For macula-on or split cases, SB had significantly better visual outcomes than PPV or PPV/SB even after controlling for cataract (cases with minimal cataract at final follow-up or after cataract surgery) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For phakic moderately complex primary RRDs in this study of PPV versus SB versus PPV/SB, SB had the best visual outcomes, and PPV had the worst SSAS outcomes.

ETIOLOGY AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MACULAR EDEMA IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL EXUDATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To describe the etiology and clinical characteristics of macular edema (ME) in patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS: Observational, retrospective case series of 30 patients (34 eyes) with ME and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy who underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging between 2009 and 2016. Baseline and follow-up optical coherence tomographies were correlated with color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: The average age was 20.6 years (6.6-68.7). Eighteen eyes exhibited cystoid ME (52.9%), 14 noncystoid ME (41.2%), and 2 eyes (5.9%) with both. Macular edema was foveal in 52.9% (n = 18). Eighteen of 24 eyes (64.3%) with an available fluorescein angiography showed leakage from ME. The most common structural feature was posterior hyaloidal organization/contraction (n = 15). Sixteen eyes were treated with topical or intravitreal steroids (n = 6), intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (n = 3), or pars plana vitrectomy with membrane stripping (n = 7). There was no difference between mean preoperative and postoperative LogMAR visual acuity (0.63 [20/85] vs. 0.87 [20/148], P = 0.35) after vitrectomy despite a statistical improvement in the mean central foveal thickness (596 mm vs. 303 mm, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Macular edema in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy occurs most commonly because of traction. Vitrectomy is effective for relieving tractional forces with anatomical improvement.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF 360-DEGREE LASER RETINOPEXY DURING PRIMARY VITRECTOMY WITH OR WITHOUT SCLERAL BUCKLE FOR RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT AND IMPACT ON SURGICAL OUTCOMES (PRO STUDY REPORT NUMBER 4).

PURPOSE: To determine factors associated with 360-degree laser retinopexy (360LR) during primary pars plana vitrectomy ± scleral buckle for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and its impact on surgical outcomes. METHODS: This is a multicenter, retrospective, interventional study. Patients undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy or primary pars plana vitrectomy + scleral buckle for noncomplex primary RRD in 2015 were evaluated. Primary outcomes were single surgery anatomical success (SSAS) and final anatomical success. Secondary outcomes included final logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, epiretinal membrane formation, cystoid macular edema development, and number of subsequent vitrectomies. Multivariate regressions were performed. RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred and forty-eight surgeries by 61 surgeons were included; of which, 516 underwent 360LR. Younger age (P = 0.01), more retinal breaks (P = 0.01), more extensive RRD (P < 0.001), and surgeon ID (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with 360LR. No significant associations between 360LR and single surgery anatomical success (P = 0.44), epiretinal membrane formation (P = 0.14), cystoid macular edema development (P = 0.28), or number of subsequent vitrectomies (P = 0.41) were found. Controlling for case complexity, 360LR was significantly associated with lower final anatomical success (P < 0.001) and worse final logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Multiple factors influenced whether 360LR was performed during primary pars plana vitrectomy ± scleral buckle for RRD. However, 360LR was not associated with improved surgical outcomes, and in fact, it may be associated with poorer outcomes.

Reliability and reproducibility of the new AO/OTA 2018 classification system for proximal humeral fractures: a comparison of three different classification systems.

