Efficacy of Hematoma Block After Intramedullary Rod Fixation of Femoral Shaft Fractures: A Prospective, Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of an intraoperative, postfixation fracture hematoma block on postoperative pain control and opioid consumption in patients with acute femoral shaft fractures. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Academic Level I Trauma Center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two consecutive patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures (OTA/AO 32) underwent intramedullary rod fixation. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to receive an intraoperative, postfixation fracture hematoma injection containing 20 mL of normal saline or 0.5% ropivacaine in addition to a standardized multimodal pain regimen that included opioids. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and opioid consumption. RESULTS: The treatment group demonstrated significantly lower VAS pain scores than the control group in the first 24-hour postoperative period (5.0 vs. 6.7, P = 0.004), 0-8 hours (5.4 vs. 7.0, P = 0.013), 8-16 hours (4.9 vs. 6.6, P = 0.018), and 16-24 hours (4.7 vs. 6.6, P = 0.010), postoperatively. In addition, the opioid consumption (morphine milligram equivalents) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared with the control group over the first 24-hour postoperative period (43.6 vs. 65.9, P = 0.008). No adverse effects were observed secondary to the saline or ropivacaine infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Infiltrating the fracture hematoma with ropivacaine in adult femoral shaft fractures reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption compared with saline control. This intervention presents a useful adjunct to multimodal analgesia to improve postoperative care in orthopaedic trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Patellar Tendon vs Hamstring Autografts: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with a Mean Follow-up of 15 Years.

Background: The two most common surgical treatment modalities for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL), patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HS) autografts, have been shown to have outcomes that are both similar and favorable; however, many of these are short or intermediate-term. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum 10-year follow-up data to compare the long-term outcomes of ACL reconstructions performed using PT and HS autografts. Methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A search of three databases (PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE) was performed to identify RCTs with a minimum of 10-year follow-up that compared clinical and/or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. Results: Four RCTs with a total of 299 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up ranged from 10.2 to 17 years (mean, 14.79 years). No significant differences in knee laxity or clinical outcome scores were demonstrated in any of the studies. One study found that PT autografts were significantly more likely to have osteoarthritis identified by radiographic findings. Two studies found that patients with PT autografts reported increase kneeling pain, while none of the four studies reported a difference in anterior knee pain. There were no significant differences in graft failure rates. Conclusion: This review demonstrates no long-term difference in clinical or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. However, radiographic and subjective outcomes indicate that patients with PT autografts may experience greater kneeling pain and osteoarthritis. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons should consider patient-centric factors when discussing graft options with patients.

Proximal tibia fracture dislocations: Management and outcomes of a severe and under-recognized injury.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal tibia fracture dislocations (PTFDs) are a subset of plateau fractures with little in the literature since description by Hohl (1967) and classification by Moore (1981). We sought to evaluate reliability in diagnosis of fracture-dislocations by traumatologists and to compare their outcomes with bicondylar tibial plateau fractures (BTPFs). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study at 14 level 1 trauma centers throughout North America. In all, 4771 proximal tibia fractures were reviewed by all sites and 278 possible PTFDs were identified using the Moore classification. These were reviewed by an adjudication board of three traumatologists to obtain consensus. Outcomes included inter-rater reliability of PTFD diagnosis, wound complications, malunion, range of motion (ROM), and knee pain limiting function. These were compared to BTPF data from a previous study. RESULTS: Of 278 submitted cases, 187 were deemed PTFDs representing 4% of all proximal tibia fractures reviewed and 67% of those submitted. Inter-rater agreement by the adjudication board was good (83%). Sixty-one PTFDs (33%) were unicondylar. Eleven (6%) had ligamentous repair and 72 (39%) had meniscal repair. Two required vascular repair. Infection was more common among PTFDs than BTPFs (14% vs 9%, p = 0.038). Malunion occurred in 25% of PTFDs. ROM was worse among PTFDs, although likely not clinically significant. Knee pain limited function at final follow-up in 24% of both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: PTFDs represent 4% of proximal tibia fractures. They are often unicondylar and may go unrecognized. Malunion is common, and PTFD outcomes may be worse than bicondylar fractures.

