CCN1 expression is regulated by mechanical stimuli in tendons.

Tendon overuse injuries are common, but the processes that govern tendon response to mechanical load are not fully understood. A series of experiments of in vitro and in vivo experiments was devised to study to the relationship between mechanical stimuli and the matricellular protein Cellular Communication Network Factor 1 (CCN1) in tenocytes and tendons. First, human and murine tenocytes were subjected to cyclic uniaxial loading in order to evaluate changes in CCN1 gene expression as a response to mechanical stimuli. Then, baseline Ccn1 gene expression in different murine tendons (Achilles, patellar, forearm, and tail) was examined. Finally, changes in Ccn1 expression after in vivo unloading experiments were examined. It was found that CCN1 expression significantly increased in both human and murine tenocytes at 5 and 10% cyclical uniaxial strain, while 2.5% strain did not have any effect on CCN1 expression. At baseline, the Achilles, patellar, and forearm tendons had higher expression levels of Ccn1 as compared to tail tendons. Twenty-four hours of immobilization of the hind-limb resulted in a significant decrease in Ccn1 expression in both the Achilles and patellar tendons. In summary, CCN1 expression is up-regulated in tenocytes subjected to mechanical load and down-regulated by loss of mechanical load in tendons. These results show that CCN1 expression in tendons is at least partially regulated by mechanical stimuli.

COVID-19 and tinnitus: an initiative to improve tinnitus care.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of COVID-19 on individuals with tinnitus and their views to guide future tinnitus care. DESIGN: A mixed-methods cross-sectional research design. STUDY SAMPLE: An online survey was completed by 365 individuals with tinnitus from Australia and other countries. RESULTS: Tinnitus was reported to be more bothersome during the pandemic by 36% of respondents, whereas 59% reported no change and 5% reported less bothersome tinnitus. Nearly half of the respondents had received COVID-19 vaccination(s) and 12% of them reported more bothersome tinnitus while 2% developed tinnitus post-vaccination. Australian respondents spent less time in self-isolation or quarantine and saw fewer change in in-person social contact than respondents from other countries. More than 70% of respondents thought that tinnitus care services were insufficient both before and during the pandemic. Regarding their opinions on how to improve tinnitus care in the future, five themes including alleviation of condition, government policies, reduced barriers, self- and public-awareness, and hearing devices were identified. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of respondents did not perceive any change in tinnitus perception and one-third of respondents had worsened tinnitus during the pandemic. To improve tinnitus care, better awareness and more accessible resources and management are crucial.

Glenoid bony morphology of osteoarthritis prior to shoulder arthroplasty: what the surgeon wants to know and why.

Shoulder arthroplasty is performed with increasing frequency, and osteoarthritis is the most common indication for this procedure. However, the glenoid side of the joint is widely recognized as a limiting factor in the long-term durability of shoulder replacement, and osteoarthritis leads to characteristic bony changes at the glenoid which can exacerbate this challenge by reducing the already limited glenoid bone stock, by altering biomechanics, and by interfering with operative exposure. This article reviews the Walch classification system for glenoid morphology. Several typical findings of osteoarthritis at the glenoid are discussed including central bone loss, posterior bone loss, retroversion, biconcavity, inclination, osteophyte formation, subchondral bone quality, and bone density. The three primary types of shoulder arthroplasty are reviewed, along with several techniques for addressing glenoid deformity, including eccentric reaming, bone grafting, and the use of augmented glenoid components. Ultimately, a primary objective at shoulder arthroplasty is to correct glenoid deformity while preserving bone stock, which depends critically on characterizing the glenoid at pre-operative imaging. Understanding the surgical techniques and the implications of glenoid morphology on surgical decision-making enables the radiologist to provide the morphologic information needed by the surgeon.

Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Improves Sleep Quality Postoperatively.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of abnormal sleep quality in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and to determine whether arthroscopic hip preservation surgery with cam/pincer correction, labral preservation, and capsular plication can improve sleep quality postoperatively. METHODS: All patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for cam/pincer correction who failed nonoperative management between March 1, 2017, and July 1, 2017, were administered a validated sleep quality questionnaire-the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)-preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Exclusion criteria included patients undergoing revision arthroscopy, gluteus medius repair, or a contralateral procedure during the follow-up period and those with known sleep disorders. A global (total) PSQI score >5 indicates poor sleep quality. The Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, and International Hip Outcome Tool-12 were used to assess functional outcomes. A repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Greenhouse-Geisser and Bonferroni corrections was conducted to determine statistically significant changes in sleep patterns. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients (94.6%) were included in the final analysis. The mean (± standard error) patient age was 37.8 ± 1.9 years, and body mass index was 27.6 ± 0.7. Preoperatively, 49 (94.2%) of patients experienced poor sleep quality, defined as a global PSQI score >5, with a mean PSQI score of 9.8 ± 0.6. At 24 weeks postoperatively, 10 (21.7%) of patients experienced poor sleep quality with a mean PSQI score of 2.2 ± 0.2. All patients had significant improvements in all hip outcome instruments at 24 weeks postoperatively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively, patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome have a high prevalence of sleep disturbance. These patients experience subsequent improvement in sleep disturbance after arthroscopic hip surgery early in the postoperative period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

A biomechanical comparison of two arthroscopic suture techniques in biceps tenodesis: whip-stitch vs. simple suture techniques.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance of whip-stitch (WS) and simple suture techniques (SST) of the long head of the biceps tendon in suprapectoral intraosseous tenodesis with interference screw fixation. METHODS: A total of 10 paired cadavers (61.1 ± 4.6 years) were randomized to receive WS or SST biceps tenodesis beginning at the musculotendinous junction. Both groups implemented a No. 2 FiberLoop wire and underwent suprapectoral fixation with a polyetheretherketone interference screw at the bicipital grove. A Materials Testing System performed cyclic testing (500 cycles), followed by load to failure at 1 mm/s. Load, displacement, and time were recorded during cyclic and failure testing. A 2-tailed Student's t-test and χ2 analysis were performed for failure load and mode of failure, respectively. RESULTS: Two SST specimens and 1 WS specimen failed during cyclic loading via tendon rupture at the screw-tendon interface. There was no significant statistical difference in the cyclic displacement after 500 cycles between the WS (12.9 mm ± 4.4 mm) and SST groups (14.0 mm ± 3.8 mm, P = .2); cyclic strain, defined as the peak displacement at the 500th cycle divided by the initial gauge length, between the WS (0.4 ± 0.2) and SST groups (0.7 ± 0.7, P = .3); maximal load (162.7 N ± 56.8 N vs. 153.1 N ± 39.3 N, respectively, P = .6); and stiffness (50.5 N/mm ± 17.7 N/mm vs. 43.3 N/mm ± 10.9 N/mm, respectively, P = .3). All specimens ruptured at the screw-tendon interface. CONCLUSION: The WS technique can provide equivalent biomechanical performance to the SST in suprapectoral intraosseous biceps tenodesis with interference screw fixation.

CT-Based 3D Printing of the Glenoid Prior to Shoulder Arthroplasty: Bony Morphology and Model Evaluation.

