Diagnostic Performance of Artificial Intelligence for Detection of Scaphoid and Distal Radius Fractures: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To review the existing literature to (1) determine the diagnostic efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI) models for detecting scaphoid and distal radius fractures and (2) compare the efficacy to human clinical experts. METHODS: PubMed, OVID/Medline, and Cochrane libraries were queried for studies investigating the development, validation, and analysis of AI for the detection of scaphoid or distal radius fractures. Data regarding study design, AI model development and architecture, prediction accuracy/area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC), and imaging modalities were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were identified, of which 12 (57.1%) used AI to detect fractures of the distal radius, and nine (42.9%) used AI to detect fractures of the scaphoid. AI models demonstrated good diagnostic performance on average, with AUROC values ranging from 0.77 to 0.96 for scaphoid fractures and from 0.90 to 0.99 for distal radius fractures. Accuracy of AI models ranged between 72.0% to 90.3% and 89.0% to 98.0% for scaphoid and distal radius fractures, respectively. When compared to clinical experts, 13 of 14 (92.9%) studies reported that AI models demonstrated comparable or better performance. The type of fracture influenced model performance, with worse overall performance on occult scaphoid fractures; however, models trained specifically on occult fractures demonstrated substantially improved performance when compared to humans. CONCLUSIONS: AI models demonstrated excellent performance for detecting scaphoid and distal radius fractures, with the majority demonstrating comparable or better performance compared with human experts. Worse performance was demonstrated on occult fractures. However, when trained specifically on difficult fracture patterns, AI models demonstrated improved performance. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AI models can help detect commonly missed occult fractures while enhancing workflow efficiency for distal radius and scaphoid fracture diagnoses. As performance varies based on fracture type, future studies focused on wrist fracture detection should clearly define whether the goal is to (1) identify difficult-to-detect fractures or (2) improve workflow efficiency by assisting in routine tasks.

Opportunities for Increasing Diversity in Orthopaedics Through Virtual Mentorship Programs.

Orthopaedic surgery lags in recruiting women and under-represented minorities (URMs). In addition, women and URMs hold fewer leadership roles across orthopaedic subspecialties. This inequity is geographically heterogeneous, with female URM residents and attendings being more concentrated in some areas of the country. For instance, practicing female orthopaedic surgeons are more prevalent in Northeast and Pacific programs. Mentorship and representation in leadership positions play a notable role in trainee recruitment. Video communication platforms offer a novel mechanism to reach historically under-represented students across the country. We reviewed five established mentorship programs focused on women and URMs. Each program emphasized a longitudinal relationship between mentors and mentees. In reviewing these programs, we sought to identify the successful components of each program. Leveraging and integrating effective components already established by conventional mentorship programs into virtual programming will aid in optimizing those programs and improve geographic equity in access to mentorship resources. It is critical to extend the principles of successful mentorship programs to technology-enabled programs moving forward.

No Difference in Reintervention at 1-Year Between Ultrasound-Guided versus Blind Dorsal Carpal Ganglion Aspiration.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective comparative study was to compare the efficacy of dorsal carpal ganglion aspiration in patients who underwent either "blind" (using surface anatomy alone) or ultrasound-guided (US-guided) aspiration. Methods: Outcome measures were conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic via telephone for a minimum of 12 months after aspiration, with efficacy defined by reintervention with either repeat aspiration or surgical excision. Results: Data are reported for 141 patients (46 blind; 95 US-guided) at an average of 28 months (range, 12-55 months) from aspiration. Reintervention was not significantly different based on the mode of aspiration-26% and 24% for blind aspiration and US-guided, respectively. Patient-perceived recurrence was higher at 65% for the entire cohort. Patients who received steroid injection at the time of aspiration perceived lower rates of recurrence-44% versus 77% for patients who received a steroid injection and patients who did not, respectively. Conclusions: This study found no significant difference between blind or US-guided aspiration in reintervention at a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Patients who received steroids at the time of aspiration perceived lower rates of recurrence. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III.

