Do educational interventions reduce the gender gap in communication skills?- a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Efficient doctor-patient communication is essential for improving patient care. The impact of educational interventions on the communication skills of male and female students has not been systematically reviewed. The aim of this review is to identify interventions used to improve communication skills in medical curricula and investigate their effectiveness in improving the communication skills of male and female medical students. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were as follows: used intervention strategies aiming to improve communication skills, participants were medical students, and studies were primary research studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. RESULTS: 2913 articles were identified based on search terms. After title, abstract, and full-text review, 58 studies were included with interventions consisting of Training or Drama Courses, Curriculum-Integrated, Patient Learning Courses, and Community-Based Learning Courses. 69% of articles reported improved communication skills for both genders equally, 28% for women more than men, and 3% for men more than women. 16 of the 58 articles reported numerical data regarding communication skills pre-and post-intervention. Analysis revealed that post-intervention scores are significantly greater than pre-intervention scores for both male (p < 0.001) and female students (p < 0.001). While the post-test scores of male students were significantly lower than that of female students (p = 0.01), there is no significant difference between genders for the benefits, or difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention scores (p = 0.15), suggesting that both genders benefited equally. CONCLUSION: Implementation of communication training into medical education leads to improvement in communication skills of medical students, irrespective of gender. No specific interventions benefitting male students have been identified from published literature, suggesting need of further studies to explore the phenomenon of gender gap in communication skills and how to minimize the differences between male and female students.

Rehabilitation protocols in neonates undergoing primary nerve surgery for upper brachial plexus palsy: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical management is recommended in patients with severe neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) within the first 6 months of age to regain best possible function. Rehabilitation post-surgery remains relatively unexplored. This is a scoping review that explores, which rehabilitation modalities exist and how they vary for different microsurgical approaches in NBPP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted to include articles about upper trunk obstetric brachial plexus nerve microsurgery in pediatric patients that made mention of rehabilitation protocols. The aims of rehabilitation modalities varied and were grouped: "passive" movement to prevent joint contracture or stiffness, "active" or task-oriented movement to improve motor function, or "providing initial motor recovery". Surgical approach was described as either exploration of the brachial plexus (EBP) or nerve transfer without root exploration (NTwoRE). Technique was categorized into transfers and non-transfers. RESULTS: Thirty-six full-text articles were included. Initiation of rehabilitation was 22.26 days post-surgery. Twenty-eight studies were EBP, and six were NTwoRE. Of studies classifiable by aims, nine were "passive", nine were "active", and five were "providing initial motor recovery". Only 27.7% of EBP studies mentioned active therapy, while 75.0% of NTwoRE studies mentioned active therapy. The average age of patients in the EBP procedure category was 7.70 months, and NTwoRE was 17.76 months. Within transfers, the spinal accessory to suprascapular group was more likely to describe an active shoulder exercise therapy, whereas contralateral C7 group was more likely to describe "initial motor recovery", especially through the use of electrostimulation. All articles on electrostimulation recommended 15-20-minute daily treatment. CONCLUSION: Information on rehabilitation is limited post-nerve surgery in NBPP. However, when mentioned, the aims of these therapies vary with respect to surgical approach and technique. The type of therapy to employ may be a multifaceted decision, involving factors such as patient age, initial deformity, and goals of the care team.

Educational quality of YouTube content on brachial plexus injury and treatment.

