Emerging Gene Therapy Technologies for Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection.

ABSTRACT: Optic neuropathies encompass a breadth of diseases that ultimately result in dysfunction and/or loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Although visual impairment from optic neuropathies is common, there is a lack of effective clinical treatments. Addressing a critical need for novel interventions, preclinical studies have been generating a growing body of evidence that identify promising new drug-based and cell-based therapies. Gene therapy is another emerging therapeutic field that offers the potential of specifically and robustly increasing long-term RGC survival in optic neuropathies. Gene therapy offers additional benefits of driving improvements following a single treatment administration, and it can be designed to target a variety of pathways that may be involved in individual optic neuropathies or across multiple etiologies. This review explores the history of gene therapy, the fundamentals of its application, and the emerging development of gene therapy technology as it relates to treatment of optic neuropathies.

Persistent horizontal and vertical, MR-induced nystagmus in resting state Human Connectome Project data.

OBJECTIVE: Strong magnetic fields from magnetic resonance (MR) scanners induce a Lorentz force that contributes to vertigo and persistent nystagmus. Prior studies have reported a predominantly horizontal direction for healthy subjects in a 7 Tesla (T) MR scanner, with slow phase velocity (SPV) dependent on head orientation. Less is known about vestibular signal behavior for subjects in a weaker, 3T magnetic field, the standard strength used in the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The purpose of this study is to characterize the form and magnitude of nystagmus induced at 3T. METHODS: Forty-two subjects were studied after being introduced head-first, supine into a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner. Eye movements were recorded in four separate acquisitions over 20 min. A biometric eye model was fitted to the recordings to derive rotational eye position and then SPV. An anatomical template of the semi-circular canals was fitted to the T2 anatomical image from each subject, and used to derive the angle of the B0 magnetic field with respect to the vestibular apparatus. RESULTS: Recordings from 37 subjects yielded valid measures of eye movements. The population-mean SPV ± SD for the horizontal component was -1.38 ± 1.27 deg/sec, and vertical component was -0.93 ± 1.44 deg/sec, corresponding to drift movement in the rightward and downward direction. Although there was substantial inter-subject variability, persistent nystagmus was present in half of subjects with no significant adaptation over the 20 min scanning period. The amplitude of vertical drift was correlated with the roll angle of the vestibular system, with a non-zero vertical SPV present at a 0 degree roll. INTERPRETATION: Non-habituating vestibular signals of varying amplitude are present in resting state data collected at 3T.

Females and Males Achieved Comparable Outcomes and Clinical Benefits Following Primary Hip Arthroscopy with Labral Repair, but Age Affected Outcomes and Conversion to Total Hip Arthroplasty. A Short and Mid-Term Follow-Up Analysis with Dual Stratification.

PURPOSE: To report and compare, according to sex and age, minimum 2-and minimum 5-year patient-reported outcome scores (PROs) and survivorship in a large cohort of patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). METHODS: Data from February 2008 to September 2018 were reviewed. Patients aged 60 and younger who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Exclusion criteria were Tönnis grade >1, hip dysplasia, previous hip conditions, or any labral treatment different than repair. Minimum 5-year PROs were also collected. All patients included were divided into groups by sex. For further analysis, males and females were stratified according to age: < 21 years old, 21-30 years old, 31-40 years old, 41-50 years old, and 51-60 years old. RESULTS: In total, 1,326 hips had minimum 2-year follow-up, including 860 (64.9%) females and 466 males (35.1%), with a mean age of 31.6 years (range, 12.8-60.9 years) and a mean follow-up of 58.7 ± 28.9 months. Of those, 772 had minimum 5-year follow-up, 515 females (66.7%), and 257 males (33.3%) with a mean age of 31.7 years (range, 13.1-60.7 years) and a mean follow-up of 78.5 ± 23.0 months. All patients showed significant improvements in PROs at minimum 2-and 5-year follow-up (P < .001). Between sex analysis revealed comparable PROs at latest follow-up between females and males across any age group. Within sexes, and when sexes were combined, patients <21 years old had significantly better outcomes compared to other age groups. There were more females <21 years old that required revision arthroscopy than males <21 years old (P = .015). Conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) showed no significant difference between sexes (P > .05). Rates of THA were <21 years (.8%), 21-30 years (2.1%), 31-40 years (4%), 41-50 years (8.9%), and 51-60 years (14.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Following primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS, all patients reported significant improvements in all PROs at minimum 2-and minimum 5-year follow-up, with females and males achieving similar success. Age affected outcomes, with patients under 21 years old reporting better scores regardless of sex. Although the conversion rate to THA was similar between the sexes, it was lower in the younger ages groups in both sexes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective comparative observation trial.