Current Implementation of Quality Measures on American Society for Surgery of the Hand Touching Hands Project Outreach Trips.

PURPOSE: As hand and upper extremity outreach trips increase, guidelines for assessing quality of care are being established. The Global Quality in Upper Extremity Surgery and Training investigators have published validated quality measures deemed to be essential for outreach trips to low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study was to assess baseline implementation of these quality measures across nine international hand surgery outreach sites to LMICs. Additionally, we investigated barriers and facilitators to implementing quality measures and documentation of their implementation. METHODS: We included nine of 12 scheduled 2019 Touching Hands Project trips, excluding independent outreach and teaching mission trips without surgical logs. The team leader from each site received an online questionnaire assessing the documentation and implementation of all 22 quality measures, as well as educational efforts. RESULTS: A total of 350 surgeries were performed in 2019 with seven reported minor complications and no major complications or mortalities. For analysis, 20 of 22 quality measures were included. Of 20 included validated quality measures, 10 were implemented across all surgical outreach sites. Two sites (Bolivia, Nepal) implemented all of the validated quality measures. Quality measures with the lowest implementation rates included ensuring availability of continuous electricity and oxygen supply with associated documentation of a backup plan. All outreach sites reported formal educational efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of validated quality measures across surveyed outreach sites is variable, indicating an opportunity for improvement. Standardizing documentation of quality measure implementation for each site, confirming availability of resources, increasing accountability by the visiting teams, and fostering stronger relationships with local health care, may increase quality measure implementation and improve quality health care delivery and patient safety in LMICs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Benchmarking the implementation of validated quality measures across hand surgical outreach trips provides an opportunity to improve the quality of health care delivered during future hand surgical outreach efforts.

Assessing Gender Differences in Technical Skills and Confidence in Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Applicants.

INTRODUCTION: Variations in confidence for procedural skills have been demonstrated when comparing male and female medical students in surgical training. This study investigates whether differences in technical skill and self-reported confidence exist between male and female medical students applying to orthopaedic residency. METHODS: All medical students (2017 to 2020) invited to interview at a single orthopaedic residency program were prospectively evaluated on their technical skills and self-reported confidence. Objective evaluation of technical skill included scores for a suturing task as evaluated by faculty graders. Self-reported confidence in technical skills was assessed before and after completing the assigned task. Scores for male and female students were compared by age, self-identified race/ethnicity, number of publications at the time of application, athletic background, and US Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 score. RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen medical students were interviewed, of which 73% were male (n = 158). No gender differences were observed in suture task technical skill scores or mean difference in simultaneous visual task scores. The mean change from pre-task and post-task self-reported confidence scores was similar between sexes. Although female students trended toward lower post-task self-reported confidence scores compared with male students, this did not achieve statistical significance. Lower self-reported confidence was associated with a higher US Medical Licensing Examination score and with attending a private medical school. DISCUSSION: No difference in technical skill or confidence was found between male and female applicants to a single orthopaedic surgery residency program. Female applicants trended toward self-reporting lower confidence than male applicants in post-task evaluations. Differences in confidence have been shown previously in surgical trainees, which may suggest that differences in skill and confidence may develop during residency training.

