Generating the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score Using Multivariable Predictive Models and Computer Adaptive Testing to Reduce Survey Burden.

BACKGROUND: The preferred patient-reported outcome measure for the assessment of shoulder conditions continues to evolve. Previous studies correlating the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests (CATs) to the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score have focused on a singular domain (pain or physical function) but have not evaluated the combined domains of pain and physical function that compose the ASES score. Additionally, previous studies have not provided a multivariable prediction tool to convert PROMIS scores to more familiar legacy scores. PURPOSE: To establish a valid predictive model of ASES scores using a nonlinear combination of PROMIS domains for physical function and pain. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: The Military Orthopaedics Tracking Injuries and Outcomes Network (MOTION) database is a prospectively collected repository of patient-reported outcomes and intraoperative variables. Patients in MOTION research who underwent shoulder surgery and completed the ASES, PROMIS Physical Function, and PROMIS Pain Interference at varying time points were included in the present analysis. Nonlinear multivariable predictive models were created to establish an ASES index score and then validated using "leave 1 out" techniques and minimal clinically important difference /substantial clinical benefit (MCID/SCB) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 909 patients completed the ASES, PROMIS Physical Function, and PROMIS Pain Interference at presurgery, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery, providing 1502 complete observations. The PROMIS CAT predictive model was strongly validated to predict the ASES (Pearson coefficient = 0.76-0.78; R2 = 0.57-0.62; root mean square error = 13.3-14.1). The MCID/SCB for the ASES was 21.7, and the best ASES index MCID/SCB was 19.4, suggesting that the derived ASES index is effective and can reliably re-create ASES scores. CONCLUSION: The PROMIS CAT predictive models are able to approximate the ASES score within 13 to 14 points, which is 7 points more accurate than the ASES MCID/SCB derived from the sample. Our ASES index algorithm, which is freely available online (https://osf.io/ctmnd/), has a lower MCID/SCB than the ASES itself. This algorithm can be used to decrease patient survey burden by 11 questions and provide a reliable ASES analog to clinicians.

Digital Orthopaedics: A Glimpse Into the Future in the Midst of a Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The response to COVID-19 catalyzed the adoption and integration of digital health tools into the health care delivery model for musculoskeletal patients. The change, suspension, or relaxation of Medicare and federal guidelines enabled the rapid implementation of these technologies. The expansion of payment models for virtual care facilitated its rapid adoption. The authors aim to provide several examples of digital health solutions utilized to manage orthopedic patients during the pandemic and discuss what features of these technologies are likely to continue to provide value to patients and clinicians following its resolution. CONCLUSION: The widespread adoption of new technologies enabling providers to care for patients remotely has the potential to permanently change the expectations of all stakeholders about the way care is provided in orthopedics. The new era of Digital Orthopaedics will see a gradual and nondisruptive integration of technologies that support the patient's journey through the successful management of their musculoskeletal disease.

An Update to a Novel Technique for Centering the Femoral Stem in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Careful surgical technique is a critical component of total hip arthroplasty. Femoral preparation and component positioning are vital to improving outcomes and preventing complications. Femoral preparation begins with creating an entry hole in the proximal femur. Various tools have been used for this purpose which resemble a "cookie cutter." An axial starter reamer, or awl, is then inserted through the entry hole in the proximal femur to aid in opening and centralizing the canal for sequential reaming or broaching. A novel technique was described previously which allows the awl to center itself in the canal with little risk of deviation from midline or cortical perforation. Since describing this technique in 2014, the senior surgeon has further modified the method of preparing the entry hole in the proximal femur. The surgeon now uses a 1/8" drill bit to penetrate the piriformis fossa, instead of a "cookie cutter" or osteotome. A 1/8" entry hole eliminates gaps between the bone and the implant, results in lateralization of the stem, and avoids varus malposition. We evaluated 300 primary hip arthroplasties by a single surgeon using one of the three techniques: traditional clockwise technique (Group 1), our previously published novel counterclockwise technique (Group 2), and our updated novel technique (Group 3). While the deviation from midline of Group 3 did not differ significantly from Group 2, it was significantly less than the deviation from midline of Group 1 (p=00006). This simple updated technique enables the surgeon to avoid potential malalignment during femoral preparation.