INTRODUCTION: While surgical literature exists on birth-related brachial plexus injury (BPI), there are not validated sources of information on BPI for patients, which can impact patient autonomy and decision-making. With YouTube as a popular source for patients to research diagnoses, this study aims to evaluate the quality of information regarding BPI and its treatment available on the platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BPI YouTube videos were screened independently by two reviewers. Videos were categorized by source: (1) academic, government, and non-profit organizations; (2) private practices, companies, and for-profit organizations; (3) independent users. Each video was evaluated for reliability, credibility, and quality using the modified DISCERN criteria (scale, 0-5), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria (scale, 0-4), and Global Quality Scale (GQS; scale, 1-5). Surgical treatment videos were analyzed by the senior author using a modified "treatment" DISCERN criteria (scale, 8-40). Non-English videos were excluded from this study. Analysis of variance tests were used to compare means. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen videos were selected for final analysis. The mean modified DISCERN score was 3.26; JAMA was 2.31; GQS was 3.48. Videos were subdivided according to source. Group 1, 2, and 3 had 45, 24, and 46 videos, respectively. Modified DISCERN score was greater for Group 1 than Group 2 (3.58 vs. 3.04, p < .001) and Group 3 (3.58 vs. 3.07, p < .001). JAMA score was greater for Group 1 than Group 2 (2.63 vs 2.15, p = .041) and Group 3 (2.63 vs. 2.08, p = .002). GQS score was greater for Group 1 than Group 2 (3.93 vs. 3.31, p = .031) and Group 3 (3.93 vs. 3.13, p < .001). Of the 34 videos (44.7%) that mentioned treatment, the DISCERN score was 14.32. CONCLUSION: The videos analyzed were found to have moderate reliability, credibility, and quality. The reliability of information regarding treatments for BPI was poor. Healthcare providers should supply additional information on treatment of BPI.

Design and Use of a 3D-Printed Dynamic Upper Extremity Orthosis for Children With Cerebral Palsy and Severe Upper Extremity Involvement: A Pilot Study.

IMPORTANCE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and severe hand impairment have limited options for upper extremity (UE) orthoses. OBJECTIVE: To (1) design and fabricate a customized low-cost, functional, three-dimensional (3D) printed dynamic upper extremity orthosis (DUEO) and (2) examine, using a comprehensive evaluation, the effect of the orthosis on the UE function of children with unilateral UE CP, Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) Levels III to V. DESIGN: Pilot study. Assessments were performed pretreatment and immediately posttreatment. SETTING: Hospital-based outpatient occupational therapy department. PARTICIPANTS: Five patients, ages 13 to 17 yr, with CP and unilateral UE involvement MACS Levels III to V. INTERVENTION: Custom forearm thumb opponens orthosis and the DUEO were designed and fabricated by a multidisciplinary team for use during eight 1-hr occupational therapy sessions targeting bimanual UE training. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Pretreatment and posttreatment assessments included the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA-2), Pediatric Motor Activity Log-Revised (PMAL-R), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory: CP Module (PedsQL:CP). RESULTS: All participants had higher posttreatment scores on at least one measure. Four had minimal clinically important differences (MCID) on the AHA. Three met MCID criteria on MA-2 subtests (one negative change). Four demonstrated improvement on the PMAL-R (one participant achieved an MCID score), and three reported improvements in more than one PedsQL:CP domain. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This novel 3D-printed device, in combination with occupational therapy, shows promising evidence that children who score in lower MACS levels can show gains in UE function. What This Article Adds: This study demonstrates that a customized, 3D-printed dynamic orthosis, in combination with occupational therapy intervention, can facilitate UE function in children with severe hand impairment.

Surgical timing in neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A PRISMA-IPD systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is a serious complication of high-risk deliveries with controversy surrounding timing of corrective nerve surgery. This review systematically examines the existing literature and investigates correlations between age at time of upper trunk brachial plexus microsurgery and surgical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic screening of PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases using PRISMA-IPD guidelines was conducted in January 2020 to include full-text English papers with microsurgery in upper trunk palsy, pediatric patients. Spearman rank correlation analysis and two-tailed t-tests were performed using individual patient data to determine the relationship between mean age at time of surgery and outcome as determined by the Mallet, Medical Research Council (MRC), or Active Movement Scale (AMS) subscores. RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred thirty six papers were screened to finalize 25 papers containing individual patient data (n = 256) with low to moderate risk of bias, as assessed by the ROBINS-I assessment tool. Mallet subscore for hand-to-mouth and shoulder abduction, AMS subscore for elbow flexion and external rotation, and MRC subscore for elbow flexion were analyzed alongside the respective age of patients at surgery. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation (ρ = -0.30, p < .01, n = 89) between increasing age (5.50 ± 2.09 months) and Mallet subscore for hand-to-mouth (3.43 ± 0.83). T-tests revealed a significant decrease in Mallet hand-to-mouth subscores after 6 months (p < .05) and 9 months (p < .05) of age. No significant effects were observed for Mallet shoulder abduction, MRC elbow flexion, or AMS elbow flexion and external rotation. CONCLUSION: The cumulative evidence suggests a significant negative correlation between age at microsurgery and Mallet subscores for hand-to-mouth. However, a similar correlation with age at surgery was not observed for Mallet shoulder abduction, MRC elbow flexion, AMS external rotation, and AMS elbow flexion subscores.