Epidemiology of Product-Related Ocular Injuries in the United States From 2001 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Although ocular injuries are a major cause of ocular morbidity, ocular trauma secondary to consumer-related products is often preventable, and epidemiologic data can highlight potential avenues for intervention. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to characterize epidemiologic trends in product-related ocular injuries presenting to the emergency department (ED) from 2001 to 2020 based on the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. METHODS: The NEISS database was reviewed for all ED visits for ocular injuries between 2001 and 2020. Trends in incidences were determined by calculating average annual percent change. RESULTS: There were 106,533 ocular injuries reported to the NEISS database, which represented an estimated 4 million national cases. Most injuries occurred during the summer in men (69.2% of cases) younger than 40 years (66.2%). The incidence rates decreased for patients younger than 60 years, but remained steady in those 60 years and older. Although the most common overall cause was home workshop equipment-related products (23.5%), patients younger than 20 years were most likely injured from sports (27.2%), and those 80 years and older experienced injuries due to furniture (24.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall incidence of product-related ocular injuries has decreased over the past 2 decades, not all age groups are affected equally. The data showed that the trends in frequency and cause of eye-related ED visits differ depending on the age of the patient and indicated avenues for age-specific interventions.

Changes in choroidal thickness and choroidal vascularity index in thyroid eye disease: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the evidence for changes in choroidal thickness and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in people with thyroid eye disease (TED), stratified by severity, as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Systematic review, including quality assessment, of published studies investigating choroidal thickness in TED. Outcomes of interest included CVI, subfoveal choroidal thickness, mean choroidal thickness, and peripheral choroidal thickness in four quadrants (superior, inferior, medial, lateral). RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included which contained measurements from 1067 eyes in 798 patients with TED. Most studies found an increased CVI and increased choroidal thickness in patients with TED compared to normal controls, especially in the subfoveal region. In addition, several studies reported an increased thickness in patients with active vs. inactive TED, although the results are equivocal. Finally, many studies reported associations between increased choroidal thickness and worsened clinical measurements of disease activity, such as Clinical Activity Score (CAS). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provided evidence for an association between increased CVI/choroidal thickness and TED, suggesting a potential for OCT-measured CVI/choroidal thickness as an objective clinical marker. Given heterogeneity, future studies are needed to assess the role of measuring the choroidal changes in diagnosis and management of TED.

The Fragility Index of Hip Arthroscopy Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Survey.

PURPOSE: To characterize the fragility index (FI) of statistically significant results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in hip arthroscopy. METHODS: The PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were queried for hip arthroscopy RCTs published between January 2010 and July 2020. RCTs were included if they contained only 2 treatment arms, randomized patients to a 1:1 allocation to each arm, and reported at least 1 statistically significant dichotomous outcome. The fragility quotient was calculated for each RCT by dividing the FI by the sample size. Smaller FIs indicated more fragile results. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. RESULTS: We identified 8 hip arthroscopy RCTs that met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were assessed to have an overall low risk of bias. In the 2 studies with a moderate risk of bias and 1 study with a high risk of bias, concerns were raised about high rates of crossover and loss to follow-up. The median FI was 4, with FIs ranging from 0 to 14, but half of the studies had an FI of 2 or less. In 4 of the 8 studies, the number of patients lost to follow-up was greater than the FI. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic survey of hip arthroscopy RCTs resulted in a low FI, indicating that the findings tended to be fragile. A low FI was consistent with findings reported in other orthopaedic and medical literature. Given these results, there is a possibility for findings to be altered by factors such as loss to follow-up, measurement subjectivity, crossover, and biased study design. Results on the fragility of hip arthroscopy RCTs were similar to those reported in general or orthopaedic-specific literature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, systematic review of Level I and II studies.

Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To assess mid- to long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of hip arthroscopy as well as the rates of secondary surgery and to identify indications for surgery and noted predictors of failure. METHODS: A systematic review of the current literature was performed with the terms "hip arthroscopy," "outcomes," "patient-reported outcomes," "mid-term," "5-year," "long-term," and "10-year" in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases in April of 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Data for study characteristics, patient demographics, follow-up time, indications for surgery, PROs, predictors of failure or unfavorable PROs, and rates of secondary hip preservation surgery and conversion to total hip arthroplasty were collected. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were included. Four studies were level III and 9 were level IV. In total, 1571 hips were included, and the average follow-up time ranged from 60 to 240 months. The most common indications for hip arthroscopy were labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Twelve studies reported on PROs and all reported improvement at latest follow-up. The most reported on scores were the modified Harris Hip Score, Harris Hip Score, and the Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific Subscale. When grouped based on average follow-up time, the conversion rates at the 5- and 10-year time points ranged from 3.0% to 17.9% and 2.4% to 32.5%, respectively. One study with 20-year follow-up reported a conversion rate of 41.0%. Osteoarthritis and increased age were the most cited predictors for secondary surgery or decreased PROs. CONCLUSIONS: At mid- to long-term follow-up, patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy demonstrated improvement in several PROs. There was great variability in rates for revision surgery and conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The most common indications for hip arthroscopy were labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Osteoarthritis and increased age were the most cited predictors for unfavorable outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies.

Surgeon Experience in Hip Arthroscopy Affects Surgical Time, Complication Rate, and Reoperation Rate: A Systematic Review on the Learning Curve.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature to (1) identify the reported learning curves associated with hip arthroscopy and (2) evaluate the effect of the stated learning curves on outcomes, such as complication rates, surgical and traction time, reoperation rates, and patient-reported outcome score (PRO) improvements. METHODS: Two independent reviewers screened the PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases from inception to January 2020 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following search algorithm was used: "hip arthroscopy" paired with "learning curve," "competence," "experience," "performance," and "motor skills." Data regarding study characteristics, patient demographic characteristics, PROs, and learning-curve analyses were collected. RESULTS: We identified 15 studies that reported the impact of the learning curve on surgical progress or clinical outcome measures. Measures of the surgical process included surgical and traction time, as well as fluoroscopy time, whereas clinical outcome measures encompassed PROs, complication rates, and reoperation rates. Three studies reported that the learning curve plateaued at 30 cases, but other studies suggested cutoff points ranging from 20 to 519. Operative time (75-119 minutes vs 45-99 minutes), traction time (55-127 minutes vs 54-112 minutes), complication rates (0.5%-43.3% vs 0.5%-18.0%), revision arthroscopy rates (3.3%-10% vs 1.0%-4.2%), and rates of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (12.2%-22.5% vs 1.5%-3.7%) decreased as surgeons gained more experience. Favorable PROs were observed throughout the surgeons' experience. CONCLUSIONS: Progression along the learning curve of hip arthroscopy led to decreases in complication rates, surgical and traction time, and reoperation rates. PROs benefited from surgery throughout the learning curve. Currently, there exists a wide spread of cutoff numbers proposed to achieve proficiency, ranging from 20 to over 500. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.

Indications and Outcomes of Secondary Hip Procedures After Failed Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: (1) To identify present indications for secondary procedures in patients with failed hip arthroscopy and (2) to assess patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the secondary procedures, including revision arthroscopy, periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), and total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: Study groups included patients who had a secondary procedure after failed previous hip arthroscopy whereas the control groups were patients who had a primary procedure but did not require a secondary procedure. Indications and procedures at the time of the secondary operation were documented for each study. Average PROs were recorded, and standardized mean difference was calculated to estimate effect size. RESULTS: Eighteen studies reporting on patients undergoing a secondary procedure after a previous hip arthroscopy were included. The 3 main secondary procedure groups were revision hip arthroscopy, secondary PAO, and secondary THA. Regarding the revision arthroscopy group, the most common indications were labral tears, cam deformity, and pincer deformity. In addition, the most common procedures were femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty, capsular release, and labral reconstruction. The most common indications for the secondary PAO and THA groups were dysplasia and osteoarthritis respectively. Five of the revision arthroscopy studies found that revision patients had worse outcomes than the primary arthroscopy group. One PAO study found that the previous arthroscopy group had slightly worse outcomes, and 2 studies found no differences in PROs. Two THA studies reported worse outcomes for the prior arthroscopy group, and 2 studies reported no differences in outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The most common indications for revision hip arthroscopy were labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement. Patients undergoing a revision hip arthroscopy demonstrated good postoperative outcomes but to an overall lesser extent than their primary counterparts. The secondary PAO and THA groups also had favorable PROs, but the studies were inconclusive in determining superior outcomes between the primary and secondary groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Systematic review of Level II-IV investigations.

