The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort.

BACKGROUND: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, it remains unclear how vulnerable populations with preexisting health conditions like cancer have been affected. METHODS: Between July and September of 2020, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study that surveyed 2661 patients with breast cancer who were registered in the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Breast Cancer Cohort and received 1300 responses (71.5% White patients and 22.4% Black patients). The survey measured the psychosocial well-being of participants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined whether they experienced any type of financial challenges or treatment disruption. RESULTS: The results indicated that feelings of isolation increased significantly during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the overall median isolation/stress score was 1.2 on a scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always), which was not significantly different between White patients and Black patients. One-third of patients experienced some type of financial challenge during this time. Medicaid recipients, of whom almost 80% were Black, were more likely to experience financial challenges. In addition, approximately one-fourth of patients experienced difficulty getting treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the quality of life of patients with breast cancer and their scheduled treatments have been adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest that more support should be provided by hospital centers and the medical research community to patients with cancer during this challenging pandemic. LAY SUMMARY: The authors surveyed patients with breast cancer in Chicago using a questionnaire to examine how their lives have been affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The results indicate that the lives of patients with breast cancer and their scheduled treatments have been adversely affected during the pandemic. In addition, patients who were covered by Medicaid, most of whom were Black, were more likely to experience financial challenges. The findings suggest that hospital centers and the medical research community should reach out and provide more information to support patients with cancer during this challenging pandemic.

Exploring Alternative Sites for Glenoid Component Fixation Through Three-Dimensional Digitization of the Glenoid Vault: An Anatomic Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Glenoid component loosening has remained one of the most common complications for total shoulder arthroplasty. Three-dimensional modeling of the glenoid may reveal novel information regarding glenoid vault morphology, providing a foundation for implant designs that possess the potential to extend the survivorship of the prosthesis. METHODS: A three-dimensional digitizer was used to digitize the glenoids of 70 cadaveric scapulae. We identified ideal position, fit, and maximum diameter for cylinders of 5, 10, and 15 mm depths. Maximum diameter and volume were also measured at the glenoid center, and the data were compared. RESULTS: The vault region that accommodates the greatest diameter and volume for 5, 10, and 15 mm depth cylinders were identified in the postero-inferior glenoid. Across all specimens, this region accommodated a cylinder diameter that was 24.82%, 40.45%, and 50.34% greater than that achieved at the glenoid center for 5, 10, and 15 mm depth cylinders, respectively (all, P < 0.0001). The location of this site remains reliable for each cylinder depth, regardless of sex. DISCUSSION: This study presents novel findings pertaining to glenoid morphology through the analysis of a newly characterized glenoid vault region. This region has not been identified or described previously and has potential to serve as an alternative to the glenoid center for peg or baseplate fixation. Our method of vault analysis and findings may be used to guide further research regarding pathologic glenoid anatomy, providing a foundation for alternative approaches to glenoid prosthesis fixation in total shoulder arthroplasty and related procedures.