RESUMEN
Background: Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a form of neuromodulation that involves the transmission of electrical energy via metal contacts known as leads or electrodes. PNS has gained popularity in orthopedic surgery as several studies have supported its use as a pain control device for patients suffering from pain due to orthopedic pathologies involving the knee, shoulder, and foot. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the literature involving peripheral nerve stimulation in orthopedic surgery. The existing body of literature provides support for further research regarding the use of PNS in the management of knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, foot pain, and orthopedic trauma. Notably, the evidence for its efficacy in addressing knee and shoulder pain is present. Methods: This study was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Seven hundred and forty-five unique entries were identified. Two blinded reviewers assessed each article by title and abstract to determine its relevance and categorized them as "include", "exclude", and "maybe". After a preliminary review was completed, reviewers were unblinded and a third reviewer retrieved articles labeled as "maybe" and those with conflicting labels to determine their relevance. Twenty-eight articles were included, and seven hundred and seventeen articles were excluded. Articles discussing the use of PNS in the field of orthopedic surgery in patients > 18 years of age after 2010 were included. Exclusion criteria included neuropathic pain, phantom limb pain, amputation, non-musculoskeletal related pathology, non-orthopedic surgery related pathology, spinal cord stimulator, no reported outcomes, review articles, abstracts only, non-human subjects. Results: A total of 16 studies analyzing 69 patients were included. All studies were either case series or case reports. Most articles involved the application of PNS in the knee (8) and shoulder (6) joint. Few articles discussed its application in the foot and orthopedic trauma. All studies demonstrated that PNS was effective in reducing pain. Discussion: Peripheral nerve stimulation can be effective in managing postoperative or chronic pain in patients suffering from orthopedic pathology. This systematic review is limited by the scarcity of robust studies with substantial sample sizes and extended follow up periods in the existing literature.
RESUMEN
Introduction This study analyzed the number of peer-reviewed publications submitted by matriculants prior to applying for the orthopedic surgery residency. The graduating residency classes of 2023 and 2027 were included in the study to understand the trend of publications, to inform aspiring orthopedic surgeons. Methods The top, middle, and bottom 10 orthopedic surgery residency programs were identified on the Doximity online website. Matriculants were searched on PubMed and Google Scholar for publication contributions. Variables including number of publications, orthopedic publications, first-author authorship, and H-index were analyzed. A logistic regression model was created, and a t-test was conducted to statistically compare the 2027 and 2023 graduating classes. Results Matriculants of the 2023 match had higher numbers of publications, orthopedic surgery-specific publications, first authorships, and h-indices than the matriculants of the 2018 match. Conclusion The average number of publications has been observed to increase over four years, indicating an increase in competition to match into orthopedic surgery residency. Publishing in higher numbers may be a good indicator of an applicant's success in not only matching but also matching into a higher-tier program.