To demonstrate the 3D printed appearance of glenoid morphologies relevant to shoulder replacement surgery and to evaluate the benefits of printed models of the glenoid with regard to surgical planning. A retrospective review of patients referred for shoulder CT was performed, leading to a cohort of nine patients without arthroplasty hardware and exhibiting glenoid changes relevant to shoulder arthroplasty planning. Thin slice CT images were used to create both humerus-subtracted volume renderings of the glenoid, as well as 3D surface models of the glenoid, and 11 printed models were created. Volume renderings, surface models, and printed models were reviewed by a musculoskeletal radiologist for accuracy. Four fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons specializing in shoulder surgery reviewed each case individually as follows: First, the source CT images were reviewed, and a score for the clarity of the bony morphologies relevant to shoulder arthroplasty surgery was given. The volume rendering was reviewed, and the clarity was again scored. Finally, the printed model was reviewed, and the clarity again scored. Each printed model was also scored for morphologic complexity, expected usefulness of the printed model, and physical properties of the model. Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon signed rank tests of the clarity scores were calculated, and the Spearman's ρ correlation coefficient between complexity and usefulness scores was computed. Printed models demonstrated a range of glenoid bony changes including osteophytes, glenoid bone loss, retroversion, and biconcavity. Surgeons rated the glenoid morphology as more clear after review of humerus-subtracted volume rendering, compared with review of the source CT images (p = 0.00903). Clarity was also better with 3D printed models compared to CT (p = 0.00903) and better with 3D printed models compared to humerus-subtracted volume rendering (p = 0. 00879). The expected usefulness of printed models demonstrated a positive correlation with morphologic complexity, with Spearman's ρ 0.73 (p = 0.0108). 3D printing of the glenoid based on pre-operative CT provides a physical representation of patient anatomy. Printed models enabled shoulder surgeons to appreciate glenoid bony morphology more clearly compared to review of CT images or humerus-subtracted volume renderings. These models were more useful as glenoid complexity increased.

The Influence of Pain in Other Major Joints and the Spine on 2-Year Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether patients who have pain in other major joints or the spine have poorer postsurgical outcomes than patients without comorbid orthopaedic pain. METHODS: We performed a review of a prospectively maintained institutional surgical registry of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 1, 2012, and July 16, 2015, by a single surgeon, with a minimum of 2 years of postoperative follow-up. A musculoskeletal morbidity (MSM) score was assigned to each patient preoperatively based on the presence of pain in other joints and the spine (grade 1, hip only; grade 2, hip and other major joints without spine; grade 3, hip with spine; and grade 4, hip and other major joints with spine). Preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively, functional outcomes were measured using the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), and the percentages of patients achieving a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 821 patients were identified, of whom 700 (85.3%) completed 2-year follow-up. Preoperatively, MSM grade 1 patients had a higher HOS-ADL than grade 2 patients (P = .02), but there was no difference between grade 1 and grade 3 patients (P = .63) or between grade 1 and grade 4 patients (P = .14). Likewise, there was no difference in the preoperative HOS-ADL among grades 2, 3, and 4. Patients with MSM grades 1 and 2 were younger than those with grades 3 and 4. At 2 years postoperatively, MSM grade 1 patients had higher HOS-ADL values than grade 3 (P = .01) and grade 4 (P = .02) but not grade 2 (P = .07) patients. Overall, 84% of patients showed an MCID and 72% of patients achieved a PASS with regard to the HOS-ADL. There were no statistically significant differences among MSM grades in terms of the MCID or PASS. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 84% of patients improved with hip arthroscopy by MCID criteria for the HOS-ADL. Patients with no pain in other joints (MSM grade 1) had better 2-year postoperative HOS-ADL values after hip arthroscopy than patients with spine pain (grades 3 and 4). However, there were no significant differences in the MCID or PASS among patients with regard to MSM grade. A total of 40.5% of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy had pain in another joint. A limitation, however, is that there is potential for a type II error, in that there may not have been a sufficient number of patients studied to detect a significant difference in outcome among patients with different grades of musculoskeletal comorbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Demographic Trends and Complication Rates in Arthroscopic Elbow Surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate demographic trends in elbow arthroscopy over time, as well as to query complication rates requiring reoperation associated with these procedures. METHODS: The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) billing codes of patients undergoing elbow arthroscopy were searched using a national insurance database. From the years 2007 to 2011, over 20 million orthopaedic patient records were present in the database with an orthopaedic International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis code or CPT code. Our search for procedures and the corresponding CPT codes for the elbow included diagnostic arthroscopy, loose body removal, synovectomy, and debridement. The type of procedure, date, gender, and region of the country were identified for each patient. In addition, the incidence of reoperation for infection, stiffness, and nerve injury was examined. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in arthroscopic elbow procedures over the study period. Male patients accounted for 71% of patients undergoing these procedures. Of the elbow arthroscopy patients, 22% were aged younger than 20 years, 25% were aged 20 to 39 years, 47% were aged 40 to 59 years, and 6% were aged 60 years or older. Other than synovectomy, there were regional variations in the incidence of each procedure type. The overall rate of reoperation was 2.2%, with specific rates of 0.26% for infection, 0.63% for stiffness, and 1.26% for nerve injury. It should be noted that because only the complications requiring reoperation are recorded in the database, these numbers are lower than the overall complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the incidence of elbow arthroscopy in this patient population is relatively low and appears to be increasing slightly over time. In the database used in this study, elbow arthroscopy procedures were most commonly performed in male patients and in patients aged 40 to 59 years, with regional variation in the incidence of the different procedures. Furthermore, the rate of complications requiring reoperation was low, with a nerve operation being the most common reoperation performed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

