Around-The-Knee Osteotomies Part II: Surgical Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes - State of the Art.

Recent advances in surgical techniques and planning for knee-based osteotomies have led to improvements in addressing lower extremity malalignment. Part 1 of this review presented the biomechanical and clinical rationale of osteotomies, emphasizing the importance of osteotomies for restoring normal knee kinematics. In Part 2 of this review, indications, surgical technique, and outcomes of osteotomies to correct coronal, sagittal, and axial plane deformities will be examined. Traditional high tibial and distal femoral osteotomies will be discussed in addition to more recent advanced techniques including biplanar corrections and double level osteotomies, as well as slope correcting osteotomies. Patient specific instrumentation and its use in more complex corrections will also be addressed.

Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis is More Cost-Effective than Independent Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Economic Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Anterolateral augmentation during primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) may lower rates of ACL graft failure. However, differences in costs between two techniques, lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) and anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR), are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and subsequent cost-effectiveness analysis comparing LET versus ALLR in the setting of primary ACLR. The hypothesis was that LET is more cost-effective than ALLR. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A systematic review was conducted on studies in which patients underwent primary ACLR with a concomitant LET or ALLR with minimum 24 months follow-up published between January 2013 and July 2023. Primary outcomes included ACL graft failure rates and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey-Quality of Life (KOOS-QoL) subscale scores, which were used to determine health utilities measured by quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. A decision tree model with one-way and two-way sensitivity analyses compared the cost of primary ACLR with a concomitant LET, independent autograft ALLR, or independent allograft ALLR. Costs were estimated using a combination of QALYs, institution prices, literature references, and a survey sent to 49 internationally-recognized high-volume knee surgeons. FINDINGS: A total of 2,505 knees undergoing primary ACLR with concomitant LET (n = 1,162) or ALLR (n = 1,343) were identified from 22 studies. There were 77 total ACL graft failures with comparable failure rates between patients receiving LET versus ALLR (2.9% vs. 3.2%, P = .690). The average QALYs gained was slightly higher for those who received LET (0.77) compared to ALLR (0.75). Survey results revealed a 5-minute longer median self-reported operative time for ALLR (20 minutes) than LET (15 minutes). The estimated costs for LET, autograft ALLR, and allograft ALLR were $1,015, $1,295, and $3,068, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Anterolateral augmentation during primary ACLR with LET is more cost-effective than independent autograft and allograft ALLR given the lower costs and comparable clinical outcomes. Surgeons may utilize this information when determining the optimal approach to anterolateral augmentation during primary ACLR, although differences in preferred technique and health care systems may influence operative efficiency and material costs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review; Level of evidence, IV.

Around-the-knee osteotomies part 1: definitions, rationale and planning-state of the art.

Knee osteotomies are essential orthopedic procedures with the ability to preserve the joint and correct ligament instabilities. Literature supports the correlation between lower limb malalignment and outcomes after knee ligament reconstruction and cartilage procedures. Concepts such as joint line obliquity, posterior tibial slope angle, and intra-articular deformity correction are integral components of both preoperative planning and postoperative evaluations. The concept of preserving and/or restoring joint line congruence during simultaneous correction of varus or valgus deformity can be achieved through several different approaches. With advancements in osteotomy research and surgical planning technology, the surgical decision-making has increased in complexity. Based upon a patient's specific deformity, decisions need to be made whether to perform a single-level (proximal tibia or distal femur) versus double-level (both proximal tibia and distal femur) osteotomy, and whether to correct deformity in a single plane (coronal or sagittal) or perform a biplanar osteotomy, correcting two of the malalignments in either coronal, sagittal, or axial planes. Osteotomy procedures prioritize safety, reproducibility, precision, and meticulous planning. Equally important is the proactive management of possible complications and the implementation of preventive strategies for complications such as hinge fractures and unintentional changes to alignment in other planes. This review navigates the intricate landscape of lower limb alignment, commencing with foundational definitions and rationale for performing osteotomies, progressing through the planning phase, and addressing the critical aspect of complication prevention, all while looking ahead to anticipate future advancements in this field. However, rotational osteotomies and tibial tubercle osteotomies in isolation or as an adjunct procedure are beyond the scope of this review.