Evaluation of Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Indication for Carpal Tunnel Release.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in the utilization of orthopaedic surgery based on race and ethnicity continue to be reported. We examined the impact of sociodemographic factors on treatment recommendation by hand surgeons for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of similar disease severity. METHODS: Patients with electrodiagnostic study (EDS)-confirmed CTS were evaluated at a single institution between 2016 and 2020. Data including patient age, sex, race/ethnicity, ZIP Code, and EDS severity were collected. The primary outcome was the recommended treatment by the hand surgeon at the first clinic visit according to patient race/ethnicity and the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). Secondary outcomes included the treatment selected by patients (nonsurgical or surgical) and the time to surgery. RESULTS: The 949 patients had a mean age of 58 years (range, 18 to 80 years); 60.5% (n = 574) were women. The race/ethnicity of the patient cohort was 9.8% (n = 93) Black non-Hispanic, 11.2% (n = 106) Hispanic/Latino, 70.3% (n = 667) White non-Hispanic, and 8.7% (n = 83) "other." Overall, Black non-Hispanic patients (38.7%; odds ratio, [OR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40 to 0.96) and Hispanic/Latino patients (35.8%; OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.84) were less likely to have surgery recommended at their first visit compared with White non-Hispanic patients (50.5%). This was no longer apparent after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables including EDS severity and SDI (Black non-Hispanic patients: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.4 to 1.11; Hispanic/Latino patients: aOR, 0.69: 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.14). Across all categories of EDS severity, surgeons were less likely to recommend surgery to patients with a higher SDI (aOR: 0.66, 0.64, and 0.54 for quintiles 2, 3 and 4, respectively). When surgery was recommended, patients in the highest SDI quintile were less likely to proceed with surgery (p = 0.032). There was no association between patient race/ethnicity and the treatment selected by the patient or time to surgery (p = 0.303 and p = 0.725, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients experiencing higher levels of social deprivation were less likely to be recommended for CTS surgery and were less likely to proceed with surgery, regardless of patient race/ethnicity. Additional investigation into the social factors influencing both surgeon and patient selection of treatment for CTS, including the impact of patient socioeconomic background, is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Incidence of Trigger Finger in Surgically and Nonsurgically Managed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether extremities undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) have an increased rate of trigger finger (TF) compared with conservatively managed carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: Data were collected from the Humana Insurance Database, and subjects were chosen on the basis of a history of CTR with propensity matching performed to develop a nonsurgical cohort. Following propensity matching, 16,768 patients were identified and equally split between surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Demographic information and medical comorbidities were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for the development of TF within 6 months of carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis. Results: Patients in the surgical cohort were more likely to develop TF than those in the nonsurgical cohort whether in the ipsilateral or contralateral extremity. Whether managed surgically or nonsurgically, extremities with carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated an increased prevalence of TF than their contralateral, unaffected extremity. Conclusions: Surgeons should be aware of the association of TF and CTR both during the presurgical and postsurgical evaluations as they might impact patient management. With knowledge of these data, surgeons may be more attuned to detecting an early TF during the postsurgical period and offer more aggressive treatment of TF pathology during CTR. Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic III.

Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Scores Alone Do Not Predict Surgical Intervention for Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: With the expanded indications for telemedicine, there is increased utility for screening methods to determine which patients are likely to progress to surgical intervention, requiring in-person visits. Patient-rated tools such as the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) may be one such tool for screening patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether BCTQ scores were predictive of offering conservative treatment or surgical intervention for CTS. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CTS from January 2017 to February 2020 completed BCTQ questionnaires prior to in-person office visits. Demographics, comorbidities, and highest level of intervention recommended were recorded for each patient as conservative, injection, or surgery. Pearson χ2 and independent-samples t tests were conducted to determine whether BCTQ symptom severity and functional scores were associated with intervention type. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients with CTS were included. Of these, 103 were recommended conservative or injection treatment and 97 were recommended surgery. There were no differences in comorbidities between groups, including other upper extremity pathology (P = .57), previous upper extremity surgery (P = .32), hypertension (P = .17), hypothyroidism (P = .15), rheumatoid arthritis (P = .34), and diabetes (P = .30). Between these groups, there were no differences in BCTQ symptom severity score (symptom severity scale [SSS]; P = .16) or BCTQ functional severity score (functional severity scale [FSS]; P = .96). CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between comorbidities and BCTQ SSS or FSS score, and offering surgery for CTS. In an era of minimizing non-essential health care visits, the BCTQ is insufficient in screening patients as potential surgical candidates.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography of the Hand Vasculature in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: When patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop digital ischemia, conventional angiography (CA) is traditionally used to assess hand vasculature. Recently, Chang et al described an angiographic classification system for patients with SSc. Conventional angiography uses intravascular contrast agents that are nephrotoxic and vasoconstrictive. Owing to these limitations, this study assesses the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as an alternative to CA to evaluate hand vasculature in patients with digital ischemia. METHODS: This retrospective case series reports on 38 contrast-enhanced MRAs of hand vasculature from 30 symptomatic patients with SSc (N = 21) or SLE (N = 9). The radial and ulnar arteries (RA, UA) and the superficial and deep palmar arches were evaluated at standard reference points both quantitatively and qualitatively for their diameter, patency, and Chang classification. RESULTS: In SSc MRAs (n = 26), the UA was significantly smaller than the RA and was occluded in 46%. In SLE MRAs (n = 12), the UA and RA had no difference in diameter and the UA was occluded in 25%. In SSc, the most common Chang classification was type 2 (UA involvement) in 44%. In SLE, the most common Chang classification was type 4 (UA and RA involvement) in 45%, with 18% classified as type 2. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced MRA used to assess hand vasculature in SSc patients with digital ischemia shows similar patterns of vascular involvement as previously demonstrated by CA. While vascular involvement in SSc predominantly involves the UA, the RA is also frequently involved in SLE.