Men Receive Three Times More Industry Payments than Women Academic Orthopaedic Surgeons, Even After Controlling for Confounding Variables.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, orthopaedic surgeons received nearly USD 300 million from industry, with the top 10% of recipients making more than 95% of the total amount. The degree to which gender may be associated with industry compensation has not been well explored; however, this may be confounded by a number of variables, including academic productivity, experience, and other factors. We wished to explore the variability in payment distribution by gender after controlling for these factors. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do men or women academic orthopaedic surgeons receive more payments from industry? (2) To what degree do any observed differences between the genders persist, even after accounting for identifiable factors, including academic rank, scholarly productivity, regional location of university, subspecialty selection as identified by fellowships completed, and years since completion of residency? METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of surgeons practicing in orthopaedic surgery academic departments in the United States. Academic orthopaedic surgery departments were identified using the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. Publicly available data on gender, academic rank, scholarly productivity, regional location of university, fellowships completed, and years since residency graduation were collected from institutional websites. Industry funding data for 2016 were obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Open Payments Database, and scholarly productivity data through 2017 were collected from Scopus. A total of 2939 academic orthopaedic surgeons, 2620 (89%) men and 319 (11%) women from 126 programs were identified. Men and women surgeons were different in most of the variables collected, and all except region of university were associated with differences in industry payments. RESULTS: The median payment for men surgeons was greater than that for women (USD 1027 [interquartile range USD 125-USD 9616] versus USD 177 [IQR USD 47-USD 1486]; difference of medians, USD 850; p < 0.001]. After accounting for potentially confounding variables like faculty rank, years since residency, H-index and subspecialty choice, women faculty members still received only 29% of payments received by otherwise comparable men orthopaedists (beta coefficient for gender = 0.29 [95% CI 0.20 to 0.44; p < 0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: Women academic orthopaedic surgeons received only 29% of the industry payments received by men, even after controlling for faculty rank, years since residency, H-index, and subspecialty selection. This gender-related disparity may hinder the career advancement of women orthopaedic surgeons. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased transparency by companies can help guide orthopaedic surgeons who wish to receive industry funding.

Delays in radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Delays from the diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) to radical cystectomy (RC) longer than 12 weeks result in higher mortality and shorter progression-free survival. This study sought to identify factors associated with RC delays and to determine whether delays in care in the current treatment paradigm, which includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), affect survival. METHODS: Subjects with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who underwent RC from 2004 to 2012 were identified from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results national cancer registry and the Medicare claims database and were stratified into RC groups with or without NAC. Cox multivariable proportional hazard models and multivariable logistic regression models assessed the significance of delays in RC for survival and identified independent characteristics associated with RC delays, respectively. RESULTS: This study identified 1509 patients with MIBC who underwent RC during the study period. In comparison with timely surgery, delays in RC increased overall mortality, regardless of the use of NAC (hazard ratio [HR] without NAC, 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.76; HR after NAC, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.06-2.52). Patients proceeding to RC without NAC had higher odds of delayed care if they lived in a high-poverty neighborhood (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.01-2.08) or nonmetropolitan area (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01-2.55), were men (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.25-4.00), or required a provider transfer for bladder cancer care (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.10-3.03). CONCLUSIONS: Delays in care from the time of either the initial diagnosis or the completion of NAC to RC are associated with worse overall survival among patients with MIBC. Timely surgery is fundamental in the treatment of MIBC, and this necessitates attention to disparities in access to complex surgical care and care coordination.

Inferring bladder cancer research prioritization from patient-generated online content.