The Expanding Use of Knee Osteotomies in the Treatment of Malalignment and Joint Preservation.

This review highlights the expanding use of knee-based osteotomies in the treatment of knee joint malalignment and joint preservation. Planning and outcomes of traditional high tibial osteotomies and distal femoral osteotomies are discussed in addition to some of the challenges encountered with these procedures. Lastly, the role of patient-specific instrumentation and three-dimensional guided templating in performing osteotomies is discussed with respect to procedures that involve biplanar corrections and those performed in combination with other joint preservation procedures.

Bone Health Evaluations and Secondary Fragility Fractures in Hip Fracture Patients.

Purpose: This study sought to examine the utilization of bone health evaluations in geriatric hip fracture patients and identify risk factors for the development of future fragility fractures. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of patients ≥55 years who underwent surgical management of a hip fracture between September 2015 and July 2019 were identified. Chart review was performed to evaluate post-injury follow-up, performance of a bone health evaluation, and use of osteoporosis-related diagnostic and pharmacologic treatment. Results: A total of 832 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 81.2±9.9 years. Approximately 21% of patients underwent a comprehensive bone health evaluation. Of this cohort, 64.7% were started on pharmacologic therapy, and 73 patients underwent bone mineral density testing. Following discharge from the hospital, 70.3% of the patients followed-up on an outpatient basis with 95.7% seeing orthopedic surgery for post-fracture care. Overall, 102 patients (12.3%) sustained additional fragility fractures within two years, and 31 of these patients (3.7%) sustained a second hip fracture. There was no difference in the rate of second hip fractures or other additional fragility fractures based on the use of osteoporosis medications. Conclusion: Management of osteoporosis in geriatric hip fracture patients could be improved. Outpatient follow-up post-hip fracture is almost 70%, yet a minority of patients were started on osteoporosis medications and many sustained additional fragility fractures. The findings of this study indicate that orthopedic surgeons have an opportunity to lead the charge in treatment of osteoporosis in the post-fracture setting.

Measure Twice, Cut Once: The Future of Digitally Planned Knee Osteotomies.

It is important to highlight the use of patient-specific cutting guides for knee joint osteotomies. Rationale, pitfalls, and planning of conventional osteotomy techniques are examined. The benefits of using patient-specific guides focusing on the potential for improved accuracy, efficiency, and safety are reviewed. The versatility of guides to manipulate the slope in both the coronal and sagittal planes, as well as its ability to accommodate concomitant procedures, is discussed. The time and cost differentials between standard cutting guides and three-dimensional-guided templating are also discussed.

Kinesiophobia and Pain Catastrophizing Leads to Decreased Return to Sport Following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation but Does Not Affect Return to Work.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of fear of reinjury on return to sport (RTS), return to work (RTW), and clinical outcomes following autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients who underwent ACI with a minimum of 2 years in clinical follow-up was conducted. Patient-reported outcomes collected included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing was assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), respectively. Patients were surveyed on their RTS and RTW status. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (50.9% female) were included in our analysis. Twenty-two (38.6%) patients did not RTS. Of the 35 patients (61.4%) who returned, nearly half (48.6%) returned at a lower level of play. TSK-11 (P = 0.003), PCS (P = 0.001), and VAS pain scores (P < 0.001) were significantly greater in patients that did not RTS than in those who returned. All KOOS subscores analyzed were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in patients that did not RTS than in those who returned at the same level or higher. Of the 44 (77.2%) patients previously employed, 97.7% returned to work. Increasing TSK-11 scores were associated with lower odds of returning to sport (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Fear of reinjury decreases the likelihood that patients will return to sport after ACI. Patients that do not return to sport report significantly greater levels of fear of reinjury and pain catastrophizing and lower clinical knee outcomes. Nearly all patients were able to return to work after surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV case series.