What are the risk factors associated with limited musculoskeletal health literacy in shoulder arthroplasty patients?

OBJECTIVES: Low health literacy is both pervasive in the United States and a substantial barrier to satisfactory patient care and the appropriate utilization of healthcare resources. This prospective study aims to evaluate the factors that contribute to limited musculoskeletal literacy in patients who undergo shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery completed demographics and Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems (LiMP) surveys. Scores of less than six were considered indicative of limited musculoskeletal literacy. RESULTS: The overall percentage of participants with limited musculoskeletal literacy was 38.8%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with multiple imputation modeling demonstrated a significant positive relationship between patient income and adequate LiMP scores (p = 0.009) with an odds ratio of 1.15 (CI: 1.04; 1.28) while level of education (p = 0.173) and patient ethnicity (p = 0.830) among other patient characteristics did not have a significant relationship with LiMP scores. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery, low income was the only variable found to be predictive of limited musculoskeletal health literacy scores. Therefore, when discussing the risks and benefits of shoulder arthroplasty, orthopaedic surgeons should be cognizant of the possibility that any given patient may not meet the threshold of adequate musculoskeletal literacy.

Patient-Reported Outcomes for Fractures of the Acetabulum: A Comparison Between Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System and Traditional Instruments.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to compare instruments from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS) with previously validated acetabulum fracture outcome instruments. METHODS: This study included adult patients presenting for routine follow-up at least 3 months after surgical treatment of an acetabulum fracture. Participants completed four different patient-reported outcomes in a randomized order: PROMIS Mobility, PROMIS Physical Function, Short Form 36 (SF-36), and Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA). Primary outcomes were the correlations between instruments, floor/ceiling effects, and survey completion time. The effects of age, education, and race on survey completion time were also evaluated. RESULTS: Overall strong correlations were observed between PROMIS instruments and the SMFA/SF-36 (r = 0.73 to 0.86, P < 0.05) with weaker, more moderate correlations in those with >18 months of follow-up (r = 0.41 to 0.76, P < 0.05). No instruments demonstrated notable floor or ceiling effects. The PROMIS outcomes required less time to complete (PROMIS [56 to 59 seconds] than SF-36 [5 minutes 22 seconds] and SMFA [6 minutes 35 seconds]; P < 0.001). Older individuals required more time to complete the PROMIS PF (0.5 s/yr, P = 0.03), SF-36 (2.35 s/yr, P = 0.01), and SMFA (3.85 s/yr, P < 0.01). Level of education did not affect completion time; however, African Americans took significantly longer than Caucasians to complete the SMFA and SF-36 by 151 and 164 seconds (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study supports that the PROMIS Mobility and Physical Function surveys are much more efficient instruments for evaluating patients with acetabulum fractures when compared with the SMFA and SF-36. Convergent validity of the PROMIS instruments was overall strong but weaker and more moderate in those with a long-term follow-up, and additional study is suggested for longer-term outcomes. Level of education did not influence survey completion time; however, it took markedly longer time for older individuals and African Americans to complete the SMFA and SF-36.

Differences in Access to Outpatient Care in the State of Ohio for an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Patient.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of either Medicaid or private insurance on securing an appointment in an outpatient orthopaedic clinic and to determine waiting periods until an appointment as well as the relationship between population metrics and access to care. METHODS: A total of 88 clinics were called. There were 2 fictitious patients, one with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and the other with a medial meniscus injury, with each calling as having Medicaid or private insurance. Clinic responses were recorded for whether an appointment could be made, when it was scheduled, and with what provider. RESULTS: A total of 32 of 88 (36.4%) of the clinics scheduled an appointment for the Medicaid patient reporting an ACL injury versus 71 of 88 (80.6%) of the clinics that scheduled an appointment for the same patient with private insurance. A total of 34 of 88 (38.6%) of the clinics scheduled an appointment for the Medicaid patient reporting a medial meniscus injury versus 71 of 88 (80.6%) of the clinics that scheduled an appointment for the same patient with private insurance. Mean waiting period for ACL patients with Medicaid was 8.6 days and 4.5 days for patients with private insurance, whereas medial meniscus patients with Medicaid was 7.7 days and 5.4 days for patients with private insurance. In total, 60 of the 66 (90.9%) patients with Medicaid who received an appointment were scheduled to see the orthopaedic surgeon (30 in both ACL and medial meniscus groups). In total, 126 (71.6%) patients with Medicaid and 34 (19.3%) patients with private insurance of the 176 encounters faced barriers to scheduling an appointment. Rural communities were associated with appointment acceptance for patients with Medicaid (P < .05), and patients with private insurance had successful appointment scheduling in all community types (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that patients with Medicaid are less likely to receive orthopaedic care for multiple sports medicine injuries, are more likely to encounter barriers, and endure longer waiting periods. There are different patterns of insurance acceptance according to population metrics. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serves as a baseline evaluation of the difference in access to health care that may be impacted by increases in Medicaid coverage and/or changes in government policies.

Single-Stage Versus 2-Stage Bilateral Intramedullary Nail Fixation in Patients With Bilateral Femur Fractures: A Multicenter Retrospective Review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rates of complications in patients with bilateral femur fractures treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN) during either 1 single procedure or 2 separate procedures. DESIGN: A multicenter retrospective review of patients sustaining bilateral femur fractures, treated with IMN in single or 2-stage procedure, from 1998 to 2018 was performed at 10 Level-1 trauma centers. SETTING: Ten Level-1 trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty-six patients with bilateral femur fractures. INTERVENTIONS: Intramedullary nailing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of complications. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients were included, with 188 single-stage and 58 two-stage patients. Gender, age, injury severity score, abbreviated injury score, secondary injuries, Glasgow coma scale, and proportion of open fractures were similar between both groups. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurred at higher rates in the 2-stage group (13.8% vs. 5.9%; P value = 0.05). When further adjusted for age, gender, injury severity score, abbreviated injury score, Glasgow coma scale, and admission lactate, the single-stage group had a 78% reduced risk for ARDS. In-hospital mortality was higher in the single-stage cohort (2.7% compared with 0%), although this did not meet statistical significance (P = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest multicenter study to date evaluating the outcomes between single- and 2-stage IMN fixation for bilateral femoral shaft fractures. Single-stage bilateral femur IMN may decrease rates of ARDS in polytrauma patients who are able to undergo simultaneous definitive fixation. However, a future prospective study with standardized protocols in place will be required to discern whether single- versus 2-stage fixation has an effect on mortality and to identify those individuals at risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Factors that influence inpatient satisfaction after shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: It is important to distinguish satisfaction regarding the outcome of care and satisfaction with the delivery of care. The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys are modern assessments of hospitals and providers of delivery of care. The purpose of this study was to report inpatient satisfaction according to Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG-CAHPS) scores after shoulder arthroplasty and to determine factors that influence them, as well as their correlation with surgical expectations, pain perception, quality of life, surgical setting, and functional outcomes. METHODS: All patients scheduled for a shoulder arthroplasty were prospectively asked to complete a demographic and initial shoulder assessment form, a shoulder surgery expectations survey, a pain catastrophizing scale, the SF-12 (12-item Short Form) survey, and a resiliency form (Resilience Scale 11). Patient satisfaction was measured with the CG-CAHPS and HCAHPS surveys. Legacy forms, patient-specific factors, type of surgery performed, location of surgery, length of hospital stay, and discharge disposition were evaluated on their ability to predict these survey scores. Linear regression was used to calculate correlations and predictions of continuous variables, and logistic regression was used to compared the satisfied vs. unsatisfied cohorts. RESULTS: The average HCAHPS and CG-CAHPS satisfaction scores for the population were 74.7 ± 20.7 and 82.1 ± 19.4, respectively. Nonsmokers had a mean HCAHPS score of 77.7 ± 22.0, whereas current smokers reported a mean of 59.6 ± 5.2 (P = .03). Patients who were discharged home had a mean HCAHPS score of 77.3 ± 21.9, whereas those discharged to a skilled nursing facility reported a mean of 59.3 ± 6.6 (P = .05). These same groups also had significantly higher odds of being satisfied with the hospital. No significant differences or higher odds were seen for comparisons between overall CG-CAHPS satisfaction and any of the patient-specific factors tested. There was no significant correlation between age, length of stay, pain (pain catastrophizing scale), resiliency (Resilience Scale 11), expectations (shoulder surgery expectations survey), or function (SF-12) and both the HCAHPS and CG-CAHPS satisfaction scores. CONCLUSION: Overall, 37 patients (74%) had CG-CAHPS scores that indicated satisfaction and 34 patients (68%) had HCAHPS scores that indicated satisfaction. Nonsmokers and patients discharged home after surgery report higher levels of inpatient hospital (HCAHPS) satisfaction after shoulder arthroplasty. Patients with high preoperative surgical expectations, pain perception, and resiliency are not generally more satisfied with the hospital or clinician. Preoperative diagnosis, location of surgery, and length of stay do not reliably impact satisfaction with the hospital or clinician. Inpatient HCAHPS and CG-CAHPS satisfaction does not correlate with legacy functional outcome measures and, therefore, may not be predictive of long-term functional outcomes.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Scores Are Inconsistently Correlated With Legacy Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Shoulder Pathology: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the current literature regarding Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and its correlation to legacy patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in 5 domains: (1) rotator cuff disease, (2) shoulder instability, (3) shoulder arthroplasty, (4) proximal humerus fractures, and (5) glenohumeral arthritis. The secondary purpose is to evaluate the floor and ceiling effects, the number of questions, and time needed to complete PROMIS and legacy PROMs in shoulder care. METHODS: A systematic review of the available literature on PROMIS scores in shoulder care was performed. This review was accomplished per PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies that reported data on 1485 patients met inclusion criteria. There was a strong correlation between general function PROMs and the PROMIS PF for patients with rotator cuff disease, shoulder instability, shoulder arthroplasty, and proximal humerus fractures. In addition, there was a strong correlation between PROMIS UE and legacy PROMs in patients with rotator cuff injury and shoulder instability. PROMIS instruments asked fewer questions than legacy PROMs (9.46 vs 12.99, respectively), took less time to complete (88.21 vs 96.53 seconds, respectively), had less floor effects in both PROMIS PF and UE (0.17% and 0.62% vs 2.89%, respectively), and had lower ceiling effects for PROMIS PF but not PROMIS UE assessments (0.17% and 6.37% vs 1.89%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrated PROMIS instruments have varying correlations with legacy PROMs measures for patients with rotator cuff disease, shoulder instability, shoulder arthroplasty, and glenohumeral arthritis. PROMIS instruments do measure clinical outcomes faster and with fewer questions. Other than PROMIS UE v1.2 ceiling effects, PROMIS instruments have lower rates of floor and ceiling effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level II-IV studies.

Does preoperative diagnosis impact patient outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The indications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) have expanded to include the treatment of a wide variety of shoulder pathologies, and there may be significant differences in patient outcomes based on preoperative diagnosis. METHODS: A systematic review of the orthopedic literature contained in the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed on November 14, 2019. Studies investigating rTSA indicated for 7 distinct preoperative diagnoses (massive rotator cuff tear [MCT] without glenohumeral osteoarthritis [GHOA], MCT with GHOA or cuff tear arthropathy, primary GHOA, inflammatory arthritis with MCT, failed shoulder arthroplasty, proximal humeral fracture [PHF], and sequelae following PHF) were included. The main outcomes of interest included functional outcomes (abduction, external rotation, and forward flexion) and patient-reported outcome measures (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score and Constant-Murley score). Because of significant variation in measurement and reporting, data on internal rotation were not extracted. In addition, radiographic outcomes and complication rates were extracted and recorded for each of the included studies. RESULTS: In total, 47 studies, comprising 2280 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Significant improvements in functional outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures were found across the preoperative diagnostic groups. There were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups regarding improvement between preoperative and postoperative values for the outcomes of interest, with the exception that the inflammatory arthropathy group had significantly less improvement in the Constant-Murley score than the primary GHOA and revision arthroplasty groups. Although there were few differences in improvement between groups, there were significant differences regarding the level of postoperative functional performance, which was not as consistent in the context of trauma or revision operations (ie, complex PHF, fracture sequela, and revision arthroplasty groups). CONCLUSION: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty can provide reliable improvement in clinical outcomes regardless of preoperative diagnosis, with few differences across diagnostic groups regarding preoperative to postoperative improvement. The groups with primary GHOA and MCTs with or without GHOA demonstrated the most reliable postoperative functional outcomes of the examined diagnostic groups. Postoperative outcomes were not as consistent in the context of trauma or revision operations, and these groups may benefit from a variety of modern advancements in rTSA, although further research into these modalities for these groups is needed. Finally, rTSA remains an important treatment option in the context of rheumatoid arthritis, with similar outcomes and complication rates compared with the 6 other operative indications.

Return to sport after surgical treatment for posterior shoulder instability: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To report the rate of return to sport after surgical treatment for posterior shoulder instability among athletes. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature regarding rate of return to sport after surgical treatment for posterior shoulder instability was undertaken. The primary outcome measure was return to sport. The secondary outcome measures included rate of return to sport to preinjury level, time to return to sport, injury type, reoperations after primary surgery, and objective patient-reported outcome data. Data is summarized with ranges and tables. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies met inclusion criteria. The rate of return to sport ranged from 57.9%-100%. The rate of return to sport to the preinjury level ranged from 47.4%-100%. Time to return to sport ranged from 4.3-7.7 months. Furthermore, 66% of subjects had an acute traumatic injury and 34% were of insidious onset. The most commonly reported outcome measures were American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) scores and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. At a minimum of 1-year follow-up, ASES and VAS pain scores improved. Revision rates ranged from 0%-36.8%. CONCLUSION: The systematic review demonstrated high rates of return to sport and relatively high rates of return to preinjury level of sport among all athletes who underwent surgical treatment for posterior shoulder instability. Objective patient-reported outcome metrics improved postoperatively whereas revision rates remained low.

Perceptions and Awareness of Overlapping Surgery in Patients With Shoulder Pain Presenting to an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic.

PURPOSE: To determine patients' baseline understanding of overlapping surgery and to evaluate how education changes the perception of the practice in orthopaedic shoulder pain patients at a single institution. METHODS: All patients who visit the clinic with a chief complaint of shoulder pain were given a 15-question survey. The initial 15-question survey assessed demographics, pre-existing knowledge on the practice of overlapping surgery, and their perception of it. They immediately read a statement on the practice of overlapping surgery. After reading the statement, patients were re-evaluated on their level of concern. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients (55 female, 45 male) completed the survey. Mean age was 53.0 (range, 18-85) years. In total, 38 (38%) had no knowledge on the practice of overlapping surgery; 27 (27%) reported their level of concern as a 1, the lowest level of concern. Overall, 84 (84%) patients reported a level of concern of 3 (median) or lower, indicating a low level of concern. A total of 95 (95%) patients reported either a decrease or no change in level of concern after reading an educational statement on overlapping surgery practices, and 60 (60%) believed there would be no impact if an overlapping surgery was performed. If a patient reported a high level of concern, the most common reasons cited were that the attending physician may not be available during the whole case (15%); that a resident, fellow, or physician assistant may jeopardize the patient's care (24%); or that a critical step would be missed (37%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a low level of baseline understanding of overlapping surgery in patients with shoulder pain. An educational component added during patient counseling proved to be effective in decreasing the level of concern. This study suggests that counseling and education on overlapping surgery may change patient perception and opinion of the practice. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serves as an evaluation of the knowledge of a specific patient population on overlapping surgery and how it changes with counseling and education.

Effect of Workload After ACL Reconstruction on Rerupture Rates in NBA Players.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common and potentially career-altering injury sustained by players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Strategies have been employed by the league to prevent reinjury of players after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), including minute restrictions and rest games; however, it remains unknown whether workload metrics after ACLR influence the risk for reinjury and revision surgery. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether workload changes after return to play (RTP) from primary ACLR influences the risk of rerupture in NBA players. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We identified NBA players from 1975 to 2018 who underwent primary ACLR as well as those who required revision ACLR. Primary outcomes included workload measures such as games played, games started, and minutes per game. Secondary outcomes included in-game performance statistics. Statistical analysis was used to compare relative workload and performance 3 years before and 3 years after undergoing primary ACLR. Workload was also compared between the control group of NBA players who underwent primary ACLR and those who required revision ACLR. RESULTS: A total of 68 players who underwent primary ACLR were included, 8 of whom subsequently required revision ACLR. In their first season upon RTP, control players (primary ACLR) demonstrated a significant reduction in all workload metrics relative to the season before injury (P < .001), while the revision group demonstrated an unchanged to increased workload. In a comparison between the primary and revision groups during the first season after RTP, the primary group demonstrated significantly fewer games started (mean ± SD, 22.2 ± 3.0 vs 35.8 ± 8.3; P = .039) and minutes per game (20.5 ± 1.1 vs 27.0 ± 3.1; P = .048) than revision players. The primary ACLR group demonstrated reduced cumulative workload trends for the first 3 years after RTP relative to 3 years before injury, which was not demonstrated in the revision ACLR group, albeit statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Our study found that after ACLR, a reduction in workload parameters relative to preinjury baseline was associated with players who did not sustain rerupture. Further study is required to determine if workload measures following RTP from primary ACLR should be individualized relative to preinjury baseline.

When do patients truly reach maximal medical improvement after undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty? The incidence and clinical significance of pain and patient-reported outcome measure improvement.

HYPOTHESIS: Patients receiving reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) may reach MMI prior to 12 months postoperatively. BACKGROUND: With the growth of RTSA indications, there is a paucity of information regarding maximum medical improvement (MMI) after these procedures. Systems of evaluating recovery, such as patient-reported outcome measures and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) will allow for measurement of when patients reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) after these procedures. PURPOSE: To evaluate when patients have reached MMI after RTSA. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled in the institution's RTSA registry. All patients undergoing RTSA who agreed to be enrolled were included. Patient-specific factors, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, and pain data were collected preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Subgroup analysis was performed on preoperative diagnosis before analyzing MCID and MMI. MMI was calculated by using the last time point interval that an MCID did not occur. RESULTS: Of 182 patients, 92 had complete 12-month postoperative data, including visual analog scale (VAS) pain and ASES scores. Subgroup analysis showed preoperative diagnosis of rotator cuff arthropathy, revision surgery, glenohumeral arthritis, proximal humerus fracture, and chronic dislocation. All 5 groups had improvement that exceeded MCID thresholds at 6 months and variable improvement from 6-12 months. Analysis of variance compared the different groups, showing that VAS pain scores and ASES scores were different at all time points except for preoperative VAS pain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing RTSA may reach MMI at 6 months instead of the previously reported 1-year time point. Data from this study can allow providers to deliver value care and potentially limit visits after 6 months postoperatively.

Closing the Gender Gap: Barriers to Success for Recruitment and Retention of the Female Orthopaedic Surgery Applicant.

¼ Orthopaedic surgery reports one of the lowest proportions of female residents among all medical specialties. While the number of female medical students has increased, our field has been particularly slow to respond to the gender gap. ¼ There are several barriers to increased female representation in orthopaedics, including "jock" culture and male dominance, the residency application process, pregnancy and lifestyle concerns, a limited number of mentors and role models, and lack of early exposure to the field. ¼ Organizations such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, The Perry Initiative, Nth Dimensions, and the J. Robert Gladden Society, as well as social media channels, are working to close the gender gap, but there is still more that needs to be done. ¼ By acknowledging and addressing these barriers, both at an individual and institutional level, we can hopefully bring more women into the field. This will ultimately benefit not only ourselves, but our patients as well.

A Multimodal Protocol to Diminish Pain Following Common Orthopedic Sports Procedures: Can We Eliminate Postoperative Opioids?

PURPOSE: To determine whether postsurgical pain, measured by the visual analog scale (VAS), following common orthopaedic sports procedures could be managed effectively with a nonopioid multimodal analgesic protocol. METHODS: This prospective study evaluated a custom multimodal nonopioid pain protocol in patients undergoing common orthopaedic sports procedures by a single fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports surgeon from May 2018 to December 2018. Procedures included anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, and labrum repair. The nonopioid pain protocol consisted of preoperative analgesics, intraoperative local infiltration analgesia, and a postoperative pain regimen. Patient pain was immediately reported after surgery and 1 week postoperatively using the VAS, whereas rescue opioids (oxycodone 5 mg) used were recorded using a prescription opioid journal. Statistical analysis of patient VAS scores, demographic correlations, and comparison between opioid rescue users versus nonusers was performed. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were included. One week following surgery, patients reported a mean VAS level of 3.2 ± 2.3 and required on average 2.6 ± 3.6 breakthrough oxycodone pills (8.6 ± 12.0 morphine equivalents). Forty-five percent of patients did not require any breakthrough prescription opioids and reported satisfaction with pain management. Patients who required opioids were more likely to have a history of anxiety/depression (44.2% vs 23.8%, P = .012) and reported greater pain scores as compared with nonusers (3.94 ± 2.5 vs 2.41 ± 1.75, P = .016). The most common side effect of the pain protocol was feeling drowsy (23.5%). All patients were satisfied with their pain management postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal, nonopioid pain protocol was found to be effective in managing postoperative pain following common orthopedic sports procedures. Patients were found to have low levels of pain, require minimal rescue opioids, and had no severe side effects related to the protocol. These results suggest a nonopioid alternative to pain management following common orthopedic sports procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prospective case series.

Effect of Opioid Limiting Legislation on Postoperative Opioid Utilization in Patients Treated for Ankle Fractures.

BACKGROUND: The state of Ohio implemented legislation in August of 2017 limiting the quantity of opioids a provider could prescribe. The purpose of this study was to identify if implementation of legislation affected opioid and nonopioid utilization in patients operatively treated for ankle fractures in the initial 90-day postoperative period after controlling for injury severity and preoperative narcotic usage. METHODS: A retrospective review of 144 patients treated for isolated ankle fractures in a pre-law group (January 2017-July 2017; n = 73) and post-law group (January 2018-July 2018; n = 71) was completed using electronic medical records and a legal prescriber database. Total number of opioid prescriptions, pills, milligrams of morphine equivalents (MMEs), and nonopioid prescriptions were recorded. Multiple regression analysis was run to identify predictors of opioid prescribing after controlling for law group, demographic, preoperative narcotic use, and injury severity characteristics. RESULTS: Mean MME prescribed per patient significantly decreased from 817.2 MME pre-law to 380.9 post-law (P < .01). Mean number of opioid pills prescribed per patient decreased from 99.1 in the pre-law group and 55.3 in the post law group (P < .001), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis to predict the mean number of opioid pills prescribed was statistically significant (R 2 = 0.33; P < .001), with law group adding significantly to the prediction (P < .001). The multiple linear regression analysis to predict MME per patient was found to be statistically significant (R 2 = 0.31; P < .001), with the law group contributing significantly (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The Ohio prescriber law successfully contributed to the decreased number of opioid pills and MME prescribed in the initial 90-day postoperative period after controlling for injury severity and preoperative narcotic usage. Policies on opioid prescriptions may serve as an important public health tool in the fight against the opioid epidemic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative series.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Opioid Use in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery.

PURPOSE: (1) To evaluate the influence of preoperative opioid use on postoperative consumption after arthroscopic meniscal surgery and (2) to determine preoperative patient factors associated with increased opioid use after meniscal surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with a primary diagnosis of a meniscal tear at a single institution between August 2013 and February 2017. Patients were classified as opioid nonusers if they had not received any opioid medications in the 3 months before meniscal surgery, as acute users if they received at least 1 opioid prescription within 1 month preceding meniscal surgery, or as chronic users if they received at least 1 opioid prescription within 3 months preceding meniscal surgery. Clinical records were reviewed for postoperative opioid use within a year after surgery. We also recorded patient demographic characteristics and the degree of knee osteoarthritis at the time of surgery using the Outerbridge classification. RESULTS: A total of 735 patients were included. The average age was 46.7 years (range, 12-79 years), and the average body mass index was 30.2 ± 6.2 (range, 13.3-55.4). Patients who were acute or chronic opioid users preoperatively were more likely to continue to use opioids beyond 1 month postoperatively (P < .001). A higher percentage of patients with advanced osteoarthritis (Outerbridge grade 3 or 4) were found to continue to use opioids at all time points beyond the first postoperative month (P < .05). Pair-wise comparisons showed that the number of total opioid prescriptions filled was significantly higher in the group with Outerbridge grade 1 or 2 and the group with Outerbridge grade 3 or 4 than the group with Outerbridge grade 0 (P = .023 and P = .014, respectively). No significant difference in postoperative opioid use was noted when we compared meniscal repair versus resection, primary procedure versus revision, different tear types, or concomitant procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery, the chronicity of preoperative opioid intake and degree of knee osteoarthritis were found to have a significant effect on postoperative opioid use. LEVEL OF STUDY: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Do anatomic changes found in the throwing arm after a season of pitching resolve with off-season rest? A dynamic ultrasound study.

HYPOTHESIS: Our hypothesis was that seasonal adaptive changes in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), ulnohumeral joint space (UHJS), and glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) of the pitching extremity would subsequently resolve with off-season rest. METHODS: Eleven collegiate pitchers underwent preseason, postseason, and off-season evaluations including physical examination; dynamic ultrasound imaging of the UCL and UHJS; and the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Ultrasound images were evaluated by 2 fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. RESULTS: All 11 pitchers were included in the final analysis, with an average age of 20.1 years and with 14.1 years of playing experience. After a season of pitching, we found significant increases in GIRD (P = .004) and UCL thickness (P = .033) and nonsignificant increases in both unloaded (P = .069) and loaded (P = .122) UHJS. Preseason GIRD correlated with this increase in loaded UHJS (r = 0.80, P = .003). The increase in UCL thickness was significantly greater in pitchers with GIRD greater than 10° (P < .05). After the off-season, UCL thickness returned to baseline and significant decreases were noted in both unloaded (P = .004) and loaded (P = .041) UHJS, but a progression in GIRD was found (P = .021). Pitchers with GIRD of 10° or less showed greater improvement in UHJS after the off-season (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The pitching season produced adaptive changes in the throwing elbow that subsequently resolved after off-season rest. However, shoulder range-of-motion deficits were progressive and did not resolve. Ultrasound adaptations of the pitching elbow were significantly related to GIRD.