Patient perspectives on post-bariatric surgery nutritional supplementation.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric procedures increase patient risk of long-term metabolic complications primarily due to nutrient deficiencies. The mainstay of prevention includes routine vitamin and mineral supplementation; however, patient-reported barriers to daily compliance are poorly understood. METHODS: Post-bariatric surgery patients electively participated in an 11-point outpatient survey at a single academic institution. Surgical procedures included either laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or gastric bypass (GB). At the time of survey, patients ranged from 1-month to 15 years from surgery. Survey items consisted of dichotomous (yes/no), multiple choice, and open-ended free response questions. Descriptive statistics were evaluated. RESULTS: Two hundred and fourteen responses were collected, 116 (54%) underwent SG and 98 (46%) underwent GB. Of these, 49% of samples were during short-term postoperative follow-up visits (0-3 months), 34% intermediate follow-up (4-12 months), and 17% long-term follow-up (> 1 year). A total of 98% of patients reported that insurance did not cover their supplement cost. Most patients reported current vitamin use (95%), with 87% reporting daily compliance. Daily compliance was observed in 94%, 79%, and 73% of SG patients at short-, intermediate-, and long-term follow-up visits, respectively. While GB patients reported daily compliance in 84%, 100%, and 92% of short, intermediate, and long-term responses. Of those who were unable to take vitamins daily, non-compliance was attributed most to forgetting (54%), and less often to side effects (11%), or taste (11%). Patient-reported strategies for remembering to take vitamins included tying into daily routine (55%), use of a pill box (7%), and alarm reminders (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Daily compliance with post-bariatric surgery vitamin supplementation does not appear to vary based on postoperative time-period or surgical procedure. While a minority of patients struggle with daily compliance, factors associated with non-compliance include patient forgetting, side effects, and taste. Widespread utilization of patient-reported daily reminder strategies may lead to improved overall compliance and reduce incidence of nutritional deficiencies.

Improving Effective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Application in Soft Tissue Wrist Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for soft-tissue wrist injury may be overprescribed, contributing to ineffective health care resource use. We aimed to discern predictive factors that may improve MRI's application in soft-tissue wrist injury. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of adults who underwent MRIs for possible soft-tissue wrist injury between June 2009 and June 2014. Clinical data and treatment recommendations before and after MRI were analyzed. If the MRI-directed treatment recommendation was different from before MRI, the MRI was noted to have influenced the patient's treatment (Impact MRI). RESULTS: Among 140 MRI scans, 39 (28%) impacted treatment recommendation. Twenty-six Impact MRIs were ordered by hand surgeons, whereas 13 were ordered by referring physicians (P = .001). More Impact MRIs were found when an MRI was ordered for patients younger than 36 years (P = .01), within 6 weeks of symptom onset (P = .03), to question a specific anatomic injury (P = .0001), or by a board-certified hand surgeon (P = .001). Adjusting for other covariates, these 4 clinical factors were identified as independent predictive factors to Impact MRIs. CONCLUSIONS: MRIs for soft-tissue wrist injuries may more likely change management when the patient is younger, ordered within 6 weeks of symptom onset, and prescribed with a specific differential diagnosis. Referral to a hand surgeon should be considered before wrist MRI for the following patients: history of hand surgery/trauma, older than 36 years likely due to confounding chronic wrist changes, symptomatic for more than 6 weeks, and without clear differential diagnoses for the symptoms.

A systematic review of outcomes of contralateral C-7 transfer for the treatment of traumatic brachial plexus injury: an international comparison.

OBJECTIVE The effectiveness of contralateral C-7 (CC7) transfer is controversial, yet this procedure has been performed around the world to treat brachial plexus injuries. The authors performed a systematic review to study whether Asian countries reported better outcomes after CC7 transfer compared with "other" countries. METHODS A systematic literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and 3 Chinese databases was completed. Patient outcomes of CC7 transfer to the median and musculocutaneous (MC) nerves were collected and categorized into 2 groups: Asia and "other" countries. China was included as a subcategory of Asia because investigators in China published the majority of the collected studies. To compare outcomes among studies, we created a normalized Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. RESULTS For median nerve outcomes, Asia reported that 41% of patients achieved an MRC grade of ≥ M3 of wrist flexion compared with 62% in "other" countries. For finger flexion, Asia found that 41% of patients reached an MRC grade of ≥ M3 compared with 38% in "other" countries. Asia reported that 60% of patients achieved ≥ S3 sensory recovery, compared with 32% in "other" countries. For MC nerve outcomes, 75% of patients from both Asia and "other" countries reached M4 and M3 in elbow flexion. CONCLUSIONS Current data did not demonstrate that studies from Asian countries reported better outcomes of CC7 transfer to the median and MC nerves. Future studies should focus on comparing outcomes of different surgical strategies for CC7 transfer.

