Improving access to emergent spinal care through knowledge translation: an ethnographic study.

BACKGROUND: For patients and family members, access to timely specialty medical care for emergent spinal conditions is a significant stressor to an already serious condition. Timing to surgical care for emergent spinal conditions such as spinal trauma is an important predictor of outcome. However, few studies have explored ethnographically the views of surgeons and other key stakeholders on issues related to patient access and care for emergent spine conditions. The primary study objective was to determine the challenges to the provision of timely care as well as to identify areas of opportunities to enhance care delivery. METHODS: An ethnographic study of key administrative and clinical care providers involved in the triage and care of patients referred through CritiCall Ontario was undertaken utilizing standard methods of qualitative inquiry. This comprised 21 interviews with people involved in varying capacities with the provision of emergent spinal care, as well as qualitative observations on an orthopaedic/neurosurgical ward, in operating theatres, and at CritiCall Ontario's call centre. RESULTS: Several themes were identified and organized into categories that range from inter-professional collaboration through to issues of hospital-level resources and the role of relationships between hospitals and external organizations at the provincial level. Underlying many of these issues is the nature of the medically complex emergent spine patient and the scientific evidentiary base upon which best practice care is delivered. Through the implementation of knowledge translation strategies facilitated from this research, a reduction of patient transfers out of province was observed in the one-year period following program implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that competing priorities at both the hospital and provincial level create challenges in the delivery of spinal care. Key stakeholders recognized spinal care as aligning with multiple priorities such as emergent/critical care, medical through surgical, acute through rehabilitative, disease-based (i.e. trauma, cancer), and wait times initiatives. However, despite newly implemented strategies, there continues to be increasing trends over time in the number of spinal CritiCall Ontario referrals. This reinforces the need for ongoing inter-professional efforts in care delivery that take into account the institutional contexts that may constrain individual or team efforts.

Enhancing pedicle screw fixation in the lumbar spine using allograft bone plug interference fixation.

STUDY DESIGN: A within-subjects controlled laboratory study. OBJECTIVE: To examine a biological alternative to cement augmentation for pedicle screw fixation comparing bilateral axial pullout tests of augmented and nonaugmented (controls) pedicle screws. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Fixation in the osteoporotic spine remains a difficult challenge with failure by loosening or backout. Pedicle screw augmentation has been attempted using polymethylmethacrylate and bioabsorbable calcium cements; however, the potential for extravasation and embolization of cement are becoming increasingly concerning and merit the search for alternative methods to improve screw-anchoring strength. METHODS: Twenty-four (24) fresh human lumbar vertebrae were tested to compare the pullout strength of augmented and nonaugmented pedicle screws. Two different augmentation strategies were employed using allograft bone plugs (ABPs) and evaluated using 12 specimens per group. Bone mineral density of each specimen was obtained using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The augmented versus nonaugmented pedicle was randomized for each vertebra, and bilateral testing enabled paired statistical analyses. Axial pullout tests were performed using an materials testing system servohydraulic test system, and peak force, failure displacement, and stiffness was obtained for each test and correlated with bone mineral density. RESULTS: Augmentation using 6-mm-diameter ABPs with 6.25-mm-diameter pedicle screws resulted in statistically weaker average pullout strength (775±455 N) than the nonaugmented controls (1233±826 N). When using smaller (5 mm diameter) AGPs with the same diameter screws, there was no statistical difference between average pullout strength for the augmented pedicle screws (1772±652 N) and the nonaugmented screws (1780±575 N). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary study of pedicle screw augmentation using cannulated ABPs showed no improvement of fixation with pedicles in the spine. This was even true in osteoporotic specimens, where augmentation would seem to be of considerable benefit.