A Framework and Blueprint for Building Capacity in Global Orthopaedic Surgical Outreach.

BACKGROUND: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from high-income countries provide surgical outreach for patients in low and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, these efforts lack a coordinated measurement of their ability to build capacity. While the World Health Organization and others recommend outreach trips that aim to build the capacity of the local health-care system, no guidance exists on how to accomplish this. The objective of this paper is to establish a framework and a blueprint to guide the operations of NGOs that provide outreach to build orthopaedic surgical capacity in LMICs. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with 16 orthopaedic surgeons and administrators located in 7 countries (6 LMICs) on the necessary domains for capacity-building; the analysis was guided by a literature review of capacity-building frameworks. We subsequently conducted a modified nominal group technique with a consortium of 10 U.S.-based surgeons with expertise in global surgical outreach, which was member-checked with 8 new stakeholders from 4 LMICs. RESULTS: A framework with 7 domains for capacity-building in global surgical outreach was identified. The domains included professional development, finance, partnerships, governance, community impact, culture, and coordination. These domains were tiered in a hierarchical system to stratify the level of capacity for each domain. A blueprint was developed to guide the operations of an organization seeking to build capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The developed framework identified 7 domains to address when building capacity during global orthopaedic surgical outreach. The framework and its tiered system can be used to assess capacity and guide capacity-building efforts in LMICs. The developed blueprint can inform the operations of NGOs toward activities that focus on building capacity in order to ensure a measured and sustained impact.

Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after Distal Radius Fracture.

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can present following distal radius fracture (DRF) and may progress to require carpal tunnel release (CTR). The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidence of CTS within 6 months of a DRF and the rate of CTR in this population. Methods: We used the PearlDiver national insurance database to determine the incidence of CTS after DRF. Patients were identified by International Classification of Diseases-10 codes, and treatment modalities for DRF and CTS were determined by respective Current Procedural Terminology codes. Patients with less than 6 months of follow-up, bilateral DRF, or preexisting CTS were excluded. Patient demographic characteristics were recorded. The time from DRF diagnosis to CTS diagnosis and CTR was determined. A multivariable analysis was performed to determine the differences between patients who underwent a CTR compared with those who were treated conservatively. Results: We identified 23,733 patients (6,015 men; 17,718 women) who sustained a DRF. Of these patients, 79.1% were treated nonsurgically and 20.9% underwent surgical fixation. In total, 9.2% (N = 2,179) were diagnosed with CTS in their ipsilateral extremity within 6 months of sustaining the DRF. Of the patients whose DRF was treated nonsurgically, 6.3% (N = 1,198) developed CTS and 2.9% (N = 546) required CTR. Of those patients whose DRF was treated surgically, 19.8% (N = 981) developed CTS and 13.3% (N = 661) required CTR. Of those patients with symptoms severe enough to warrant CTR, 18.5% required a second surgical intervention for the CTR. Conclusions: Distal radius fractures severe enough to require surgical fixation are associated with a higher incidence of perioperative CTS. Accordingly, careful evaluation for and counseling on CTS during surgical fixation may decrease the chance of a second surgery. We have identified a cohort of patients with DRFs who may benefit from prophylactic CTR. Type of study/level of evidence: Diagnostic IV.

Sonographic Changes in the Median Nerve Predict Conversion to Surgery after Corticosteroid Injection of the Carpal Tunnel.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for conversion to surgical management of moderate severity carpal tunnel syndrome are poorly understood. The authors hypothesized that sonographic findings along the carpal tunnel could predict failure of conservative management for carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: The authors report on 96 wrists with moderate clinical signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Sonographic evaluation with measurement of median nerve cross-sectional area was performed at three consistent anatomic locations. The authors recorded median nerve morphology, inlet and outlet dimensions of the carpal tunnel, and maximal thickness of the transverse carpal ligament. Steroid injection was performed. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 1 year after injection and progression to surgical management was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 54 percent ( n = 52) of patients converted to surgical management within 1 year after injection. Median nerve cross-sectional area decreased over the course of the carpal tunnel from proximal to distal in 81 of 96 wrists. A greater decrease in cross-sectional area of the median nerve between the pisiform and the hamate was associated with conversion to operative intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome, with the average decrease in median nerve cross-sectional area among those whose conservative treatment failed being 5.01 mm 2 compared with 2.97 mm 2 among those who did not progress to surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that ultrasound may be an additional tool used by clinicians to better counsel patients about the severity and progression of their disease. Patients who demonstrate a decrease in cross-sectional area of the median nerve along the carpal tunnel demonstrate a higher likelihood of progression to operative management. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Analysis of Hand Surgery Questions on Orthopedic In-training Examination From 2014 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The orthopedic in-training examination (OITE) continues to evolve over time. It is important for orthopedic residents and residency programs to have an up-to-date understanding of the content and resources being used on the OITE to study and tailor curricula accordingly. This study presents an updated analysis of the OITE hand domain from 2014 to 2019. METHODS: All OITE questions related to hand surgery from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed for topic, subtopic, taxonomy, imaging modalities, and bibliometric factors related to cited references. RESULTS: Of the 1600 OITE questions, there were 113 hand surgery questions (7.1%) over a 6-year period. The most commonly tested topics were nerve (n = 22; 19%), fracture/dislocation (n = 21; 19%), and tendon/ligament (n = 19; 17%). Complex clinical management questions were the most common taxonomic category (n = 66; 58%). Two hundred fifty-two references were cited, the most common of which were from the Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume) (n = 76; 30%), Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n = 27; 11%), and Hand Clinics (n = 21; 8%). Publication lag decreased over the study period (P = .009). Twenty-five questions (22%) used imaging modalities, and 21 (19%) used clinical photos. Compared with a prior analysis from 2002 to 2006, there were more questions related to nerves (19.5% vs 9.8%, P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: Residents and residency programs can benefit from an updated understanding of OITE hand surgery content and resources. The current analysis identifies high-yield topics and resources that can guide resident preparation for the OITE.

Impact of Patient-Reported Allergies on Early Postoperative Opioid Use and Outcomes Following Ambulatory Hand Surgery.

Background: Patient-reported allergies (PRAs) are associated with suboptimal orthopaedic surgery outcomes and may serve as a proxy for mental health. While mental health disorders are known risk factors for increased opioid use, less is known about how PRAs impact opioid use after orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PRAs and postoperative opioid use, pain, and satisfaction following hand surgery. Methods: Patients who underwent ambulatory hand surgery at a single institution from May 2017 to March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Various scores, including the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), were collected preoperatively. Postoperatively, patients completed a 2-week pain diary, satisfaction, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. Opioid consumption was converted to oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) using standard conversions. Results: A total of 137 patients were divided into 2 groups based on presence (≥1) (n = 73) or absence (0) (n = 64) of PRAs. At baseline, the ≥ 1 PRA group had significantly higher female composition (P < .001) and pain (P < .001) and lower PROMIS mental health scores (P = .044). Postoperative OME consumption averaged 42.5 (range 0-416) in the entire cohort, with no differences between groups. Among patients with ≥ 1 PRA, increasing number of allergies significantly correlated with increasing OME consumption across all time points (week 1, P = .016; week 2, P = .001; total, P = .005). Conclusions: The presence of PRAs did not impact postoperative narcotic usage, pain, or satisfaction. Increasing numbers of PRAs did, however, significantly correlate with higher narcotic use. These results may have implications for postoperative pain management in this population.