External Validation of the Oakland Score for Predicting Safe Discharge in Patients Presenting With Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding at the William Harvey Hospital in the United Kingdom.

Introduction Lower gastrointestinal bleeds (LGIB) are defined by having a bleeding point in the gastrointestinal tract beyond the ligament of Treitz. The most common causes include diverticular bleeds, tumours, and colitis. There are no National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines regarding safe discharge of patients with LGIB. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the Oakland score, as suggested by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines, in patients presenting with LGIB at William Harvey Hospital. Methods Patients with LGIB who presented to Accident & Emergency or inpatient referral from January to December 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Data was extracted from patients' Sunrise documentation. The Oakland score for each patient was calculated. Those with a score of ≤8 were deemed safe for discharge; those with a higher score were deemed unsuitable. Patients' admission, discharges, and adverse outcomes, such as representation, blood transfusion, or further intervention, were investigated. Patients with no adverse outcomes were deemed to have had a safe discharge. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the Oakland score and adverse outcome (and therefore safe discharge) were calculated. Results A total of 123 patients were included. These led to a total of 144 LGIB presentations to the hospital. Twenty-nine patients had an Oakland score of ≤8; 21 (72.4%) cases were initially discharged with four representations (19.0%) and eight (27.6%) were admitted although none of these suffered from any adverse outcomes. For those who scored ≤8, 25 (86.2%) were therefore deemed to have had a safe discharge. A total of 115 had a score >8; 43 (37.4%) were initially discharged, 72 (62.6%) admitted and 41 (35.7%) experienced at least one adverse outcome including 16 (13.9%) representations, 21 (18.3%) blood transfusions, three (2.6%) surgical interventions and one (0.9%) endoscopic haemostasis. Out of the 115 cases which scored >8, 74 (64.3%) were deemed to have had a safe discharge. The AUROC for safe discharge was 0.84. Conclusion The Oakland score seems to be a safe and reliable tool for identifying LGIB patients who could be safely discharged home without hospital intervention. However, further research is required to assess whether a score of >8 could be used as many patients with a higher score did not experience adverse outcomes.

Social Media Influence and Gender Are Correlated with Industry Payments to Orthopaedic Sports Surgeons.