Return to Basketball After Hip Arthroscopy: Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To present minimum 2-year patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and return to sport (RTS) data for a population of basketball players after hip arthroscopy. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for all patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between February 2009 and May 2014. Patients with preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative PROs, visual analog scale score for pain, and satisfaction, who regularly played basketball within 1 year before surgery, and who attempted to RTS met the inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were previous ipsilateral hip surgery or conditions such as fracture, dysplasia, or femoral avascular necrosis. Patients were matched 1:1 to a control group composed of those who did not play any sports before surgery, based on the following matching criteria: age ±5 years, sex, and body mass index ±5. Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant differences in PROs. Conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) was considered an endpoint. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (81.6%) met inclusion criteria with follow-up of 46.8 ± 20.6 months. The mean age was 30.0 ± 12.3, and the mean body mass index was 26.3 ± 6.5. Male patients (64.5%) outnumbered female patients (35.5%). A majority of the players (54.8%) identified themselves as recreational athletes; the remainder competed at the high school, collegiate, amateur, or professional level. There was significant (P < .001) improvement in all PRO measures and visual-analog scale scores from baseline to a minimum 2-year follow-up. At the most recent follow-up, mean patient satisfaction was 8.1 ± 2.1. Twenty-two (78.6%), and 23 patients (82.1%) achieved the patient acceptable symptom state on the modified Harris Hip Score and the Hip Outcomes Score-Sports Specific Subscale. Twenty-one (75.0%) and 17 (60.7%) patients had a minimal clinically important difference on the modified Harris Hip Score and the Hip Outcomes Score-Sports Specific Subscale, respectively. Three patients (9.7%) with an average age of 47.5 (P = .023) converted to THA at a mean of 35.9 ± 7.2 (range 29.66-43.75) months after arthroscopy. At the most recent follow-up, the RTS rate was 83.9%. Subjective ability level was the same or higher in 23 patients (74.2%). CONCLUSION: Hip arthroscopy in basketball athletes demonstrates a significant increase in PROs, a high RTS rate, and a low risk of complications. Hip arthroscopy may be considered in basketball players <40 years old for whom nonoperative treatment fails and who have a significantly limited level of play. Careful patient selection and counseling should be used when considering hip arthroscopy in basketball players >40 years old because there may be a high rate of conversion to THA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Does Femoral Retroversion Adversely Affect Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome? A Midterm Analysis.

PURPOSE: To report 5-year outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in patients with femoral retroversion compared with a control group of patients with normal femoral anteversion. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for all patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between August 2008 and April 2013. Patients were included in analysis if they underwent hip arthroscopy during this period and had femoral version ≤0° calculated using magnetic resonance imaging. Exclusion criteria included prior ipsilateral hip conditions/surgeries or Tönnis grade >1. These patients were pair matched with patients having femoral anteversion between 10° and 20° based on gender, body mass index ± 10, and age ± 10 years. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively and annually thereafter. An a priori power analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were identified as the experimental group out of 69 eligible for inclusion (86%). All 59 patients were matched, with a mean age of 37.4 years and mean body mass index of 26.9. Twenty patients were female, and 39 were male. These patients demonstrated significant improvement from their preoperative state in all patient-reported outcomes and visual analog score scores (P < .001). Thirty-eight patients met the threshold for minimal clinically important difference, and 35 achieved patient acceptable symptomatic state for the modified Harris Hip Score questionnaire. Seven patients converted to total hip replacement. No differences were noted between retroverted and control patients in any of the outcome measures collected, in pain or satisfaction ratings, in the frequency of or duration to secondary surgeries or in complication rate (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with femoral retroversion demonstrated significantly higher outcomes at minimum 5-year follow-up after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery. These outcomes were not different from those of patients with normal femoral version. While femoral retroversion should not be considered a contraindication to hip arthroscopy, it should be carefully considered as a factor in patient selection and surgical planning. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Validation of a Risk Calculator for Conversion of Hip Arthroscopy to Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Consecutive Series of 1400 Patients.