The Effect of Standardized Perioperative Patient Education on Opioid Use After Minor Soft Tissue Procedures Distal to the Wrist.

PURPOSE: Several studies have explored opioid consumption and opioid prescriber education for upper extremity procedures; however, less literature has focused on patient-centered interventions and their impact on opioid consumption after surgery. The purpose of this study was to create a standardized perioperative patient education program regarding postoperative pain management after hand surgery and to determine if it could reduce opioid use after hand surgery. METHODS: Patients scheduled to undergo elective outpatient hand surgery comprising minor soft tissue procedures at and distal to the wrist were randomized to receive pain management education or standard care. Before the surgery, all patients viewed a webinar with instructions for participation, whereas the education group received an additional 10 minutes of education on postoperative pain management and a pain management reference card for review after the surgery. All patients completed a postoperative daily log documenting the number of opioids consumed, other pain management modalities used, and pain scores. The primary outcome of the number of opioid pills consumed by the patients was compared between the groups. We constructed a linear regression model to determine the risk factors for postoperative opioid use after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four patients completed the study (n = 90 education group; n = 84 standard care group). Patients in the education group took significantly fewer opioid pills (median = 0, range 0-13) than those in the standard care group (median = 0.5, range 0-40). A linear regression model showed that average week-1 pain (B = 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.3) and the number of pills prescribed (B = 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.017-0.22) were predictive of greater opioid use. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative patient education significantly reduced postoperative opioid use following a minor soft tissue hand surgery, with greater than 70% of the patients taking no opioids. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match After an Early-Exposure Research Program for Medical Students.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of students matching in orthopaedic surgery after a structured, early-exposure mentored research program and what factors were associated with those students compared with participants who matched in other specialties. METHODS: Program data were reviewed from 2007 to 2015. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate student and research factors associated with orthopaedic surgery match. RESULTS: Of 174 students, 117 (67%) matched into surgical residency programs, with 49% (n = 85) matching into orthopaedic surgery. The percentage of women matching into orthopaedic surgery (37%) was less than that of men (53%), which, however, increased over the study period. Students who matched in orthopaedic surgery had greater numbers of publications (3.55 [range 0 to 17] average publications) compared with students who matched in other specialties (1.98 (range 0 to 11) average publications). The average number of publications per student increased from 0.79 (±1.44, range 0 to 10, 40%) preprogram to 1.95 (±2.28, range 0 to 11, 71%) postprogram. Measured factors associated with orthopaedic surgery match were publications with program mentor, postprogram first authorship, and total publications. DISCUSSION: Approximately half of the participants matched into orthopaedic surgery. Analysis showed that research productivity increased after program participation and was statistically associated with increased likelihood of orthopaedic surgery match.

The Epidemiology of Carpal Tunnel Revision Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period.