Social media, specifically Twitter, has become an increasingly used tool in academic orthopaedic surgery to help surgeons connect with patients and peers. This study seeks to understand correlations among social medial influence, academic influence, and gender among academic orthopaedic sport surgeons. A list of all orthopaedic sports surgeons serving as faculty of sports fellowships in the United States was compiled, along with publicly available demographic information. Their Hirsh indices (h-indices) were obtained using the Scopus database. The Physician Payments Sunshine Act Web site was used to determine their industry payments from 2014 through 2020. The number of Twitter followers was used as a measure of social media influence. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to explore the associations between these parameters and industry payments. Of the 633 surgeons, 33% had a Twitter account. Surgeons with > 1,000 followers (7.3%) were awarded 186% more in nonresearch funding (p = 0.01) and had a higher probability of receiving industry research funding compared with those with no followers (p = 0.03). Sports surgeons had an average h-index of 16, with 44% having ≤ 20 publications and 21% having ≥ 100 publications. Surgeons with ≥ 100 publications were awarded 453% more in nonresearch funding (p = 0.001) and had a 32% higher probability of receiving industry research funding (p < 0.001) when compared with their colleagues with ≤ 20 publications. Female sports surgeons accounted for only 7.9% of surgeons included in the study, and were awarded 65% less in industry nonresearch funding compared with their male colleagues (p = 0.004) when controlling for other factors. Both number of publications and a high level of Twitter activity (> 1,000 followers) had the strongest associations with the quantity of industry nonresearch funding and the highest probability of industry research funding. Female sports surgeons received significantly less industry nonresearch funding compared with their male colleagues. Future studies further exploring gender disparities in industry funding for orthopaedic surgeons may be warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, Level III.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Depression and Anxiety in Elective Knee Surgery Patients.

Mental health has been shown to play an important role in patient-reported outcomes (PRO); however, there is a general lack of literature describing patient-reported outcome measurement information system (PROMIS) depression and anxiety computer adaptive tests in elective knee surgery patients. The purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms before and after elective knee surgery and to determine whether these symptoms influence postoperative functional outcomes. An institutional review board-approved prospective orthopaedic registry was retrospectively queried for patients undergoing elective knee surgery from June 2015 to November 2018. Electronic surveys collecting patient demographic information and PROs were administered pre- and postoperatively. Of the 663 patients that completed baseline questionnaires, 466 completed 2-year follow-up (70.3%). PROs included PROMIS depression, PROMIS anxiety, International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC), and PROMIS physical function (PF). Wilcoxon rank sum and Spearman's rank order correlation were utilized to determine associations between variables. Multivariable analysis was used to control for confounding variables. Average PROMIS depression and anxiety scores significantly improved 2 years after surgery. PROMIS depression and anxiety scores significantly correlated with each other. PROMIS depression and anxiety scores significantly correlated with PROMIS PF and IKDC scores. After controlling for confounders on multivariable analysis, worse 2-year PROMIS anxiety was predictive of less functional improvement and worse 2-year PF and IKDC, while worse 2-year PROMIS depression was predictive of less improvement in IKDC. This study confirms the important relationship between mental health and functional outcomes. Given that psychiatric comorbidities are potentially modifiable with treatment, proper recognition could potentially lead to better orthopaedic outcomes. In addition, the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms postoperatively, as documented by PROMIS computer adaptive tests, may act as a barrier to achieving optimal functional outcomes after elective knee surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Biomechanical Comparison of Four- versus Six-Strand Transosseous Suture Repair for Patellar Tendon Rupture.

BACKGROUND: Surgical repair is indicated for patellar tendon ruptures that result in loss of knee extensor mechanism function. However, biomechanical studies report conflicting results when comparing transosseous suture versus suture anchor repair techniques. This discrepancy may be due to inconsistencies in experimental design as these studies use various numbers of suture strands. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to compare the ultimate load of four- versus six-strand transosseous suture repair. Secondary objectives are to compare gap formation after cyclical loading and mode of failure. METHODS: Six pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric specimen were randomly allocated to either four- or six-strand transosseous suture repair. Specimen underwent preconditioning cyclical loading and then load to failure. RESULTS: The six-strand repair had a significantly higher maximum load to failure compared with the four-strand repair (mean difference = 319.3 N [57.9%], p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in gap length after cyclical loading or at max load. There were no significant differences in mode of failure. CONCLUSION: Utilizing a six-stand transosseous patella tendon repair construct with one additional suture increases overall construct strength by over 50% compared with a four-strand construct.

