The impact of prior authorization review on orthopaedic subspecialty care: a prospective multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prior authorization review (PAR), in the United States, is a process that was initially intended to focus on hospital admissions and costly high-acuity care. Over time, payors have broadened the scope of PAR to include imaging studies, prescriptions, and routine treatment. The potential detrimental effect of PAR on health care has recently been brought into the limelight, but its impact on orthopedic subspecialty care remains unclear. This study investigated the denial rate, the duration of care delay, and the administrative burden of PAR on orthopedic subspecialty care. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter study was performed analyzing the PAR process. Orthopedic shoulder and/or sports subspecialty practices from 6 states monitored payor-mandated PAR during the course of providing routine patient care. The insurance carrier (traditional Medicare, managed Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, worker's compensation, or government payor [ie, Tricare, Veterans Affairs]), location of service, rate of approval or denial, time to approval or denial, and administrative time required to complete process were all recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: Of 1065 total PAR requests, we found a 1.5% (16/1065) overall denial rate for advanced imaging or surgery when recommended by an orthopedic subspecialist. Commercial and Medicaid insurance resulted in a small but statistically significantly higher rate of denial compared to traditional Medicare, managed Medicare, worker's compensation, or governmental insurance (P < .001). The average administrative time spent on a single PAR was 19.5 minutes, and patients waited an average of 2.2 days to receive initial approval. Managed Medicare, commercial insurance, worker's compensation, and Medicaid required approximately 3-4 times more administrative time to process a PAR than to traditional Medicare or other governmental insurance (P < .001). After controlling for the payor, we identified a significant difference in approval or denial based on geographic location (P < .001). An appeal resulted in a relatively low rate of subsequent denial (20%). However, approximately a third of all appeals remained in limbo for 30 days or more after the initial request. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest prospective analysis to date of the impact of PAR on orthopedic subspecialty care in the United States. Nearly all PAR requests are eventually approved when recommended by orthopedic subspecialists, despite requiring significant resource use and delaying care. Current PAR practices constitute an unnecessary process that increases administrative burden and negatively impacts access to orthopedic subspecialty care. As health care shifts to value-based care, PAR should be called into question, as it does not seem to add value but potentially negatively impacts cost and timeliness of care.

Description and Validation of the Anterior Glenoid Angle: A Novel MRI-Based Measure of Glenoid Morphologic Features and Version.

The goal of this study was to establish a normal value for, and evaluate the reliability of, a new measurement of glenoid morphologic features using magnetic resonance imaging: the anterior glenoid angle. A total of 90 magnetic resonance imaging scans of patients without shoulder arthritis were reviewed. The anterior glenoid angle of each glenoid was measured by 4 blinded physicians. The images were randomized and measured again. Finally, the Friedman angle was measured on the same images for reference. Descriptive statistics and inter- and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated. The mean anterior glenoid angle was 60.4°±3.6°. Of the measured values, 77% were between 56° and 64°. Intraobserver reliability was very good to excellent in single measure (range, 0.763-0.901) and mean measure (range, 0.865-0.948) comparisons. Interobserver reliability was very good to excellent in both single measure (0.769) and mean measure (0.964) comparisons. The mean Friedman angle was 10.2°. Correlation between the anterior glenoid angle and Friedman angle ranged from a moderate negative (-0.496) to a strong negative correlation (-0.711) among the observers. The mean anterior glenoid angle measured via magnetic resonance imaging scan was 60.4° in normal shoulders, and more than 75% of the values were within 4° of the mean. The anterior glenoid angle has excellent inter- and intrarater reliability without using computed tomography scan or including the entire scapula in the field of view. The anterior glenoid angle has a good to very good negative correlation with the Friedman angle because decreasing anterior glenoid angles indicate increasing retroversion. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(6):361-366.].