PURPOSE: Patients and their families utilize online resources when dealing with a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Many patients have questions regarding clinical management options. Online research forums may help researchers and providers identify research areas of interest. Our objective was to review online forums and identify research questions that are important to patients and families impacted by bladder cancer diagnosis. METHODS: We reviewed 1 month of online content from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Inspire online community ( https://www.inspire.com/groups/bladder-cancer-advocacy-network ). Using affinity diagramming, we categorized the submitted content from patient users into themes stratified by the cancer severity of the patient user (non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, muscle-invasive bladder cancer, metastatic bladder cancer). We categorized the content by the audience of forum posts (i.e., inwardly directed, those seeking support, vs. outwardly directed, those sharing personal experiences) and constructed comparative effectiveness research questions from the submitted content. RESULTS: From 14 July 2014 to 14 August 2014, a total of 394 forum posts were collected, of which 3 were excluded from analysis due to non-relevant content, leaving 391 comments for final analysis. Almost 38% of posts involved muscle-invasive bladder cancer and 25% of posts were from people other than the patient. Inwardly and outwardly directed posts were commonly related to clinical treatment concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Review of online patient-generated content may offer insight into comparative effectiveness research topics of importance to bladder cancer patients. A more formalized process may better represent research priorities among bladder cancer patients.

Measuring ambulation with wrist-based and hip-based activity trackers for children with cerebral palsy.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of consumer available wrist-based and hip-based activity trackers in quantitatively measuring ambulation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Thirty-nine children (23 males, 16 females; mean age [SD] 9y 7mo [3y 5mo]; range 4-15y) with CP were fitted with trackers both on their wrist and hip. Each participant stood for 3 minutes, ambulated in a hallway, and sat for 3 minutes. The number of steps and distance were recorded on trackers and compared to manually counted steps and distance. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined for the number of steps during ambulation from each tracker and a manual count. Mean absolute error (MAE) and range of errors were calculated for steps during ambulation for each tracker and a manual count and for distance for each tracker and hallway distance. RESULTS: For the number of steps, a weak inverse relationship (r=-0.033) was found for the wrist-based tracker and a strong positive relationship (r=0.991) for the hip-based tracker. The MAE was 88 steps for the wrist-based and seven steps for the hip-based tracker. The MAE for distance was 0.06 miles for the wrist-based and 0.07 miles for the hip-based tracker. INTERPRETATION: Only the hip-based tracker provided an accurate step count; neither tracker was accurate for distance. Thus, ambulation of children with CP can be accurately quantified with readily available trackers. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Consumer available activity trackers accurately measure ambulation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The hip-based tracker is more accurate than the wrist-based tracker for children with CP. The hip-based Fitbit activity tracker accurately measures step counts of children with CP during ambulation.

MEDICIÓN DE LA AMBULACIÓN CON RASTREADORES DE ACTIVIDAD DE MUÑECA Y CADERA PARA NIÑOS CON PARÁLISIS CEREBRAL: OBJETIVO: Evaluar la precisión de los rastreadores de actividad basados ​​en la muñeca y en la cadera disponibles para el consumidor en la medición cuantitativa de la ambulación en niños con parálisis cerebral (PC) METODO: Treinta y nueve niños (23 varones, 16 mujeres; edad media [DS] 9 años y 7 meses [3 años y 5 meses]; rango 4-15 años) con PC fueron equipados con rastreadores en su muñeca y cadera. Cada participante se paró durante 3 minutos, caminó por un pasillo y se sentó durante 3 minutos. La cantidad de pasos y la distancia se registraron en los rastreadores y se compararon con los pasos y la distancia contados manualmente. Los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson se determinaron para el número de pasos durante la ambulación de cada rastreador y un conteo manual. El error absoluto medio (MAE) y el rango de errores se calcularon para los pasos durante la ambulación y la distancia del pasillo para cada rastreador y para el conteo manual. RESULTADOS: Para el número de pasos, se encontró una relación inversa débil (r = -0.033) para el rastreador ubicado en la muñeca y una relación positiva fuerte (r = 0.991) para el rastreador ubicado en la cadera. El MAE fue de 88 pasos para la muñeca y siete pasos para el rastreador de la cadera. El MAE para la distancia fue de 0.06 millas para la muñeca y 0.07 millas para el rastreador ubicado en la cadera. INTERPRETACIÓN: Solo el rastreador ubicado en la cadera proporcionó un conteo de pasos preciso; ninguno de los rastreadores era preciso para la distancia. Por lo tanto, la deambulación de los niños con PC se puede cuantificar con precisión con rastreadores fácilmente disponibles.