PURPOSE: To establish the incidence of revision carpal tunnel surgery within a 1-year postoperative period using a national administrative database. This information has been unknown until this point because of the absence of laterality-specific coding with the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition and earlier coding systems. METHODS: Data were collected from the Humana insurance database using PearlDiver patient records from 2015 to 2017. Subjects were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases procedure codes related to carpal tunnel diagnosis and release. Codes were used to identify patients who underwent carpal tunnel release (CTR) and had revision CTR within a 1-year follow-up period. Patient demographic characteristics, including age, sex, medical comorbidities, and smoking status, were collected. In addition, multivariable analysis of the risk of a revision procedure within 1 postoperative year was performed to determine independent risk factors, including the surgical approach, associated with revision CTR. RESULTS: Among 4,549 patients who underwent a primary CTR during the study period, 207 patients (4.8%) underwent a revision CTR within 1 year. The average time from the primary CTR to the revision CTR was 135 days (standard deviation, 99.1 days; range, 21-365 days). Primary endoscopic CTR was associated with an increased rate of revision CTR (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.6). Patient factors associated with a higher likelihood of requiring revision CTR included diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, psychiatric condition, cervical disease, and history of cubital tunnel release. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a rate of revision CTR of 4.8% within the first postoperative year. Both the surgical technique and patient-specific risk factors influence the likelihood of requiring revision surgery. Notably, an endoscopic approach is associated with a higher risk of revision surgery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Effect of Change in USMLE Step 1 Grading on Orthopaedic Surgery Applicants: A Survey of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Directors.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners, cosponsors of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), changed the USMLE Step 1 results from a three-digit score to a pass/fail format. The purpose of this study was to analyze the opinions of program directors (PDs) to predict how the evaluation of orthopaedic surgery residency applicants will change following the change. METHODS: A 17-question online survey was distributed to PDs via e-mail. This survey covered program demographics, questions regarding the relative importance of various factors for selection of interviews, and perceived changes and effect of the scoring change. Responses were aggregated and analyzed. RESULTS: PDs indicated that the three highest scored factors were (1) failure in prior attempts in USMLE/COMLEX examinations (4.7), (2) audition elective/rotation within your department (4.5), and (3) personal prior knowledge of the applicant (4.1). In addition, 38 PDs (81.1%) anticipate that they will require USMLE Step 2 clinical knowledge scores for interview consideration. CONCLUSION: Most orthopaedic surgery PDs think that the change in score reporting for the USMLE Step 1 will result in additional requirements and changes in how programs select applicants and do not support the decision.

Current Concepts in the Management of Advanced Trigger Finger: A Critical Analysis Review.

¼: While the majority of patients with trigger finger obtain excellent outcomes from nonoperative treatment or release of the A1 pulley, a subset of patients with advanced trigger finger, defined as trigger finger with loss of active or passive range of motion, may have incomplete symptom relief and warrant specific attention. ¼: Advanced trigger finger is more refractory to complete symptom resolution from corticosteroid injection, and particular attention should be paid to incomplete improvement of flexion contractures. ¼: Unlike simple trigger finger, the pathology in advanced trigger finger involves not only the A1 pulley but also the flexor tendon, including thickening and degeneration. ¼: Progression toward surgical intervention should not be delayed when nonoperative measures fail, and specific attention should be paid to persistent inability to achieve full extension following A1 pulley release. ¼: Facing substantial residual flexion contracture, reduction flexor tenoplasty and partial or complete resection of the superficialis tendon followed by hand therapy and splinting may be needed to allow patients to regain reliable full range of motion.

How Do Areas of Work Life Drive Burnout in Orthopaedic Attending Surgeons, Fellows, and Residents?