Are Gait Parameters for Through-knee Amputees Different From Matched Transfemoral Amputees?

BACKGROUND: Through-knee amputation is a common amputation level after battlefield injuries during the medical evacuation process. However, there are limited data comparing through-knee amputation with transfemoral amputation as a definitive amputation level in terms of gait parameters. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does through-knee amputation result in improved gait velocity when compared with matched transfemoral amputees? (2) Do through-knee amputees have a faster gait cadence than matched transfemoral amputees? (3) Do through-knee amputees have a different stride length or stride width than matched transfemoral amputees? (4) Does through-knee amputation result in decreased work of ambulation when compared with matched transfemoral amputees? METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2012, six male active-duty military patients who had undergone unilateral through-knee amputations as a result of trauma underwent gait studies at our institution. Of those, four of six underwent gait analysis after being able to walk for at least 3 months without assistive devices, and this group was studied here. Most through-knee amputees who were not included had elective revisions of their amputations from through-knee to a transfemoral amputation before completing 3-month gait data. Each of the amputees studied was matched to a transfemoral amputee based on height, body mass index, and contralateral amputation level resulting in a case-control study of active-duty military male amputee patients. Inclusion required complete gait data collected while walking at a self-selected pace wearing custom prosthetic devices. The through-knee amputees had a median (range) age of 32 years (23-41 years) and the transfemoral amputees had a median age of 24 years (22-27 years). Three-dimensional gait data were collected and analyzed. A power analysis found that to detect a clinically important difference (set at a change in work of ambulation of 1 J/kgm) with a p value of 0.05 and a ß set to 0.2, a study population of 56 patients per group would be required; that being said, our results on a much smaller population must be considered exploratory. RESULTS: With the numbers available, we found no differences in gait velocity when comparing through-knee (1.18 m/sec) and matched transfemoral amputees (1.20 m/sec, difference of medians = 0.02 m/sec; p = 0.964). Likewise, we found no differences in gait cadence when comparing through-knee with transfemoral amputees (104 versus 106 steps/min, respectively, difference of means 2 steps/min, p = 0.971). There was no difference in stride length or stride width when comparing through-knee (70 cm and 18 cm, respectively) with transfemoral amputees (70 cm and 19 cm, respectively; p = 0.948 and p = 0.440). With the numbers available, we did not identify a difference in the work of ambulation for through-knee amputees when compared with matched transfemoral amputees (8.3 versus 7.5 J/kg, respectively; p = 0.396). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, we are unable to demonstrate any functional advantages of knee disarticulation over transfemoral amputation. Although there are theoretical advantages for maintaining an intact femur during the medical evacuation and serial débridement process, we question the utility of knee disarticulation as a definitive amputation level; however, larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction as a Salvage for Small or Attenuated Hamstring Grafts.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears represent one of the most common sports-related injuries in the young population. There are multiple studies showing higher failure rates in the younger population with an allograft supporting the routine use of an autograft. In addition, higher failure rates have been shown with grafts narrower than 8 mm in diameter. This places the surgeon in an operative dilemma determining what to do with a narrow graft or an attenuated hamstring during harvest. All-inside ACL reconstruction is a promising technique for reliably creating sufficiently wide grafts without the need for allograft augmentation. The purpose of this Technical Note is to detail a graft preparation using the all-inside technique as a bailout during hamstring autograft ACL when the graft is narrow or one of the tendons is attenuated during harvest.

Pin Malposition in External Fixator Stabilization of Combat-Related Pelvic Fractures.

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of pin placement in patients with unstable pelvic fractures undergoing either iliac crest or supra-acetabular external fixation. A retrospective review was performed of computed tomography (CT) scans and injury characteristics for all patients presenting to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medical Treatment Facility with data entered into the Department of Defense Trauma Registry from January 2008 to October 2013 who underwent pelvic external fixation for unstable pelvic ring injuries. Thirty-two patients were analyzed. Sixteen patients underwent damage control iliac crest-based and 16 patients underwent supra-acetabular-based external fixation. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics at presentation between the two groups. Pin malposition rate on CT scan was 50/64 (78.1%) for the iliac crest group and 3/32 (9.4%) for the supra-acetabular group. Pin malposition was correlated with increasing Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head score, and AIS face score. The review concluded that iliac crest-based external fixation has a significantly higher rate of pin malposition than supra-acetabular-based external fixation.