MEDINDO A DEAMBULAÇÃO COM RASTREADOR DE ATIVIDADE POSICIONADO NO PUNHO E QUADRIL COMERCIALMENTE DISPONÍVEL EM CRIANÇAS COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL: OBJETIVO: Avaliar a precisão de rastreadores de atividade posicionados no punho e quadril, disponíveis para o consumidor, para mensurar qualitativamente a deambulação em crianças com paralisia cerebral (PC). MÉTODO: Trinta e nove crianças (23 meninos, 16 meninas; média da idade [DP] 9 anos e 7 meses [3 anos e 5 meses]; amplitude 4-15 anos) com PC foram equipados com rastreadores em punho e quadril. Cada participante permaneceu em pé durante 3 minutos, andando em um corredor, e sentado por 3 minutos. O número de passos e distância foram registrados nos rastreadores e comparados com os passos e distância medidos manualmente. Coeficientes de correlação de Pearson foram determinados para o número de passos durante a deambulação para cada rastreador e a contagem manual. O Erro Médio Absoluto (EMA) e variância de erros foram calculados para os passos durante a deambulação para cada rastreador e a contagem manual e para a distância de cada rastreador e a distância do corredor. RESULTADOS: Para o número de passos, uma relação inversa fraca (r=-0,033) foi encontrada entre o rastreador do punho e uma relação positiva forte (r=0,991) para o reastreador do quadril. A EMA foi de 88 passos para o rastreador do punho e sete passos para o rastreador do quadril. A EMA para a distância foi de 0,06 milhas (9,66km) para o rastreador do punho e 0,07 milhas (11,26km) para o rastreador do quadril. INTERPRETAÇÃO: Somente o rastreador do quadril forneceu a contagem precisa dos passos; nenhum rastreador foi preciso para a distância. Assim, a deambulação em crianças com PC pode ser quantificada com precisão com os rastreadores atualmente disponíveis.

The Validity of Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Parent Proxy Instruments to Assess Function in Children With Talipes Equinovarus.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic talipes equinovarus (ITEV) is a prevalent structural deformity of the foot and ankle in children. The disease-specific instrument (DSI) has commonly been used as an outcomes metric in these patients. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was developed to examine the quality of life across various medical conditions. PROMIS has been validated for multiple conditions; however, no studies have evaluated the use of the PROMIS in children with ITEV. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed whereby the 2 questionnaires were mailed out to the parents of 91 patients, aged 5 to 17 years, with ITEV. Construct validity of the PROMIS Parent Proxy Profile short forms version was assessed by comparing its domains of Mobility, Fatigue, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity to the DSI Function domain and PROMIS domains of Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, Peer Relationships, and Pain Intensity to DSI Satisfaction domain. RESULTS: Thirty-one complete responses (34% response rate) were returned. The patients' current mean age was 8.8 years, 7 were female individuals, and 12 had unilateral ITEV. Bivariate correlation analysis, using Spearman correlation coefficients, demonstrated a moderate positive correlation between the DSI Function domain and the PROMIS Mobility domain (rs=0.52) and a moderate negative correlation between the DSI Function domain and the PROMIS Pain Interference domain (rs=-0.56), as well as the PROMIS Pain Intensity domain (rs=-0.75). A fair negative correlation (rs=-0.38) with PROMIS Fatigue domain was found. Correlations between the DSI Satisfaction domain and the PROMIS domains were fair or had little relationship. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide support for the validity of the PROMIS Mobility, Pain Interference, and Pain Intensity domains in this population, however there are no items in PROMIS that can assess overall satisfaction, as with the DSI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-prospective comparative study.

Comparative Effectiveness of a Patient Centered Pathology Report for Bladder Cancer Care.