BACKGROUND: The classification systems for proximal humeral fractures routinely used in clinical practice include the Neer and Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) 2007 systems. Currently used systems have low inter- and intraobserver reliability. In 2018, AO/OTA introduced a new classification system with the aim of simplifying the coding process, in which the Neer four-part classification was integrated into the fracture description. The aim of the present work is to assess the inter- and intraobserver agreement of the new AO/OTA 2018 compared with the Neer and AO/OTA 2007 classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 116 radiographs of consecutive patients with proximal humeral fracture were selected and classified by three observers with different levels of experience. All three observers independently reviewed and classified the images according to the Neer, AO/OTA 2007, and new AO/OTA 2018 systems. To determine the intraobserver agreement, the observers reviewed the same set of radiographs after an interval of 8 weeks. The inter- and intraobserver agreement were determined through Cohen's kappa coefficient analysis. RESULTS: The new AO/OTA 2018 classification showed substantial mean inter- (k = 0.67) and intraobserver (k = 0.75) agreement. These results are similar to the reliability observed for the Neer classification (interobserver, k = 0.67; intraobserver, k = 0.85) but better than those found for the AO/OTA 2007 system, which showed only moderate inter- (k = 0.57) and intraobserver (k = 0.58) agreement. The two more experienced observers showed better overall agreement, but no statistically significant difference was found. No differences were found between surgical experience and agreement regarding specific fracture types or groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the Neer system still represents the more reliable and reproducible classification. However, the new AO/OTA 2018 classification improved the agreement among observers compared with the AO/OTA 2007 system, while still maintaining substantial descriptive power and simplifying the coding process. The universal modifiers and qualifications, despite their possible complexity, allowed a more comprehensive fracture definition without negatively affecting the reliability or reproducibility of the classification system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic studies.

SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING OF THE MACULA AND VITREOMACULAR INTERFACE IN PERSISTENT FETAL VASCULATURE SYNDROME WITH POSTERIOR INVOLVEMENT.

PURPOSE: To describe the microstructural features of the macula and vitreomacular interface in persistent fetal vasculature syndrome (PFVS) with posterior involvement managed with early vitrectomy or with observation, with functional correlation. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 45 consecutive pediatric patients with PFVS with posterior involvement treated from 2005 to 2016. The eyes that could be imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography were included, and images were correlated with best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Thirty-eight imaging sessions were performed on 10 eyes from 9 patients, including 7 that had been managed with vitrectomy for PFVS-related tractional retinal detachment, and 3 that had been observed. Mean age of the patients who were imaged was 9.1 years and their average length of follow-up was 5.9 years. Best-corrected visual acuities of the eyes imaged ranged from 20/30 to count fingers, with mean best-corrected visual acuity 20/163. All eyes imaged had microstructural anomalies identified. The main anomalous features included posterior hyaloidal organization, vitreoretinal traction, vitreopapillary traction, diminished foveal contour, foveal displacement, and disruption of the ellipsoid zone. Posterior hyaloidal organization (P = 0.043), diminished foveal contour (P = 0.019), and disruption of the ellipsoid zone (P = 0.014) were associated with worse best-corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Macular and vitreomacular interface anomalies were identified in all pediatric patients with posterior PFVS imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography. These microstructural findings, together with functional measures, may inform the diagnosis and management of PFVS with posterior involvement.

Prospective randomized controlled trial for patch augmentation in rotator cuff repair: 24-month outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the anatomic integrity of rotator cuff repair performed by medialized single row and augmented by a porcine dermal patch, in comparison with a nonaugmented group. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The sample size was predefined, and patients were divided into a study group and a control group, assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The EuroQol-visual analog scale; Constant-Murley questionnaire; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score; and Simple Shoulder Test were administered. The humeral-acromial distance was calculated on radiographs. Tendon thickness, tear extension, and tendon signal intensity were all measured on magnetic resonance images (MRIs) along with an evaluation of footprint extension and a classification into one of 4 healing grades-healed, thinned, partially healed, not healed. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 92 patients who were equally randomized into 2 homogenous groups. Sixty-nine patients completed the 24-month follow-up. The study group showed a healing rate of 97.6% compared with 59.5% for the standard repair group. The study group showed better results in terms of repaired tendon thickness and footprint coverage, with a P value < .05, although the tendon density was comparable. The study group showed better strength recovery and functionality with the outcome scores submitted. During the entire study, only 2 patients reported complications, calling for a biopsy during revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Rotator cuff repairs augmented with a porcine dermal patch resulted in excellent clinical outcomes with a higher healing rate and close-to-normal MRI findings. The technique is safe and effective; in addition, it is reproducible and allows for better outcomes compared with those of standard medialized single-row repairs.