Two AIS Cases, 2 Surgeons, 1 Operating Room, 1 Day: Faster and Safer Than 1 Case in a Day.

BACKGROUND: To lessen surgical times for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion (PSIF), our department developed a quality improvement initiative where 2 AIS cases were completed in 1 day by the same 2 surgeons operating together in 1 operating room (OR). We describe the results of this initiative, comparing operative times and outcomes to cases of these surgeons operating individually. METHODS: From 2017 to 2023, patients aged 10 to 18 years with AIS undergoing PSIF were prospectively enrolled for "Two Spine Tuesday." Patients were matched by age, sex, curve severity, and number of levels fused to historical AIS controls. Outcomes included surgery time, total OR time, estimated blood loss (EBL), volume of cell saver transfused, allogenic blood transfusion, length of stay, 90-day readmissions, Clavien-Dindo-Sink Complication Classification System complication rates, and percentage who achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for SRS-22. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients composing the 2-spine group (group 2) were compared with 55 historical sex-matched and age-matched controls (group 1). Major coronal curve and average number of levels fused were similar between groups. Overall surgery time (203 vs. 296 min, P<0.001), total OR time (P<0.001), and EBL (400 vs. 550 mL, P<0.001) were lower for group 2. Group 2 had fewer complications [n=17 (31%) vs. n=28 (51%), P=0.03]. CONCLUSIONS: Performing 2 AIS cases in 1 OR by 2 surgeons the same day resulted in shorter surgery times, less total time in the operating room, lower complication rates, and less blood loss compared with single-surgeon matched controls. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Pediatric Type I Open Both Bone Forearm Fractures: Predicting Failure of Nonoperative Management.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, nonoperative treatment of pediatric type I open both bone forearm fractures (OBBFFs) with bedside irrigation, antibiotics, closed reduction, and casting has yielded low infection rates. However, risk factors for failure of type I OBBFF closed reduction have not been well described. Our purpose was to describe management of patients with type I OBBFFs at our institution and determine what factors are associated with failure of closed reduction in this population. METHODS: This was a review of patients between 5 and 15 years of age who received initial nonoperative management for type I OBBFFs at one institution between 2015 and 2021. Primary outcome was success or failure of nonoperative management (defined as progression to surgical management). Secondary outcomes included infections, compartment syndromes, and neuropraxias. Other variables of interest were demographic information, prereduction and postreduction translation and angulation of the radius and ulna, cast index, and antibiotic administration. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients (67.7% male) with 62 type I OBBFFs were included in this study. Following initial nonoperative management, 55 injuries (88.7%) were successfully treated in casts, while the remaining 7 (11.3%) required surgical intervention following loss of acceptable reduction in cast. Median cast index (0.84, IQR 0.8 to 0.9 vs. 0.75, IQR 0.7-0.8, P =0.020) and postreduction radius translation on anteroposterior films (32.0%, IQR 17.0% to 40.0% vs. 5.0%, IQR 0.0% to 26.0%, P =0.020) were higher among those who failed nonoperative management. Multivariable logistic regression models identified increased odds of failure for every SD (0.7) increase in cast index (OR 3.78, P =0.023, 95% CI: 1.4-14.3) and 25% increase in postreduction radius translation on anteroposterior films (OR 7.39, P =0.044, 95% CI 1.2-70.4). No infections or compartment syndromes and 2 transient ulnar neuropraxias occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Closed reduction of type I OBBFFs was successful in 88.7% of cases. There were no infections after nonoperative management. Increases in cast index of 0.7 and postreduction radius translation on anteroposterior radiographs of 25% were associated with increased likelihood of failure, thus requiring surgery; age was not. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective comparative study.

Methamphetamine Intoxication and Perioperative Complications Following Orthopaedic Surgical Procedures.

Background Methamphetamine use is increasing in prevalence. There is a theoretical increased risk of complication postoperative due to catecholamine depletion. When presented with an urgent surgical problem, there are little data to help counsel the patient on the risks of undergoing surgery in the setting of a positive methamphetamine test result. Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to examine the perioperative complication rate for patients who underwent emergent orthopaedic procedures in the setting of a positive methamphetamine drug screen. Additional data were collected in an attempt to further stratify risk factors for perioperative complications in this patient population. Design and methods A retrospective case series of 110 patients. Patients were identified by querying the medical record for patients with a positive methamphetamine result within 24 hours of the surgery start time. Data were collected on each patient, including the nature of the surgery, the type of injury sustained, disposition from the operating room, among other data points. The primary outcome was the presence of a perioperative cardiopulmonary complication, as determined by a new diagnosis made in the chart. The secondary outcome was whether the patient needed an increased level of care postoperatively. Results Of the 110 charts reviewed, three patients sustained complications during their hospitalization; an overall complication rate of 2.7%. One patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), while two others developed surgical site infections. Of the 19 patients who went to the intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively, none were because the patient required a higher level of care than the preoperative level. Conclusions Patients who underwent emergent surgical intervention in the setting of a positive methamphetamine drug test had a low complication rate. While the dogma is to delay surgery in the setting of methamphetamine use, the true risk of undergoing surgery in this setting is not fully understood. We advocate for continued research in this poorly studied group of patients. Larger studies will need to be done in order to fully understand the risks associated with operating in the setting of a positive methamphetamine drug screen.