PURPOSE: Patients have unprecedented access to their medical records. However, many documents, such as pathology reports, may be beyond the health literacy of most patients. We compared the effectiveness of bladder biopsy patient centered pathology reports with standard reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Local bladder cancer experts reached consensus on the important elements of a bladder biopsy pathology report to inform prognosis and counseling. Patient focus groups identified the patient centered formats and language to convey these elements and constructed a pilot patient centered pathology report. A total of 40 patients undergoing bladder biopsy were block randomized to receive the standard report with or without the patient centered report. We assessed patient self-efficacy, and provider communication and empathy, and tested bladder cancer knowledge at pathology disclosure and 1 month later. We compared study groups with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Experts identified stage, grade and histology as the most important elements of a bladder biopsy pathology report. Patients prioritized 3 themes, including narrative format, tumor stage illustration and risk stratification for recurrence. A total of 39 patients completed initial and followup assessments. Patients with the patient centered pathology report had improved ability to identify cancer stage compared to those with the standard report. Initially 58% of patients with the standard report vs 20% with the patient centered report were unable to describe stage but at followup this incidence was 47% vs 15% (p = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Those with the patient centered report also trended toward improved identification of cancer grade. Provider communication trended toward improvement for the patient centered report. Ratings of patient self-efficacy did not differ by report. CONCLUSIONS: Patient centered pathology reports are associated with greater patient knowledge about the bladder cancer diagnosis. The reports may aid patient-provider communication. This pilot study may serve as a model for the development of patient centered pathology reports for other cancers.

Predicting the need for surgical intervention in patients with idiopathic clubfoot.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the early factors associated with the need for surgical interventions in patients with idiopathic clubfoot treated with the Ponseti method. METHODS: All patients with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method at our institution with >3 years of follow-up were evaluated. Age at presentation, history of previous treatment, number of casts used, need for percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (PAT), age of initiation of foot abduction orthosis (FAO), compliance with FAO, and need for additional casts were recorded. Dimeglio/Bensahel and Catterall/Piriani scores were recorded at initial presentation, at initiation of FAO, at 1, 2, 3 years of follow-up, and at the most recent follow-up. RESULTS: Since 2000, 86 patients (134 feet) had >3 years of follow-up from time of initial presentation, and 43 of these feet (32%) had undergone surgery beyond a PAT. Patients who were noncompliant with the FAO were 7.9 times more likely to need surgery than those who were compliant [confidence interval (CI), 2.8-22.0; P<0.001]. Female patients were 5.4 times more likely to need surgery than male patients (CI, 1.8-16.6; P=0.003). For every 1 point increase in Dimeglio/Bensahel score at presentation, patients were 1.3 times more likely to need surgery (CI, 1.0-1.5; P=0.033). For every 1 point increase in Dimeglio/Bensahel score at initiation of the FAO, patients were 1.5 times more likely to need surgery (1.1-2.0, P=0.005). Moreover, for each additional cast required before the initiation of the FAO, patients were 1.5 times less likely to need surgery (CI, 1.1-2.7; P=0.030). No other variable significantly contributed to predicting the need for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There are early factors that can be used to predict increased risk for surgical intervention in patients undergoing treatment for idiopathic clubfoot. Female patients and those patients with higher Dimeglio/Bensahel scores at presentation and at initiation of the FAO are at increased risk for needing surgical intervention. Noncompliance with the FAO is associated with the highest risk for surgical intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

A radiographic study of pediatric ulnar anatomy.

BACKGROUND: The adult ulna has a unique bony architecture that has been described in the literature, but, to the best of our knowledge, the ulnar anatomy in children has not been described. METHODS: We examined 75 anteroposterior (AP) and 64 lateral radiographs (29 were bilateral) of 50, 0.5- to 11-year-old, healthy children's forearms. On AP radiographs, the total ulnar length, the ulnar proximal angle, the ulnar distal angle, and the distance between each angle from the tip of the triceps insertion; and, on lateral radiographs, the ulnar length and bow deviation were measured. The correlation between age and radiographic measurements, differences based on sex, differences compared with adults' measurements, and interobserver/intraobserver reliability were assessed. RESULTS: Age had a very strong/strong positive correlation with length/distance measurements on both AP and lateral radiographs. Only AP ulnar distal angle was significantly different between sexes (females > males). Compared with the adult ulnar studies, the AP proximal angle in children is significantly smaller and the location of this angle is significantly more distal. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were very good for length/distance measurements on AP and lateral radiographs. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of pediatric ulnar anatomy could be helpful in the treatment of forearm deformities due to multiple hereditary exostosis and osteogenesis imperfecta, and in the treatment of ulnar fractures, particularly in Monteggia variants, where restoration of the correct forearm anatomy is essential to obtain good clinical and functional results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Study of diagnostic test, Level II.