Preoperative opioid use is associated with worse preoperative patient-reported outcomes in hip arthroscopy patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to define the rate of preoperative opioid use among patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, ascertain which clinical factors are associated with opioid use, and assess the effect of preoperative opioid usage on preoperative patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. METHODS: A single institution orthopedic registry was retrospectively analyzed for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome with or without labral tear between 2015 and 2022. Patients completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) in six domains, Numeric Pain Scores (NPS), and Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System expectations domain preoperatively. Patients' charts were reviewed to determine demographic factors and identify any active opioid prescription within 6 weeks before surgery. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between preoperative opioid use and baseline PROs. Statistically significant bivariate associations were further tested by multivariate analysis to determine independent predictors. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients were included (age 39.7 â€‹± â€‹12.0 years; 87 females; body mass index 27.4 â€‹± â€‹5.7 kg/m2). There were 21 patients (17%) using opioids preoperatively. Prior orthopedic or other surgery and lower education level were associated with preoperative opioid use. Patients with preoperative opioid use scored statistically significantly worse compared with those without preoperative opioid use on baseline PROMIS Physical Function (38.6 vs 40.5, p â€‹= â€‹0.01), Pain Interference (65.9 vs 60.2, p â€‹= â€‹0.001), Fatigue (60.7 vs 51.6, p â€‹= â€‹0.005), Social Satisfaction (38.2 vs 43.2, p â€‹= â€‹0.007), and Depression (54.2 vs 48.8, p â€‹= â€‹0.01). Preoperative opioid use was also associated with statistically significantly worse preoperative NPS for both the operative hip (6.3 vs 4.6, p â€‹= â€‹0.003) and whole body (3.0 vs 1.4, p â€‹= â€‹0.008). Preoperative opioid use was an independent predictor of worse baseline PROMIS Pain Interference, Fatigue, Social Satisfaction, and NPS for the operative hip. CONCLUSION: Patients using opioids preoperatively had worse baseline PROs for physical function, pain, social satisfaction, and depression than those not using opioids preoperatively. When controlling for confounding variables, preoperative opioid use was independently predictive of worse baseline pain, fatigue, and social satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Pdgfrß+ lineage cells transiently increase at the site of Achilles tendon healing.

The purpose of this study was to track platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß (Pdgfr-ß) lineage cells at the site of Achilles tendon injury over time. Pdgfr-ß-CreERT2 :Ai9 mice were generated to track Pdgfr-ß lineage cells in adult mice. A surgical Achilles transection injury model was employed to examine the presence of Pdgfr-ß lineage cells in the healing tendon over time, with five mice per time point at 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days postoperatively. Histology and immunohistochemistry for tdTomato (Pdgfr-ß lineage cells), PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cell proliferation), and α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin, myofibroblasts) were performed. The percentage of cells at the healing tendon site staining positive for tdTomato and PCNA were quantified. Over 75% of cells at the injury site were Pdgfr-ß lineage cells at Days 3, 7, and 14, and this percentage decreased significantly by Days 28 and 56 postinjury. Cell proliferation at the injury site peaked on Day 7 and decreased thereafter. Immunohistochemistry for α-SMA demonstrated minimal colocalization of myofibroblasts with Pdgfr-ß lineage cells. This study demonstrates that in a mouse model of Achilles tendon injury, Pdgfr-ß lineage cells' presence at the injury site is transient. Thus, we conclude that they are unlikely to be the cells that differentiate into myofibroblasts and directly contribute to tendon fibrous scar formation. Clinical Significance: This study provides some insight into the presence of Pdgfr-ß lineage cells (including pericytes) following Achilles injury, furthering our understanding of tendon healing.

Is MRI Overutilized for Evaluation of Knee Pain in Veterans?