Spinal surgery fellowship education in Canada: evaluation of trainee and supervisor perspectives on cognitive and procedural competencies.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of spine surgery fellowship educators and trainees. OBJECTIVE: To determine educator and trainee perspectives on the relative importance of core cognitive and procedural competencies in fellowship training. To determine perceptions of confidence in competencies by trainees near the end of their fellowship. Finally, to determine potential differences comparing surgeons by background specialty training (neurosurgical or orthopedic) of their views on competencies. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spine surgery is a growing subspecialty with increasing collaboration among specialists of varied specialty backgrounds involved in education. With the recent implementation of competency-based curricula during specialty training, opportunities may exist in enhancing fellowship education. METHODS: A questionnaire on cognitive and procedural competencies was administered (online and paper) to fellowship educators and trainees across Canada. A follow-up questionnaire was administered to nonresponders 3 months later. Survey results were summarized using qualitative and descriptive statistics with comparative analyses performed. RESULTS: Of the identified respondents, the response rate was 91%, (15/17 fellow trainees; 47/51 educators). Twelve of the 13 core cognitive skill categories were rated as being important to acquire by the end of fellowship. Trainees were not comfortable performing, and requested additional training in 8 of the 29 less common and technically demanding procedural skills. There were different perceptions on the relative importance of competencies comparing trainees by specialty background as well as different perceptions on the types of competencies where additional training was desired to achieve competency (P < 0.05). Fellowship educators and trainees possessed similar perceptions on the relative importance of core cognitive and procedural competencies required for successful training. CONCLUSION: Background specialty influenced the perceptions of both fellowship educators and trainees. This study identified potential gaps or perceived deficiencies in the competency of current fellows. Improvements in spine fellowship education should target these areas through developing evidence-based curriculum changes.

Cardiovascular disease predicts complications following bilateral total knee arthroplasty under a single anesthetic.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the rate of perioperative complications of single anesthetic bilateral total knee arthroplasties (TKA) compared with staged procedures. METHODS: The records of all single anesthetic bilateral TKA performed between 1997 and 2007 at one large community hospital and one university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Complete demographic data, preoperative co-morbidities and complications for 156 patients were compared to a matched staged bilateral TKA (n=78) cohort. RESULTS: In the single anesthetic bilateral TKA cohort, cardiovascular disease predicted postoperative myocardial (p<0.01, Odds Ratio - 67.6), need for ICU admission (p<0.01, Odds Ratio - 88.8), and days spent in ICU (p<0.01), while cardiovascular disease did not significantly predict postoperative MI in the staged bilateral (p=0.99, OR - 0). CONCLUSION: Patients with cardiovascular disease are at higher risk for perioperative MI after single anesthetic bilateral TKA.

In-hospital mortality and surgical utilization in severely polytraumatized patients with and without spinal injury.

BACKGROUND: Patients who sustain major trauma experience multisystem injuries including those affecting the spine. We hypothesize that recovery after spinal injuries differs from those affecting other systems. The purpose of our study was to compare in-hospital mortality and surgical resource utilization in severely polytraumatized patient with and without spinal injury. METHODS: We assembled a cohort of patients with severe polytrauma (Injury Severity Score [ISS]>15) and spinal injury and matched them to a cohort without spinal injury for age, gender, ISS, and mechanism of injury. In patients presenting to a Level I trauma center, we compared in-hospital patient mortality, the number of surgical procedures, and duration required for ventilatory support, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and in-hospital LOS comparing matched groups. We performed a subanalysis of those who sustained severe fracture types and those with neurologic impairment. RESULTS: From 114 matched pairs, we found no significant differences in mortality rates or numbers of surgical procedures performed between the groups. Patients with spine injury, however, were observed to experience a prolonged duration of ventilation, ICU and in-hospital LOS compared with their matched cohort. Severe fracture patterns and the presence of neurologic involvement amplified the effect on these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we conclude that the presence of a spinal injury in the setting of severe polytrauma (ISS>15) is associated with a prolonged course of ventilatory support, ICU, and in-hospital LOS. Trauma hospitals treating patients with spinal fracture should be aware of differences in the use of health services for this patient population.