Clinical and radiographic outcomes with a posteriorly augmented glenoid for Walch B2, B3, and C glenoids in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with severe posterior glenoid wear who were treated with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) and a posterior augmented baseplate. METHODS: A total of 67 primary rTSA patients with osteoarthritis and posterior glenoid wear were treated with an 8° posterior augmented glenoid baseplate. All patients had a Walch B2, B3, or C glenoid, 2-year minimum follow-up, and mean follow-up of 40 months. All patients were scored preoperatively and at the latest follow-up using 5 clinical outcome metrics; active range of motion was also measured. A Student's 2-tailed, unpaired t-test quantified differences in outcomes, where P < .05 denoted significance. RESULTS: All patients experienced significant improvements in pain and function after primary rTSA with a posterior augmented glenoid baseplate. Three complications were reported for a rate of 4.5%; no cases of aseptic glenoid loosening occurred. A total of 90% of patients exceeded the minimal clinically important difference threshold, and 80% of patients exceeded the substantial clinical benefit threshold for each clinical outcome metric and range of motion measure. No differences in outcomes or complications were observed between Walch B2 and B3 patients, demonstrating that this full-wedge posterior augmented baseplate was equally good in each type of glenoid deformity. DISCUSSION: Primary rTSA patients with Walch B2, B3, and C glenoids who received an 8° posterior augmented glenoid baseplate experienced excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes with a low complication rate and no reports of aseptic glenoid loosening at a mean follow-up of 40 months.

Cryopreserved bone allograft for the treatment of shoulder instability with glenoid defect.

The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes after cryopreserved tri-cortical iliac crest allograft reconstruction for glenoid bone loss in patients with shoulder instability. 10 patients completed the required assessments at a mean follow up of 4.5 years. At final follow up, mean ASES was 92 ±â€¯12, mean WOSI was 315 ±â€¯319, with good range of motion. None of the final radiographs demonstrated graft resorption or failure of hardware. The data demonstrated that patients who were treated with glenoid bone grafting with cryopreserved tri-cortical iliac crest allograft can expect good range of motion and functional capacity.

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Double-Row Transosseous Equivalent Suture Bridge Technique.

Following a failed course of conservative management, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) has become the gold standard treatment for patients presenting with symptomatic rotator cuff (RC) tears. Traditionally, the single-row repair technique was used. Although most patients enjoy good to excellent clinical outcomes, structural healing to bone remains problematic. As a result, orthopaedic surgeons have sought to improve outcomes with various technological and technical advancements. One such possible advancement is the double-row technique. We present a method for repairing an RC tear using double-row suture anchors in a transosseous equivalent suture bridge technique. The double-row technique is believed to more effectively re-create the anatomic footprint of the tendon, as well as increase tendon to bone surface area, and apposition for healing. However, it requires longer operating times and is costlier. This report highlights this technique for ARCR in an adult by using a double-row transosseous equivalent suture bridge.

Comparison of phenol and argon beam coagulation as adjuvant therapies in the treatment of stage 2 and 3 benign-aggressive bone tumors.

Argon beam photocoagulation has gained popularity as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of giant cell tumors of bone and other stage 2 or 3 benign-aggressive bone tumors. Although argon beam photocoagulation has been considered a safe and reasonable adjuvant treatment with acceptable recurrence rates, it has never been directly compared with the commonly described phenol as adjuvant. The purpose of this study was to determine whether argon beam photocoagulation is as effective as phenol in preventing recurrence without affecting functional outcome as an adjuvant to surgical curettage. We retrospectively reviewed 93 consecutive patients with a minimum 10-month follow-up between 1992 and 2007 who were treated with curettage and either phenol or argon beam photocoagulation. Functional outcomes and complications were recorded. Overall, 16 (17.2%) of 93 patients who were initially treated with 1 of the adjuvants had pathologically confirmed recurrences. No additional recurrences were noted after retreatment, leading to an overall recurrence rate of 17.1% with phenol and 14.8% with argon beam photocoagulation (P=.726). While avoiding the toxic effects of phenol, argon beam photocoagulation provides for statistically equivalent recurrence rates, functional outcomes, and complication rates in the treatment of benign-aggressive bone tumors.