MRI is an essential diagnostic imaging modality for many knee conditions; however, it is not indicated in the setting of advanced knee arthritis. Inappropriate MRI imaging adds to health care costs and may delay definitive management for many patients. The primary purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of inappropriate MRI scans performed at one Veterans' Administration Medical Center (VAMC). We performed a retrospective chart review of all knee MRIs ordered over a 6-month period. Inappropriate MRI was defined as MRI performed prior to radiographs (XRs), or in the presence of XRs demonstrating severe osteoarthritis, without leading to a nonarthroplasty procedure of the knee. Of the 304 cases reviewed, 36.8% (112) of the MRIs were deemed inappropriate, 33 were ordered by orthopedists, and 79 were ordered by other health care providers. Of the 33 ordered by orthopedists, 25 were ordered by retired/nonsurgical orthopedists. Obtaining an MRI delayed care by an average of 29.2 days. Of the 252 cases that had XR prior to MRI, none included all four views in the standard knee XR series and only four had weightbearing images. Over a third of knee MRIs performed at this VAMC were inappropriate and delayed care. Additionally, no XRs in our study contained all the necessary views to properly assess knee arthritis. These concerning findings signify a potential opportunity for education in diagnostic strategies, to better patient care and resource utilization in the VAMC.

PROMIS cluster analysis predicts two-year outcomes in knee surgery patients.

Aims & objectives: Meaningful clinical interpretation of orthopaedic patient-reported outcome scores remains challenging. Grouping scores may be more meaningful than individual score analysis. The purpose of this study was to determine if grouping knee surgery patients into four preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) clusters would have prognostic value for two-year postoperative outcomes. Materials & methods: 488 of 697 (70%) patients undergoing elective knee surgery at a single urban institution were enrolled in an orthopaedic registry and completed two-year follow up. Patients were administered questionnaires for PROMIS, International Knee Documentation Committee Score (IKDC), Marx Activity Rating Scale (MARS), and Surgical Satisfaction (SSQ-8). A k-means cluster analysis was performed to identify preoperative PROMIS clusters. Chi-square or Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted for bivariate analyses. Least-squares multiple linear regression models were performed to identify if cluster group was an independent predictor. Results: Cluster analysis revealed four clusters of patients. Psychological distress was most significant in determining classification. More impaired clusters were associated with higher rates of arthroplasty, African American race, preoperative opioid use, lower income, higher comorbidity index, and other sociodemographic and operative factors. Worse preoperative cluster status was associated with higher chance of achieving minimally clinically important change (MCID) on all metrics except PROMIS Pain Interference (PI), IKDC, and MARS. Multivariable analysis confirmed better preoperative cluster as predictive of better PROMIS Physical Function (PF), PI, IKDC scores, and satisfaction. Worse preoperative cluster was predictive of greater improvement on PF and PI but not IKDC. Conclusion: Preoperative PROMIS clusters have prognostic value in predicting outcomes for knee surgery patients. Better preoperative cluster function predicts superior outcomes. While worse preoperative cluster predicts worse outcome, all clusters still significantly improve, so worse preoperative cluster is not a contraindication to surgery.

Response Bias for Press Ganey Ambulatory Surgery Surveys after Knee Surgery.

The Press Ganey Ambulatory Surgery (PGAS) survey is an emerging tool used to capture patient satisfaction after elective surgery. Evaluating patient satisfaction is important; however, quality improvement (QI) surveys used to capture the patient experience may be subject to nonresponse bias. An orthopaedic registry was used to retrospectively identify patients who underwent ambulatory knee surgery from June 2015 to December 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of PGAS survey nonresponse and response. In the cohort of 1,161 patients, 142 (12.2%) completed the PGAS survey. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that male sex, Black race, not living with a caretaker, student or unemployment status, and worse preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) fatigue were predictors of nonresponse. The results of this study highlight the presence of nonresponse bias in the PGAS survey after elective knee surgery.