BACKGROUND: A previously published calculator used age, preoperative modified Harris Hip Score, femoral anteversion, preoperative lateral center-edge angle, revision surgery, and acetabular and femoral cartilage damage to provide risk estimates for conversion rate of hip arthroscopy to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Validation for this calculator has not been established. The purpose of this study is to (1) validate the previously published hazard ratios for the predictor factors in a new cohort of hip arthroscopies with minimum 2-year follow-up and (2) determine the accuracy of the calculator at determining conversion rates to THA at 2 and 4 years of follow-up. METHODS: Hazard ratios for THA conversion were calculated using data between February 2008 and November 2016 and compared to the previously published results, which comprised the training set. Actual conversion to THA data was used to evaluate the accuracy of the calculator. RESULTS: Of the 1400 patients examined, THA conversion occurred in 101 (7.2%) patients at an average of 28.4 ± 22.9 months (0.2-115.8) after hip arthroscopy. The hazard ratios for the validation set compared to the training set were as follows: age 1.06 versus 1.06; modified Harris Hip Score 0.97 versus 0.98; femoral anteversion 0.99 versus 0.97; lateral center-edge angle 0.98 versus 0.93; and revision surgery 1.77 versus 2.40. Accuracy of the risk calculator at 2 years was 75% (Harrell C-statistic 0.806) and at 4 years was 73% (C-statistic 0.797). CONCLUSION: This study found 75% and 73% accuracy at 2 and 4 years respectively in calculating risk of conversion of hip arthroscopy to THA using a previously published calculator. As this calculator relies on intraoperative data, the major benefit it provides is information regarding patient prognosis postoperatively. Furthermore, it could potentially enable the surgeon, after receiving proper surgical consent, to decide on immediate conversion to THA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective cohort.

The Impact of Primary Tumor Site on Survival in Mycosis Fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), but little is known about the influence of anatomic location of the primary disease site on overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The purpose of this study was to examine the significance of primary tumor site on survival in MF. A search of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was conducted for patients with a diagnosis of MF with a specified primary site from 2000 to 2019. Prognostic factors including demographic and tumor characteristics were examined using Cox regression models. Further research is needed to fully investigate primary disease site as a prognostic indicator, including a deeper dive into MF of all stages and subtypes.

Epidemiological trends and survival outcomes for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck region.

BACKGROUND: Given the rarity of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the head and neck, the incidence and prognosis specific to this region are poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiology, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognostic factors of patients with DFSP of the head and neck region, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: A cohort analysis was performed for primary head and neck DFSP reported to the SEER database between 2000 and 2018. Overall survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis while Cox regression modeling was used to examine predictive factors. RESULTS: A total of 681 cases were reported to the SEER database between 2000 and 2018. Incidence rates decreased over time. Overall survival was 94%, and disease-specific survival was 99% at 5 years. Cases of head and neck DFSP were found to occur more frequently in males. There was no difference in incidence rates between White patients and Black patients. Age ≥ 60 years old, tumor size, and living location were the most significant predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of DFSP of the head and neck demonstrates a downward trend in incidence, higher age-standardized incidence in males, and similar race-based incidences, which differs from data reported on DFSP of other anatomic locations.

Gender analysis of the top classic papers in otolaryngology head and neck surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the gender breakdown of first authorship contributing to the most-cited papers in the field of otolaryngology, with a goal of identifying trends in gender representation in publishing. Methods: The top 150 most-cited papers were identified using the Science Citation Index of the Institute for Scientific Information. Among the first authors, gender, h-index, percentage of first, last, and corresponding authorship positions, total publications, and citations were analyzed. Results: The majority of papers were in the English language, from the United States, of clinical nature, and on otologic topics. Eighty-one percent of papers (n = 122) had men who were first authors, although there was no difference in h-index score, authorship position, number of publications, citations, and average citations/year between men and women first authors. Upon subgroup analysis by decade (1950s-2010s), there was no difference in the number of articles by women first authors (P = 0.11); however, there was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of women authors (P = 0.001) in papers published later compared to those published earlier. Conclusions: While a promising number of women otolaryngologists are publishing high-powered articles, future initiatives to promote academic inclusivity of women should be considered.

Inflation-Adjusted Medicare Reimbursement for Hip Arthroscopy Fell by 21.1% on Average Between 2011 and 2022.