Patients who undergo bilateral medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction return to sport at a similar rate as those that undergo unilateral reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Lateral patellar instability is a debilitating condition not only to athletes, but also to a wide range of highly active individuals. Many of these patients experience symptoms bilaterally, though it is unknown how these patients fair with return to sports following a second medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rate of return to sport following bilateral MPFLR compared to a unilateral comparison group. METHODS: Patients who underwent primary MPFLR with minimum 2-year follow-up were identified from 2014 to 2020 at an academic center. Those who underwent primary MPFLR of bilateral knees were identified. Pre-injury sport participation and Tegner score, Kujala score, Visual Analog Score (VAS) for pain, satisfaction, and MPFL-Return to Sport after Injury (MPFL-RSI) scale were collected. Bilateral and unilateral MPFLRs were matched in a 1:2 ratio based on age, sex, body mass index, and concomitant tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO). A sub-analysis was performed regarding concomitant TTO. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 63 patients, including 21 patients who underwent bilateral MPFLR, matched to 42 unilateral patients at mean follow-up of 47 ± 27 months. Patients who underwent bilateral MPFLR returned to sport at a rate of 62% at a mean of 6.0 ± 2.3 months, compared to a unilateral rate of 72% at 8.1 ± 4.2 months (n.s.). The rate of return to pre-injury level was 43% among bilateral patients and 38% in the unilateral cohort. There were no significant differences in VAS pain, Kujala, current Tegner, satisfaction, and MPFL-RSI scores between cohorts. Approximately half of those (47%) who failed to return to sport cited psychological factors and had significantly lower MPFL-RSI scores (36.6 vs 74.2, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent bilateral MPFLR returned to sports at a similar rate and level compared to a unilateral comparison group. MPFL-RSI was found to be significantly associated with return to sport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Characterizing femoroacetabular impingement in professional Nordic Skiers.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown a high prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) among elite athletes yet there is a paucity of data on FAI in Nordic skiers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of radiographic FAI in professional Nordic Combined Skiers and Ski jumpers compared to controls and assess functional outcomes including hip range of motion (ROM) and pain in patients with radiographic evidence of FAI compared to those without it. METHODS: A cohort of elite Nordic Skiers underwent medical history, physical examination, and pelvic radiographs at their visit with a fellowship-trained sports medicine physician. On pelvis radiographs, Alpha angle>55 degrees was deemed cam-positive, and positive crossover signs, Tönnis<0, or LCEA>40 were deemed pincer positive. Further stratification was performed by sex, ski event type, hip pain, presence of cam lesions, and presence of pincer lesions. Spearman correlation matrix was performed to measure the association between radiographic measurements and ROM. RESULTS: Nineteen Nordic skiers and nineteen age, sex, and BMI matched controls were included in the study. There were no significant differences in age, sex, BMI, and hip pain between groups. While Nordic skiers demonstrated decreased ROM bilaterally on external rotation compared to controls, skiers had larger ROM bilaterally on extension, abduction, adduction compared to controls. Skiers were significantly more likely to have bilateral crossover sign and alpha angles>55 compared to controls. Subgroup analysis showed that Cam positive patients had higher flexion and adduction ROM and pincer positive patients had significantly higher flexion and abduction ROM compared to patients without cam and pincer lesions respectively. Patients with hip pain had significantly lower right hip abduction ROM compared to patients without hip pain. No significant correlations were seen between radiographic measurements and ROM. CONCLUSION: Similar to other elite 'hip heavy' sport athletes, Nordic skiers gave a notably higher prevalence of radiographic cam and pincer type morphology and significantly higher ROM compared to nonathletic controls. Clinicians evaluating Nordic skiers should be aware of these baseline findings with respect to a possible elevated long-term risk of symptomatic FAI in these athletes as well as other conditions related to radiographic FAI.