Validation of varus stress radiographs for anterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner knee injuries: A biomechanical study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency on the radiographic varus stress test, and to provide reference data for the increase in lateral compartment opening under varus stress for a combined ACL and PLC injury. METHODS: Ten cadaveric lower extremities were fixed to a jig in 20° of knee flexion. Twelve Newton-meter (Nm) and clinician-applied varus loads were tested, first with intact knee ligaments, followed by sequential sectioning of the ACL, fibular collateral ligament (FCL), popliteus tendon and the popliteofibular ligament (PFL). Lateral compartment opening was measured after each sequential sectioning. RESULTS: Maximum increase in lateral compartment opening for an isolated ACL deficient knee was 1.06mm with mean increase of 0.52mm (p=0.021) for the clinician-applied load. Mean increase in lateral compartment opening in an ACL and FCL deficient knee compared to the intact knee was 1.48mm (p<0.005) and 1.99mm (p<0.005) for the 12-Nm and clinician-applied loads, respectively, increasing to 1.94mm (p<0.005) and 2.68mm (p<0.005) with sectioning of the ACL and all PLC structures. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior cruciate ligament deficiency contributes to lateral compartment opening on varus stress radiographs though not sufficiently to confound previously established standards for lateral ligament knee injuries. We did not demonstrate the same magnitude of lateral compartment opening with sectioning of the PLC structures as previously reported, questioning the reproducibility of varus stress radiographic testing among institutions. Clinicians are cautioned against making surgical decisions based solely on current standards for radiographic stress examinations.

Current Treatment Strategies for Patella Fractures.

Patella fractures can be caused by excessive tension through the extensor mechanism or a direct impact. Non-displaced fractures with an intact extensor mechanism can be treated nonoperatively. Surgical treatment is recommended for fractures that either disrupt the extensor mechanism or have greater than 2 to 3 mm of step-off and greater than 1 to 4 mm of displacement. Tension band fixation is the most commonly employed surgical technique; however, this can be technically demanding, especially in multifragmentary fractures. Symptomatic hardware is the most common complication following operative treatment. Functional impairment remains common after treatment of patella fractures. The purpose of this article is to review current treatment strategies to help optimize the management of patients with such patella fractures.

Pelvic Apophyseal Avulsion Fractures: A Retrospective Review of 228 Cases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the patient demographics, epidemiology, mechanism of injury, and natural history of pelvic apophyseal avulsion fractures. METHODS: A retrospective records review of imaging and clinical documentation was performed for patients diagnosed with pelvic apophyseal avulsion fractures at our institution from 2007 to 2013. Patient's Risser score, triradiate status, fracture location, size, and displacement were recorded based on initial injury radiographs. Further clinical and radiographic chart review was utilized to determine mechanism of injury, presence of multiple/bilateral injuries, nonunion, chronic pain, as well as any surgical interventions performed. RESULTS: We identified 225 patients diagnosed with 228 apophyseal avulsion fractures with mean age of 14.4 years. Males represented 76% of the patients. Anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) avulsions were the most common, representing 49% of all avulsion fractures, followed by anterior superior iliac spine (30%), ischial tuberosity (11%), and iliac crest (10%). The most common mechanism of injury was sprinting/running (39%) followed by kicking (29%), but the mechanism varied by fracture type with 50% of AIIS avulsions caused by kicking. Multiple pelvic fractures were identified in 6% of patients. Pain >3 months out from initial injury was present in 14% of all patients and AIIS avulsion fractures were 4.47 times more likely to have chronic pain. Five nonunions were identified, 4 of which were ischial tuberosity avulsions. Initial fracture displacement >20 mm increased the risk of nonunion by 26 times. Surgical treatment was indicated in 3% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, nearly all pelvic avulsion fractures (97%) were managed successfully with a conservative approach. Contrary to prior studies, AIIS avulsions represented half of the avulsion fractures. AIIS and ischial tuberosity fractures are at increased risk of developing future pain and nonunions, respectively. Patients and families need to be counseled about this possibility because future intervention may be necessary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic.