Psoralen: a narrative review of current and future therapeutic uses.

Psoralen is a family of naturally occurring photoactive compounds found in plants that acquire potential cytotoxicity when activated by specific frequencies of electromagnetic waves. Psoralens penetrate the phospholipid cellular membranes and insert themselves between the pyrimidines of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Psoralens are initially biologically inert and acquire photoreactivity when exposed to certain classes of electromagnetic radiation, such as ultraviolet light. Once activated, psoralens form mono- and di-adducts with DNA, leading to marked cell apoptosis. This apoptotic effect is more pronounced in tumor cells due to their high rate of cell division. Moreover, photoactivated psoralen can inhibit tyrosine kinase signaling and influence the immunogenic properties of cells. Thus, the cytotoxicity of photoactivated psoralen holds promising clinical applications from its immunogenic properties to potential anti-cancer treatments. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding and research on psoralen and to explore its potential future pharmacotherapeutic benefits in specific diseases.

Pregnancy and Childbirth After Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Little data exist on pregnancy and childbirth for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients treated with a spinal fusion. The current literature relies on data from patients treated with spinal fusion techniques and instrumentation, such as Harrington rods, that are no longer in use. The objective of our study is to understand the effects of spinal fusion in adolescence on pregnancy and childbirth. METHODS: Prospectively collected data of AIS patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion that were enrolled in a multicenter study who have had a pregnancy and childbirth were reviewed. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared with national averages using χ 2 test of independence. RESULTS: A total of 78 babies were born to 53 AIS patients. As part of their pre-natal care, 24% of patients surveyed reported meeting with an anesthesiologist before delivery. The most common types of delivery were spontaneous vaginal delivery (46%, n=36/78) and planned cesarean section (20%, n=16/78). Compared with the national average, study patients had a higher rate of cesarean delivery ( P =0.021). Of the women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth, 53% had no anesthesia (n=19/36), 19% received intravenous intermittent opioids (n=7/36), and 31% had regional spinal or epidural anesthesia (n=11/36). spontaneous vaginal delivery patients in our study cohort received epidural or spinal anesthesia less frequently than the national average ( P <0.001). Of those (n=26 pregnancies) who did not have regional anesthesia (patients who had no anesthesia or utilized IV intermittent opioids), 19% (n=5 pregnancies) were told by their perinatal providers that it was precluded by previous spine surgery. CONCLUSION: The majority of AIS patients reported not meeting with an anesthesiologist before giving birth and those who had a planned C-section did so under obstetrician recommendation. The presence of instrumentation after spinal fusion should be avoided with attempted access to the spinal canal but should not dictate a delivery plan. A multidisciplinary team consisting of obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and orthopaedic surgeon can provide the most comprehensive information to empower a patient to make her decisions regarding birth experience anesthesia based on maternal rather than provider preference. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Pediatric Diving-Related Injuries in Swimming Pools Presenting to US Emergency Departments: 2008-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Recreational swimming/diving is among the most common physical activities in US children and a significant cause of morbidity across the United States. This study updates the national epidemiology of diving-related injuries. METHODS: The Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for patients aged 0 to 19 from 2008 to 2020 who presented to any of the 100 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-participating emergency departments for a diving-related injury. Dive characteristics such as dive height, dive skill, dive direction, and dive sequence were determined from case narratives. RESULTS: A total of 1202 cases were identified for analysis corresponding to a total national estimate of 37,387 diving related injuries during the period from 2008 to 2020 and a national incidence of 3.6 injuries per 100,000 population. Males accounted for 64% of injuries. The average yearly incidences of injury in the 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 age groups were identical at 5.8 per 100,000. Contact with the diving board or platform was the most common cause of injury (34%). Diving backwards or attempting a flip or handstand dive were associated with increased odds of sustaining an injury resulting from contact with the diving board or platform (odds ratio, 16.0 and 6.9, respectively). In 2020, the incidence of diving-related injury fell to 1.6 per 100,000 population. CONCLUSIONS: Diving injuries are common in children and adolescents, especially in boys aged 10 to 19. There was a significant reduction in diving-related injury corresponding with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peripheral Nerve Block Delays Mobility and Increases Length of Stay in Patients With Geriatric Hip Fracture.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) has been increasingly used in the care of patients with geriatric hip fracture to reduce perioperative opiate use and the need for general anesthesia. However, the associated motor palsy may impair patients' ability to mobilize effectively after surgery and subsequently may increase latency to key mobility milestones postoperatively, as well as increase inpatient length of stay (LOS). The aim of this study was to investigate time-to-mobility milestones and length of hospital stay between peripheral, epidural, and general anesthesia. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 1,351 patients aged 65 years or older who underwent surgery for hip fracture between 2012 and 2018 at a single academic health system. Patients were excluded if baseline nonambulatory, restricted weight-bearing postoperatively, or sustained concomitant injuries precluding mobilization, with a final cohort of 1,013 patients. Time-to-event analyses for discharge and mobility milestones were assessed using univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: PNB was associated with delayed postoperative time to ambulation ( P < 0.001) and time to out-of-bed ( P = 0.029), along with increased LOS ( P < 0.001). Epidural anesthesia was associated with less delay to first out-of-bed ( P = 0.002), less delay to ambulation ( P = 0.001), and overall reduced length of stay ( P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: PNB was associated with slower mobilization and longer hospitalization while epidural anesthesia was associated with quicker mobilization and shorter hospital stays. Epidural anesthesia may be a preferable anesthesia choice in patients with geriatric hip fracture when possible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Achilles Tendon Injuries in the Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon injuries are common in adults, and there is extensive literature describing the injury characteristics and treatment of these adult injuries. However, Achilles injuries are rare in the pediatric population and as a result, there is limited research reported on this age group. We therefore sought to characterize the injury presentation, treatment and outcomes for pediatric patients with partial and complete Achilles injuries. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients aged 0-18 treated for Achilles tendon injuries at 2 geographically distinct tertiary institutions between 2008 and 2021. Data collected included demographics, injury characteristics, and treatment course. Injury types were separated into 2 cohorts: traumatic Achilles injuries and ruptures due to muscular contraction. Traumatic injuries were further delineated into 2 injury mechanisms: open injuries related to penetrating trauma and closed injuries related to blunt trauma. Standard descriptive analyses were utilized to summarize findings. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (43.6% female, median age 15 years) were identified, 29 (74.4%) of whom had complete tears. Twenty-five patients (64.1%) presented with traumatic injuries; among these, 48.0% (n=12/25) were ≤12 years. All patients ≤12 years sustained a traumatic injury. The most common traumatic mechanism was an open laceration due to penetrating trauma (68.0%), followed by closed ruptures associated with blunt trauma (32.0%). Fourteen patients (35.9%) presented with closed ruptures due to muscular contraction. Four patients (10.2%) had a prior history of clubfoot treated with Achilles tenotomy. Thirty-five patients (89.7%) were surgically treated with an open repair. The median immobilization period across all patients was 11 weeks (interquartile range: 10-12), starting most commonly with a posterior splint (46.2%) and concluding with a CAM boot (94.9%). Of patients with full follow-up data (n=22/39), all resumed normal activities, with a median clearance time of 6 months (interquartile range: 5-7.9). CONCLUSIONS: We found that older adolescents (≥14 y) were more likely to rupture their Achilles tendon through a forceful muscular contraction, whereas younger patients (≤12 y) were more likely to injure their Achilles via a traumatic mechanism. Most patients were treated operatively and returned to sports at a median time of 6 months. A further prospective study is warranted to better characterize treatment protocols and patient outcomes in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level-IV.

The impact of regional anesthesia on opioid demand in distal radius fracture surgery.

PURPOSE: Regional anesthesia (RA) is commonly used in distal radius fracture surgery to reduce pain and opioid consumption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the real-world impact of RA on inpatient and outpatient opioid consumption and demand in patients undergoing distal radius fracture surgery. METHODS: All patients ages 18 and older undergoing distal radius fracture surgery between 7/2013 and 7/2018 at a single institution (n = 969) were identified. Inpatient opioid consumption and outpatient opioid prescribing in oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (OE's) up to 90-d post-operative were recorded for patients with and without RA. Adjusted models were used to evaluate the impact of RA on opioid outcomes. RESULTS: Adjusted models demonstrated decreases in inpatient opioid consumption in patients with RA (10.7 estimated OE's without RA vs. 7.6 OE's with RA from 0 to 24 h post-op, 10.2 vs. 5.3 from 24 to 48 h post-op and 7.5 vs. 5.0 from 48 to 72 h post-op, p<.05). Estimated cumulative outpatient opioid demand was significantly higher in patients with RA (65.3 OE's without RA vs. 81.0 with RA from 1-month pre-op to 2-week post-discharge, 76.1 vs. 87.7 OE's to 6-weeks, and 80.8 vs. 93.5 OE's to 90-d, all p values for RA <.05) though rates of refill were significantly lower in patients with RA from 2-week to 6-week post-op compared to patients without RA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing RA in distal radius fracture surgery had decreased inpatient opioid consumption but increased outpatient demand after adjustment for patient and operative characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective, therapeutic cohort study.

Hip Fracture Surgery: Regional Anesthesia and Opioid Demand.

BACKGROUND: Hip fracture surgery is painful, and regional anesthesia (RA) has been used in an attempt to reduce pain and opioid consumption after surgery. Despite potential analgesic benefits, the effect of RA on inpatient and outpatient opioid demand is not well known. We hypothesized that RA would be associated with decreased inpatient opioid demand and has little effect on outpatient opioid demand in hip fracture surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively evaluated all patients of 18 years and older undergoing hip fracture surgery from July 2013 to July 2018 at a single, level I trauma center (n = 1,659). Inpatient opioid consumption in 24-hour increments up to 72-hour postoperative and outpatient opioid prescribing up to 90-day postoperative were recorded in oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (OE's). Adjusted models evaluated the effect of RA on opioid demand after adjusting for other baseline and treatment variables. RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline and treatment variables, there were small increases in inpatient opioid consumption in patients with RA (2.6 estimated OE's without RA versus three OE's with RA from 0 to 24 hours postoperatively, 2.1 versus 2.4 from 24 to 48 hours postoperatively, and 1.6 versus 2.2 from 48 to 72 hours postoperatively, all P values for RA <0.001). However, there were no notable differences in outpatient opioid demand. DISCUSSION: RA did not decrease inpatient or outpatient opioid demand in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery in this pragmatic study. In fact, there were slight increases in inpatient opioid consumption, although these differences are likely clinically insignificant. These results temper enthusiasm for RA in hip fracture surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective, therapeutic cohort study.

Regional anesthesia reduces inpatient and outpatient perioperative opioid demand in periarticular elbow surgery.

HYPOTHESIS: Regional anesthesia (RA) can be used to manage perioperative pain in the treatment of periarticular elbow fracture fixation. However, the opioid-sparing benefit is not well-characterized. The hypothesis of this study was that RA had reduced inpatient opioid consumption and outpatient opioid demand in patients who had undergone periarticular elbow fracture surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviews inpatient opioid consumption and outpatient opioid demand in all patients aged ≥18 years at a single Level I trauma center undergoing fixation of periarticular elbow (distal humerus and proximal forearm) fracture surgery (n=418 patients). In addition to RA vs. no RA, additional patient and operative characteristics were recorded. Unadjusted and adjusted models were constructed to evaluate the impact of RA and other factors on inpatient opioid consumption and outpatient opioid demand. RESULTS: Adjusted models demonstrated decreases in inpatient opioid consumption postoperation in patients with RA (13.7 estimated oxycodone 5-mg equivalents or OEs without RA vs. 10.4 OEs with RA from 0 to 24 hours postoperation, P = .003; 12.3 vs. 9.2 OEs from 24 to 48 hours postoperation, P = .045). Estimated cumulative outpatient opioid demand differed significantly in patients with RA (166.1 vs. 132.1 OEs to 6 weeks, P = .002; and 181 vs. 138.6 OEs to 90 days, P < .001). DISCUSSION: In proximal forearm and distal humerus fracture surgery, RA was associated with decreased inpatient and outpatient opioid demand after adjusting for baseline patient and treatment characteristics. These results encourage utilization of perioperative RA to reduce opioid use.

Impact of Cost Information on Parental Decision Making: A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Cast Versus Splint Selection for Pediatric Distal Radius Buckle Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Price transparency purports to help patients make high-value health care decisions, however, there is little data to support this. The pediatric distal radius buckle fracture (DRBF) has 2 equally efficacious but not equally priced treatment options (cast and splint), serving as an excellent potential model for studying price transparency. This study uses the DRBF model to assess the impact of up-front cost information on a family's treatment decisions when presented with clinically equivalent treatment options for a low-risk injury. METHODS: Participants age 4 to 14 presenting with an acute DRBF to a hospital-based pediatric orthopaedic clinic were recruited for this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized into cost-informed or cost-blind cohorts. All families received standardized information about the injury and treatment options. Cost-informed families received additional cost information. Both groups were allowed to freely choose a treatment. Families were surveyed regarding their decision factors. Cost-blinded families were subsequently presented with the cost information and could change their decision. Independent samples t tests and χ2 tests were utilized to evaluate differences. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were enrolled (53% cost-informed, 47% cost-blind). The 2 groups did not significantly differ in demographics. Immobilization selection did not differ between groups, with 48% of the cost-informed families selecting the more expensive option (casting), compared with 47% of the cost-blind families. Cost was the least influential factor in the decision-making process according to participant survey, influencing only 9% of families. Only one family changed their decision after receiving cost information, from a splint to a cast. CONCLUSION: Families appear to be cost-insensitive when making medical treatment decisions for low-risk injuries for their child. Price transparency alone may not help families arrive at a decision to pursue high-value treatment in low-risk orthopaedic injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.