Cost Analysis of 48 Burn Patients in a Mass Casualty Explosion Treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the costs of treating burn patients after a mass casualty event. A devastating Color Dust explosion that injured 499 patients occurred on June 27, 2015 in Taiwan. This study was performed to investigate the economic effects of treating burn patients at a single medical center after an explosion disaster. METHODS: A detailed retrospective analysis on 48 patient expense records at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital after the Color Dust explosion was performed. Data were collected during the acute treatment period between June 27, 2015 and September 30, 2015. The distribution of cost drivers for the entire patient cohort (n=48), patients with a percent total body surface area burn (%TBSA)≥50 (n=20), and those with %TBSA <50 (n=28) were analyzed. RESULTS: The total cost of 48 burn patients over the acute 3-month time period was $2,440,688, with a mean cost per patient of $50,848 ±36,438. Inpatient ward fees (30%), therapeutic treatment fees (22%), and medication fees (11%) were found to be the three highest cost drivers. The 20 patients with a %TBSA ≥50 consumed $1,559,300 (63.8%) of the total expenses, at an average cost of $77,965±34,226 per patient. The 28 patients with a %TBSA <50 consumed $881,387 (36.1%) of care expenses, at an average cost of $31,478±23,518 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: In response to this mass casualty event, inpatient ward fees represented the largest expense. Hospitals can reduce this fee by ensuring wound dressing and skin substitute materials are regionally stocked and accessible. Medication fees may be higher than expected when treating a mass burn cohort. In preparation for a future event, hospitals should anticipate patients with a %TBSA≥50 will contribute the majority of inpatient expenses.

How Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Make Decisions Regarding Hand Reconstruction: A Qualitative Study from the Silicone Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis Project.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have determined specific factors influencing patients with rheumatoid arthritis to choose to undergo reconstructive hand surgery. However, little is known about how rheumatoid arthritis patients are counseled by physicians regarding surgical options and the concerns that cause patients to decide not to undergo hand surgery reconstruction. The authors conducted a qualitative study to investigate the decision-making process rheumatoid arthritis patients undergo when deciding about surgical treatment, including the specific involvement from their physicians in the decision. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the ongoing international collaborative Silicone Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis study. Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Eight of the 11 participants that underwent metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty indicated that improving hand function was the primary reason they chose to undergo surgery. Four of these participants were concerned about the aesthetics of their hands, whereas five of the eight participants who discussed their reasoning for not undergoing surgery felt aesthetics was not a good enough reason to undergo surgery. Three participants indicated that a negative perception of hand surgery by their rheumatologists discouraged them from the procedure. Finally, most (14 of 18) participants chose to make the final decision about surgery without involvement from their physician. CONCLUSIONS: The decision of whether or not to undergo surgery can be personal, and patients may prefer to make the final decision independently. It is important that rheumatoid arthritis patients receive collaborative counseling from their rheumatologists and hand surgeons to ensure they are making a knowledgeable decision.

Evolution of Patient Decision-Making Regarding Medical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The migration of health care toward a consumer-driven system favors increased patient participation during the treatment decision-making process. Patient involvement in treatment decision discussions has been linked to increased treatment adherence and patient satisfaction. Previous studies have quantified decision-making styles of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, none of them have considered the evolution of patient involvement after living with RA for many years. We conducted a qualitative study to determine the decision-making model used by long-term RA patients, and to describe the changes in their involvement over time. METHODS: Twenty participants were recruited from the ongoing Silicone Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis study. Semistructured interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Nineteen out of 20 participants recalled using the paternalistic decision-making (PDM) model immediately following their diagnosis. Fourteen of the 19 participants who initially used PDM evolved to shared decision-making (SDM). Participants attributed the change in involvement to the development of a trusting relationship with their physician, as well as to becoming educated about the disease. CONCLUSION: When initially diagnosed with RA, patients may let their physician decide on the best treatment course. However, over time patients may evolve to exercise a more collaborative role. Physicians should understand that even within SDM, each patient can demonstrate a varied amount of autonomy. It is up to the physician to have a discussion with each patient to determine his or her desired level of involvement.

Management of the Formosa Color Dust Explosion: Lessons Learned from the Treatment of 49 Mass Burn Casualty Patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

BACKGROUND: This article reports the emergency management of a mass casualty disaster occurring on June 27, 2015, in New Taipei, Taiwan, as a fire erupted over a large crowd, injuring 499 people. Lessons learned in burn care treatment and disaster preparedness are analyzed through following the specific surgical response and patient outcomes of one hospital involved in the disaster response. METHODS: Information regarding the fire and emergency management was obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. Patient-specific data were obtained from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's patient records. RESULTS: A mass casualty management system was immediately initiated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which contacted local hospitals to prepare for the influx of patients with severe burn injuries. In response, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital called 336 medical personnel to the emergency room for the management of 49 burn patients and divided emergency management roles among chief physicians. The mean burn total body surface area of patients presenting to this hospital was 44.2 percent (range, 10 to 90 percent). No deaths occurred in the first 48 hours after the explosion. As of 3 months after the incident, only 12 deaths had resulted from this accident, all resulting from sepsis and organ failure. CONCLUSIONS: Taiwan's effective mass casualty preparation plans, highly trained medical personnel, and large centers capable of treating burn patients allowed 499 injured patients to be successfully transferred and treated in hospitals across Taiwan. Lessons learned from this disaster response can be integrated into existing disaster management plans to aid in the response to mass casualty tragedies. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Management of complications of distal radius fractures.

Treating a fracture of the distal radius may require the surgeon to make a difficult decision between surgical treatment and nonsurgical management. The use of surgical fixation has recently increased because of complications associated with conservative treatment. However, conservative action may be necessary depending on certain patient factors. The treating surgeon must be aware of the possible complications associated with distal radius fracture treatments to prevent their occurrence. Prevention can be achieved with a proper understanding of the mechanism of these complications. This article discusses the most recent evidence on how to manage and prevent complications following a fracture of the distal radius.