Preoperative Factors Associated with Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Scores after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Patient satisfaction is increasingly used as a metric to evaluate the quality of healthcare services and to determine hospital and physician compensation. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors associated with Press Ganey Ambulatory Surgery (PGAS) satisfaction scores, and to evaluate the effect of each PGAS domain score on the total PGAS score variability in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). A review of a Press Ganey (PG) database at a single center was performed for patients undergoing ACLR between 2015 and 2019. Ninety-nine patients completed the PGAS survey and 54 also completed preoperative demographic and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for an orthopaedic registry. PGAS scores were calculated and bivariate analysis was performed. Multivariable linear regression determined the effect of each of the six PGAS domains on the total PGAS score variability. In the total cohort of 99 patients, no factors were significantly associated with the total PGAS score or any domain scores. For the 54 patients who also participated in the orthopaedic registry, none of the preoperative PROMs were significantly correlated with total PGAS score. However, having a college degree (89 vs. 95 or 97 points; p = 0.02) and continuous femoral nerve catheter (92 vs. 100 points; p = 0.04) was associated with lower personal issue domain scores, while patients with a greater number of prior surgeries had worse registration domain scores (ρ = -0.27; p = 0.049). For the entire cohort, the registration and facility domains contributed the most variability to the total PGAS score, while the physician domain contributed the least. Few preoperative factors are associated with PGAS scores, and total PGAS scores do not significantly correlate with baseline PROMs. Surgeons may have limited ability to improve their PGAS scores given most of the variability in total scores stems from systemic aspects of the patient experience.

Distinguishing Intramedullary Spinal Cord Neoplasms from Non-Neoplastic Conditions by Analyzing the Classic Signs on MRI in the Era of AI.

Intramedullary lesions can be challenging to diagnose, given the wide range of possible pathologies. Each lesion has unique clinical and imaging features, which are best evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. Radiological imaging is unique with rich, descriptive patterns and classic signs-which are often metaphorical. In this review, we present a collection of classic MRI signs, ranging from neoplastic to non-neoplastic lesions, within the spinal cord. The Differential Diagnosis (DD) of intramedullary lesions can be narrowed down by careful analysis of the classic signs and patterns of involvement in the spinal cord. Furthermore, the signs are illustrated memorably with emphasis on the pathophysiology, mimics, and pitfalls. Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, particularly deep learning, have made remarkable progress in image recognition tasks. The classic signs and related illustrations can enhance a pattern recognition approach in diagnostic radiology. Deep learning can potentially be designed to distinguish neoplastic from non-neoplastic processes by pattern recognition of the classic MRI signs.

Rehabilitation Principles to Consider for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

CONTEXT: Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is among the most common orthopaedic injuries, and reconstruction of a ruptured ACL is a common orthopaedic procedure. In general, surgical intervention is necessary to restore stability to the injured knee, and to prevent meniscal damage. Along with surgery, intense postoperative physical therapy is needed to restore function to the injured extremity. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has been the standard of care in recent decades, and advances in surgical technology have reintroduced the prospect of augmented primary repair of the native ACL via a variety of methods. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A search of PubMed database of articles and reviews available in English was performed through 2020. The search terms ACLR, anterior cruciate ligament repair, bridge enhanced acl repair, suture anchor repair, dynamic intraligamentary stabilization, internal bracing, suture ligament augmentation, and internal brace ligament augmentation were used. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 5. RESULTS: No exact consensus exists on effective rehabilitation protocols after ACL repair techniques, as the variation in published protocols seem even greater than the variation in those for ACLR. For some techniques such as internal bracing and dynamic interligamentary stabilization, it is likely permissible for the patients to progress to full weightbearing and discontinue bracing sooner. However, caution should be applied with regard to earlier return to sport than after ACLR as to minimize risk for retear. CONCLUSION: More research is needed to address how physical therapies must adapt to these innovative repair techniques. Until that is accomplished, we recommend that physical therapists understand the differences among the various ACL surgery techniques discussed here and work with the surgeons to develop a rehabilitation protocol for their mutual patients. STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION TAXONOMY (SORT): C.