Purpose: To examine Medicare reimbursement for hip arthroscopy from 2011 to 2022. Methods: The seven most common procedures performed with hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon were gathered. The Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was utilized to access financial data of the associated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The reimbursement data for each CPT were gathered from the Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool. With the consumer price index database and inflation calculator, reimbursement values were adjusted for inflation to 2022 U.S. dollars. Results: Following an adjustment for inflation, it was found that reimbursement rate for hip arthroscopy procedures on average was 21.1% lower between 2011 and 2022. The average reimbursement per CPT code for the included codes was $899.21 in 2022 compared to inflation adjusted $1,141.45 in 2011, a difference of $242.24. Conclusions: From 2011 to 2022, the average inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement has steadily declined for the most common hip arthroscopy procedures. As Medicare is one of the largest insurance payers, these results have substantial financial and clinical implications for orthopaedic surgeons, policy makers, and patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV, economic analysis.

Nonopioid perioperative analgesia in head and neck cancer surgery: A systematic review.

Objective: Management of postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery is a complex issue, requiring a careful balance of analgesic properties and side effects. The objective of this review is to discuss the efficacy and safety of multimodal analgesia (MMA) for these patients. Methods: Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched for all comparative studies of patients receiving MMA (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, anticonvulsants, local anesthetics, and corticosteroids) for head and neck cancer surgeries. The primary outcome was additional postoperative opioid usage, and secondary outcomes included subjective pain scores, complications, adverse effects, and 30-day outcomes. Results: A total of five studies representing 592 patients (MMA, n = 275; non-MMA, n = 317) met inclusion criteria. The most commonly used agents were gabapentin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen (n = 221), NSAIDs (n = 221), followed by corticosteroids (n = 35), dextromethorphan (n = 40), and local nerve block (n = 19). Four studies described a significant decrease in overall postoperative narcotic usage with two studies reporting a significant decrease in hospital time. Subjective pain scores widely varied with two studies reporting reduced pain at postoperative day 3. There were no differences in surgical outcomes, medical complications, adverse effects, or 30-day mortality and readmission rates. Conclusion: MMA is an increasingly popular strategy that may reduce dependence on opioids for the treatment of postoperative pain. A variety of regimens and protocols are available for providers to utilize in the appropriate head and neck cancer patient.

Multimodal Analgesia in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery is commonly treated with opioids, which are associated with considerable side effects. The objective of this study is to analyze the safety and efficacy of using multimodal analgesia (MMA) for patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov. REVIEW METHODS: All studies comparing patients receiving MMA (gabapentin, corticosteroids, local anesthetic, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) vs patients receiving opioids for head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction were screened. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid usage. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, subjective pain scores, surgical/medical complications, adverse effects, and 30-day outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies representing 1253 patients (MMA, n = 594; non-MMA, n = 659) met inclusion criteria. Gabapentinoids were the most commonly used intervention (72.9%) followed by NSAIDs (44.6%), acetaminophen (44.3%), corticosteroids (25.1%), ketamine (7.2%), and nerve block (3.4%). Eight studies reported a significant decrease in postoperative opioid usage in the MMA groups. Subjective pain had wider variation, with most studies citing significant pain improvement. There were no differences in surgical outcomes, medical complications, adverse effects, or 30-day mortality and readmission rates. CONCLUSION: With the rise of the opioid epidemic, MMA may play an important role in the treatment of postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery. A growing body of literature demonstrates a variety of effective perioperative regimens.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognostic Factors Impacting Survival in Melanoma of the Eyelid.

PURPOSE: To examine prognostic factors for survival in patients with melanoma of the eyelid. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: This population-based study reviewed patients with primary melanoma of the eyelid diagnosed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database between 1975 and 2016. The primary outcomes included survival rates estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and mortality hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival and disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 2257 patients with cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid, representing 1380 cases of melanoma in situ and 877 cases of invasive melanoma. For melanoma in situ and invasive melanoma respectively, at 5 years, the overall survival rates were 88.6% and 77.1%, while DSS rates were 99.4% and 91.0%. Cox regression analysis for eyelid melanoma indicated that for invasive melanoma, age at diagnosis ≥75 years (HR 2.17 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.02-4.60]; P = .04), T4 staging (HR 8.45 [95% CI 2.96-25.31]; P < .001), lymph node involvement (HR 3.61 [95% CI 1.12-11.60]; P = .03), and nodular melanoma (HR 3.31 [95% CI 1.50-7.32]; P = .003) histologic subtype were associated with decreased rates of survival. Sex and tumor ulceration did not impact survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest analysis to date that focuses on DSS for cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid. The most significant predictors for invasive melanoma survival are age ≥75 years at diagnosis, T4 staging, lymph node involvement, and the nodular melanoma histologic subtype. Patients with these attributes are at higher risk and should be counseled regarding prognosis.