BACKGROUND: Concerning levels of burnout have been reported among orthopaedic surgeons and residents. Defined as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, physician burnout is associated with decreased productivity, increased medical errors, and increased risk of suicidal ideation. At the center of burnout research, person-centered approaches focusing on individual characteristics and coping strategies have largely been ineffective in solving this critical issue. They have failed to capture and address important institutional and organizational factors contributing to physician burnout. Similarly, little is known about the relationship between burnout and the working environments in which orthopaedic physicians practice, and on how orthopaedic surgeons at different career stages experience and perceive factors relevant to burnout. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) How does burnout differ among orthopaedic attending surgeons, fellows, and residents? (2) What specific areas of work life are problematic at each of these career stages? (3) What specific areas of work life correlate most strongly with burnout at each of these career stages? METHODS: Two hundred orthopaedic surgeons (residents, fellows, and attending physicians) at a single institution were invited to complete an electronic survey. Seventy-four percent (148 of 200) of them responded; specifically, 43 of 46 residents evenly distributed among training years, 18 of 36 fellows, and 87 of 118 attending physicians. Eighty-three percent (123 of 148) were men and 17% (25 of 148) were women. Two validated questionnaires were used. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess burnout, measuring emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. The Areas of Worklife Survey was used to measure congruency between participants and their work environment in six domains: workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values. Participants were invited to openly share their experiences and suggest ways to improve burnout and specific work life domains. The main outcome measures were Maslach Burnout Inventory subdomains of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and Areas of Worklife Survey subdomains of workload, control, reward, community, fairness and values. We compared outcome measures of burnout and work life between groups. Simple linear regression models were used to report correlations between subscales. Stratified analyses were used to identify which group demonstrated higher correlations. All open comments were analyzed and coded to fully understand which areas of work life were problematic and how they were perceived in our population. RESULTS: Nine percent (7 of 80) of attending surgeons, 6% (1 of 16) of fellows, and 34% (14 of 41) of residents reported high levels of depersonalization on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (p < 0.001). Mean depersonalization scores were higher (worse) in residents followed by attending surgeons, then fellows (10 ± 6, 5 ± 5, 4 ± 4 respectively; p < 0.001). Sixteen percent (13 of 80) of attending surgeons, 31% (5 of 16) of fellows, and 34% (14 of 41) of residents reported high levels of emotional exhaustion (p = 0.07). Mean emotional exhaustion scores were highest (worse) in residents followed by attending surgeons then fellows (21 ± 12, 17 ± 10, 16 ± 14 respectively; p = 0.11). Workload was the most problematic work life area across all stages of orthopaedic career. Scores in the Areas of Worklife Survey were the lowest (worse) in the workload domain for all subgroups: residents (2.6 ± 0.4), fellows (3.0 ± 0.6), and attending surgeons (2.8 ± 0.7); p = 0.08. Five problematic work life categories were found through open comment analysis: workload, resources, interactions, environment, and self-care. Workload was similarly the most concerning to participants. Specific workload issues identified included administrative load (limited job control, excessive tasks and expectations), technology (electronic medical platform, email overload), workflow (operating room time, patient load distribution), and conflicts between personal, clinical, and academic roles. Overall, worsening emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were most strongly associated with increasing workload (r = - 0.50; p < 0.001; and r = - 0.32; p < 0.001, respectively) and decreasing job control (r = - 0.50; p < 0.001, and r = - 0.41; p < 0.001, respectively). Specifically, in residents, worsening emotional exhaustion and depersonalization most strongly correlated with increasing workload (r = - 0.65; p < 0.001; and r = - 0.53; p < 0.001, respectively) and decreasing job control (r = - 0.49; p = 0.001; and r = - 0.51; p = 0.001, respectively). In attending surgeons, worsening emotional exhaustion was most strongly correlated with increasing workload (r = - 0.50; p < 0.001), and decreasing job control (r = - 0.44; p < 0.001). Among attending surgeons, worsening depersonalization was only correlated with increasing workload (r = - 0.23; p = 0.04). Among orthopaedic fellows, worsening emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were most strongly correlated with decreasing sense of fairness (r = - 0.76; p = 0.001; and r = - 0.87; p < 0.001, respectively), and poorer sense of community (r = - 0.72; p = 0.002; and r = - 0.65; p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found higher levels of burnout among orthopaedic residents compared to attending surgeons and fellows. We detected strong distinct correlations between emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and areas of work life across stages of orthopaedic career. Burnout was most strongly associated with workload and job control in orthopaedic residents and attending surgeons and with fairness and community in orthopaedic fellows. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Institutions wishing to better understand burnout may use this approach to identify specific work life drivers of burnout, and determine possible interventions targeted to orthopaedic surgeons at each stage of career. Based on our institutional experience, leadership should investigate strategies to decrease workload by increasing administrative support and improving workflow; improve sense of autonomy by consulting physicians in decision-making; and seek to improve the sense of control in residents and sense of community in fellows.