Management of Humeral Shaft Fracture: A Network Meta-Analysis of Individual Treatment Modalities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to perform a network meta-analysis of level I and II evidence comparing different management techniques to define the optimum treatment method for humeral shaft fractures (HSFs). DATA SOURCES: A systematic review of the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library was screened from 2010 to 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria were evidence level I or II studies comparing nonoperative and/or operative repair techniques including open reduction internal fixation plate osteosynthesis (ORIF-Plate), minimally invasive percutaneous plating (MIPO), and intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation for the management of HSFs (OTA/AO 12A, B, C). DATA EXTRACTION: The risk of bias and methodologic quality of evidence were assessed according to the guidelines designed by the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group and Cochrane Methods Bias Group. DATA SYNTHESIS: Network meta-analysis was conducted with a frequentist approach with a random-effects model using the netmeta package version 0.9-6 in R. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies (1908 patients) were included. MIPO resulted in the lowest complication rate (2.1%) when compared with ORIF-Plate (16.1%) [odds ratio (OR), 0.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.04-0.49]. MIPO resulted in the lowest nonunion rate (0.65%) compared with all management techniques (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.98), whereas Non-Op resulted in the highest (15.87%) (OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.98-6.11). MIPO demonstrated the lowest rate of postoperative radial nerve palsy overall (2.2%) and demonstrated a significantly lower rate compared with ORIF-Plate (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07-0.71, P = 0.02). IMN resulted in the lowest rate of deep infection (1.1%) when compared with ORIF-Plate (8.6%; P = 0.013). MIPO resulted in a significantly lower Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (3.86 ± 5.2) and higher American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (98.2 ± 1.4) than ORIF-Plate (19.5 ± 9.0 and 60.0 ± 5.4, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results from this study support that surgical management results in better postoperative functional outcomes, leads to higher union rates, reduces fracture healing time, reduces revision rate, and decreases malunion rates in patients with HSFs. In addition, MIPO resulted in statistically higher union rates, lowest complication rate, lowest rate of postoperative radial nerve palsy, and lower intraoperative time while resulting in better postoperative Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores when compared with nonoperative and operative (ORIF and IMN) treatment modalities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Demographic Factors and Medical School Experiences Associated with Students' Intention to Pursue Orthopaedic Surgery and Practice in Underserved Areas.

Physician shortages across the United States will affect access to orthopaedic care for patients. Orthopaedic surgery is predicted to have one of the largest shortages among surgical subspecialties by 2025, which will disproportionally affect patients in medically underserved areas. This study examines characteristics and experiences of graduating medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery who intend to practice in underserved areas (IPUAs). Methods: We analyzed deidentified data of AAMC Graduation Questionnaire respondents who matriculated between 2007 to 2008 and 2011 to 2012. Forty-eight thousand ninety-six (83.91%) had complete demographic, financial, and medical school elective data and were included in the study cohort. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the correlation between student characteristics and intention to pursue orthopaedic surgery and IPUAs. Results: Of the 48,096 students with complete information, 2,517 (5.2%) intended to pursue a career in orthopaedic surgery. Among the orthopaedic students, men were less likely than women to report IPUAs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Students who identified as Black/African American (aOR, 5.0; 95% CI, 3.0-8.2) or Hispanic (aOR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5) were more likely than White students to report IPUAs. Medical students who intend to pursue orthopaedics and received a scholarship (aOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0), participated in community research (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.3), or had a global health experience (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.5) were more likely to report IPUAs. Discussion: If orthopaedic surgeons who reported as medical students who reported IPUAs actually do so, recruiting and retaining more sex and race/ethnically diverse orthopaedic surgeons could reduce the impact of the impending shortage of orthopaedic surgeons in underserved areas. IPUA is correlated to medical school experiences related to cultural competency including global health experiences and community-based research projects.

Identifying and Addressing Basic Needs Insecurity Among Medical Students: A Curriculum for Trainees, Administrators, and Faculty.

INTRODUCTION: Data from a 2018 United States Government Accountability Office report show that basic needs insecurity undermines the postsecondary educational experiences of many students. In recent years, basic needs insecurity among undergraduate students has gained attention in the literature, but published data regarding medical trainees are extremely limited. METHODS: A 60-minute interactive workshop consisting of a PowerPoint presentation and case discussions was created. Our aim was to increase awareness and understanding of basic needs insecurity among medical students. The workshop included a basic needs survey and national and local resource guides. The workshop was evaluated through pre- and postworkshop questionnaires. RESULTS: There were a total of 61 participants with diverse identities, including premedical and medical students, faculty, staff, and administrators. A comparison of pre- and postworkshop data showed increases in all knowledge-based questions, two of which were statistically significant. Most learners somewhat or strongly agreed the learning objectives were met. Participants positively commented on the interactive and collaborative nature of the workshop, the perspective the case discussions offered, and the tangible resources provided to them. DISCUSSION: This single session serves as a starting point to bring awareness that basic needs insecurity exists among medical trainees. It is a step toward a cross-departmental approach to assess the scope of the problem and find solutions to address it. Through the widespread implementation of this session, we hope participants can enact sustainable institutional changes that will support the basic needs of students.

Association of Demographic Factors and Medical School Experiences With Students' Intention to Pursue a Surgical Specialty and Practice in Underserved Areas.

Importance: The surgical workforce shortage is a threat to promoting health equity in medically underserved areas. Although the Health Resources and Services Administration and the American College of Surgeons have called to increase the surgical pipeline for trainees to mitigate this shortage, the demographic factors associated with students' intention to practice in underserved areas is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the association between students' demographics and medical school experiences with intention to pursue surgery and practice in underserved areas. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study surveyed graduating US allopathic medical students who matriculated between 2007-2008 and 2011-2012. Analysis began June 2020 and ended December 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Intention to pursue surgery and practice in underserved areas were retrieved from the Association of American Medical Colleges graduation questionnaire. Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate (1) the association between demographic factors and medical students' intention to pursue surgical specialties vs medical specialties and (2) the association between demographic factors and medical school electives with intention to practice in underserved areas. Results: Among 57 307 students who completed the graduation questionnaire, 48 096 (83.9%) had complete demographic data and were included in the study cohort. The mean (SD) age at matriculation was 23.4 (2.5) years. Compared with students who reported intent to pursue nonsurgical careers, a lower proportion of students who reported intent to pursue a surgical specialty identified as female (3264 [32.4%] vs 19 731 [51.9%]; χ2 P < .001). Multiracial Black and White students (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.11-2.65) were more likely to report an intent for surgery compared with White students. Among students who reported an intention to pursue surgery, Black/African American students (aOR, 3.24; 95% CI, 2.49-4.22), Hispanic students (aOR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.61-2.47), multiracial Black and White students (aOR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.03-5.01), and Indian/Pakistani students (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02-1.69) were more likely than White students to report an intent to practice in underserved areas. Students who reported participating in community health (aOR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.42-1.83) or global health (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.61-2.07) experiences were more likely to report an intention to practice in underserved areas. Conclusions and Relevance: This study suggests that diversifying the surgical training pipeline and incorporating health disparity and community health in undergraduate or graduate medical education may promote students' motivation to practice in underserved areas.