Clubfoot Cast Simulation Using Pressure Sensors: A Novel Way to Teach the Ponseti Method.

OBJECTIVE: The standard of care in treating congenital clubfoot is the Ponseti method. Resident education of this skill traditionally involves direct casting of patients with attending feedback. With increased clinical time demands, mastery of the skill may not be achievable using direct resident - patient interactions. We describe a novel Ponseti cast simulator using pressure sensors to teach this skill. DESIGN: A novel Ponseti cast simulator was constructed using a standardized model and pressure sensors. A pre-training baseline (trial 1) and post education (trial 2) was made and scored using an objective structured assessment of technical skill (OSATS) checklist. Pressure sensors were placed at the first metatarsal and talar head to record cast forces. SETTING: The study was performed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at an academic tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Study participants included 6 junior orthopedic residents defined as post-graduate year (PGY) 1 to 3, 6 senior orthopedic residents (PGY 4,5), and a board -certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon to serve as a control. RESULTS: Trial 1 OSATS scores were significantly higher in senior residents (9.7 ± 1.5) than junior residents (5.2 ± 1.2) (p = 0.004). Trial 2 OSATS scores were also significantly higher in senior residents than junior residents: 13.7 ± 1.4 vs. 5.8 ± 1.6 (p = 0.003). Additionally, senior residents significantly improved scores between the first 2 trials 9.7 ± 1.5 vs. 13.7 ± 1.4 (p = 0.003), while junior residents did not 5.2 ± 1.2 vs. 5.8 ± 1.6 (p = 0.4566). In addition, there were no significant differences between junior, and senior resident Trial 1 talar head pressures or first metatarsal pressures, or Trial 2 first metatarsal pressures. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first casting simulation model to use pressure sensors as a way to objectively measure cast application pressure. This simulator may be useful in an orthopedic training programs to teach Ponseti casting.

Monophasic Synovial Sarcoma in the Elbow Misclassified but Successfully Treated as Ewing's Sarcoma with Chemotherapy.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first published case of monophasic synovial sarcoma (SS) initially diagnosed as Ewing's sarcoma (ES), yet successfully treated with chemotherapy in a 24-year-old patient. The initial diagnosis showed a monotonous round cell tumor and positivity for CD99, characteristic of ES; however, the cytology was negative for the classic EWSR1 rearrangement of ES. The patient was treated with the standard chemotherapy protocol of ES - COG AEWS1031 Regimen A with vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and mesna - as well as with wide resection. Post-resection tissue submission showed additional morphologic features which led to a re-evaluation of the classification of the tumor as well as additional molecular studies; these revealed positivity for translocations of SS18 (18q11.1) in 100% of the nuclei, which is most characteristic of SS, thus, reclassifying the neoplasm as a SS tumor. This case underscores the importance of considering several pathologic entities in the differential diagnosis of small, round blue cell tumors, including ES, SS, and lymphoma. It also demonstrates the importance of using chromosomal identification for a more definitive diagnosis, rather than relying on histological features and markers which are found in more than one tumor classification. There is conflicting evidence of the impact of chemotherapy on survival in SS, as it is primarily treated with radiation therapy. Since SS is rare, prospective studies on the effect of chemotherapy on survival are limited in number. However, our case study demonstrates that chemotherapy is another modality that can be used in the treatment of SS neoplasms.

Feedback Simulation for Acupressure Training and Skill Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Previous acupressure studies have yielded varying results. This could be due to differences in the amount of pressure applied to the acupressure point (acupoint) by study personnel within a study as well as between studies. Standardizing the level of pressure applied at an acupoint could improve clinical care and future research. METHODS: As part of an ongoing randomized clinical trial of postoperative acupressure, five trainees were asked to perform 2 minutes of acupressure and light touch sessions on a simulator. The applied weight was recorded every minute. Individual skill assessment was performed using cumulative sum analysis. Six pretraining and 20 posttraining measurements in each acupressure and light touch group were compared with an expert's simulation values. RESULTS: Before training (baseline), there was significant difference in applied weight (grams) between the expert [5705 (636)] and five trainees [2998 (798), P = 0.004]. Four of the five trainees crossed the lower decision limit assessing proficiency in the acupressure group, and all five trainees were successful in the light touch group. The trainees' average number of measurements needed to cross the lower decision limit (H0), that is, defining that an individual failure rate does not statistically differ from the acceptable failure rate, was 21.3 measurements for acupressure. After this feedback simulation, trainees' scores showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) when assessed against the expert. CONCLUSIONS: Feedback simulation for acupressure training and skill assessment, evaluated by cumulative sum analysis, may help in improving the standardization of acupressure therapy performed during clinical practice or research.

Randomized trial of acupressure to improve patient satisfaction and quality of recovery in hospitalized patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupressure therapy may be potentially beneficial in improving postoperative symptoms like postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pain and sleep disorder and improving postoperative quality of recovery. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of acupressure therapy on postoperative patient satisfaction and quality of recovery in hospitalized patients after surgical treatment. METHODS/DESIGN: This three-group, parallel, superiority, blinded, randomized controlled trial will test the hypothesis that a combination of PC6, LI4 and HT7 acupressure is superior to sham or no intervention for improving postoperative quality of recovery in hospitalized patients. A minimum of 150 patients will be randomly allocated to one of the three experimental groups: control (no visit), light touch (sham acupressure) or active acupressure therapy in a 1:1:1 ratio. Interventions will be performed three times a day for 2 days. Patient satisfaction, quality of recovery, PONV and pain will be measured during the 3 days following randomization. The study protocol was approved by the Stony Brook University Institutional Review Board on 21 March 2016. Written informed consent will be recorded from every consented patient. DISCUSSION: This study has the potential to improve the recovery of hospitalized patients by adding knowledge on the efficacy of acupressure therapy in this setting. A multipoint acupressure protocol will be compared to both a no intervention group and a light touch group, providing insight into different aspects of the placebo effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02762435 . Registered on 14 April 2016.