A Diagnostic Dilemma: Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Mimicking Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Carcinoid syndrome arises from neuroendocrine tumors, characterized by the presence of neurosecretory granules. The diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome involves biochemical testing and various imaging techniques. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with Parkinson's Disease who was found to have new-onset cirrhosis and multiple hepatic lesions with necrosis on CT imaging. These findings were concerning for metastatic malignancy of unknown primary origin. Subsequent MRI characterization of the liver lesions indicated hepatocellular carcinoma as the most likely diagnosis. However, a transthoracic echocardiogram, performed for anasarca and dyspnea on exertion, revealed a thickened tricuspid leaflet, highly suspicious for carcinoid valvulitis. A biopsy of one of the hepatic lesions was consistent with neuroendocrine tumor, confirming the diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome. This case highlights the limitations of diagnostic imaging approaches in distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma from neuroendocrine tumors.

"Top 20" residency-trained academic orthopaedic surgeons have higher academic productivity and funding in their careers.

"Top 20" status on Doximity, an online networking service for medical professionals, is an indicator of the reputation of a residency program. The study assesses how training at a Top 20 (T20) orthopaedic residency program impacts career productivity and funding. Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used in 2022 to identify active orthopaedic residency programs. Demographic and training data was collected for each orthopaedic surgeon using institutional websites and Doximity. The Residency Navigator feature on Doximity was used to rank residency programs by "reputation." Programs were categorized as either T20 or non-T20. The relative citation ratio (RCR) was calculated using the NIH iCite tool and Hirsch index (h-index) was calculated using Scopus. Industry funding was collected from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Open Payments Program (CMS) for all available years (2014-2020). A total of 2812 academic orthopaedic surgeons were included in the study. Among academic orthopaedic surgeons in the United States, T20 trained orthopedists had more publications and citations (p < 0.001), along with higher h-indices (p < 0.001), RCR (p < 0.001), and industry funding (p = 0.043). Additionally, T20 trained orthopedists were 1.375 times more likely to obtain professor status (95% confidence interval: 1.150-1.645, p < 0.001). Even after propensity-matched analysis, T20 trained orthopedists maintained these differences. Training at a T20 residency program is associated with promotion, productivity, and funding. These findings are especially of concern to medical students who must consider the importance of a residency program's reputation when deciding where to apply for residency.

Survey of the POSNA Membership Reveals Variability in Use of Tibialis Anterior Tendon Transfer for Recurrent Clubfoot.

PURPOSE: The aim of this project was to survey members of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) regarding the use of tibialis anterior tendon transfer (TATT) in the management of recurrent clubfoot with dynamic supination and no deformity. We aimed to assess which techniques for TATT are most utilized by pediatric orthopedists. As there has been no general consensus in the literature regarding best methods, we hypothesized that treatment methods would vary widely among POSNA members. METHODS: The online survey, designed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) survey software, consisted of 15 initial questions, some of which had conditional follow-up questions that appeared if the respondent selected a specific answer choice, with a potential total of 22 questions. The survey was approved by the Evidence Based Practice Committee of POSNA and distributed to their 1,370 members. RESULTS: Only the responses of POSNA members who treated clubfoot and performed TATT were included in the analysis. The 228 survey respondents reached a consensus (75% agreement) on a small number of topics: use of the Ponseti treatment method for clubfoot (94%), transfer of the tibialis anterior tendon to the lateral cuneiform (77%), transfer of only the whole tibialis anterior tendon (79%), and the use of an ankle foot orthoses (94%) among those who reported using postoperative braces. However, the remaining survey questions revealed a marked amount of variability in the performance of TATT. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the questions garnered varied responses, which suggests differing opinions of POSNA members regarding how and when TATT should be performed for recurrent clubfoot with dynamic supination and no deformity. This is one of the first compilations of information about the treatment variations for TATT and may lead to further studies examining ways to standardize and optimize its use.