Characterization of pincer-type Hip impingement in professional women's ice hockey players.

OBJECTIVE: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) appears common in ice hockey, but there is a lack of data examining pincer-type impingement in women's ice hockey athletes. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of pincer-type impingement in National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) athletes. Our hypothesis was that there would be an increased prevalence of pincer impingement in these athletes. METHODS: Data were gathered for a team of NWHL players, and age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) matched controls were also retrospectively collected. All subjects were above 18 years of age. Control patients were excluded if they had undergone prior hip surgery, were greater than age 30, or had BMI greater than 35. Radiographs of both groups were assessed for lateral center edge angle (LCEA), Tönnis angle, and crossover sign. Tönnis angle <0 or LCEA >40 degrees was considered pincer morphology. An alpha angle >55 degrees was considered cam morphology. RESULTS: Thirty-seven NWHL players and 37 female controls were included. Overall 32% of the players had a pincer lesion in either hip based on LCEA, 8% had a Tönnis angle <0, and 22% had a crossover sign in either hip compared to 9%, 19%, and 13% for the controls, respectively. None of these findings were significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). An alpha angle ≥55 degrees in either hip was found in 84% of players, but lateral Dunn images for alpha angle measurements were not available for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Pincer-type morphology and crossover signs were present in a larger portion of NWHL players than has been reported in the general population, but these findings were not statistically different than in the control group. Cam-type morphology was even more prevalent in these athletes and may be related to age at menarche due impingement at the physis prior to closure.

Predicting the Subsequent Contralateral Hip Fracture: Is FRAX the Answer?

OBJECTIVES: To (1) determine the ability of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) to identify the probability of contralateral hip fractures within 2 years of index fracture and (2) identify independent risk factors for a subsequent hip fracture. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Urban, academic medical center. PATIENTS: This study included a consecutive series of patients treated for unilateral hip fractures between September 2015 and July 2019. RESULTS: Eight hundred thirty-two consecutive patients were included in the analysis with a mean age of 81.2 ± 9.9 years. Thirty-one (3.7%) patients sustained a contralateral hip fracture within 2 years with these patients sustaining the second fracture at a mean 294.1 days ± 197.7 days. The average FRAX score for the entire cohort was 11.9 ± 7.4, and the area under receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for FRAX score was 0.682 (95% CI, 0.596-0.767). Patients in the high-risk FRAX group had a >7% risk of contralateral hip fracture within 2 years. Independent risk factors for contralateral hip fracture risk included patient age 80 years or older and decreasing BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the strong ability of the FRAX score to triage patients at risk of subsequent contralateral hip fracture within 2 years. In this high-risk FRAX group, patients age older than 80 years and who have decreasing BMI after their index fracture have a 12.5% increased risk of fracture within 2 years which is 4× higher than the current World Health Organization 10-year 3% hip fracture risk standard used to initiate pharmacologic treatment. Therefore, high-risk patients identified using this methodology should be targeted more aggressively with preventative measures including social, medical, and potentially surgical interventions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Orthopedic Surgery Resident Development and Implementation of a Virtual High-School Mentorship Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, health care providers are committed to providing care not only to our patients but also to our community. Schools in New York City (NYC) went remote on March 15, 2020. This can prove detrimental to student development and education. Numerous leaders in education and public health have noted that the remote learning will further widen educational and income disparities in those from underserved and underrepresented areas. A group of orthopedic residents who attended NYC public schools and were current house staff at a major academic tertiary medical center in NYC developed and implemented a virtual high-school mentorship program. This program incorporated weekly lectures and discussions given by health care providers to students interested in health care from NYC public high schools. The goal of this program was to provide mentorship during the COVID pandemic to a high-school audience where greater than 80% of students are considered to be living below the poverty level. Although school is now back in session, these programs should be continued in person. It is the aim of the authors that other orthopedic residents and health care providers implement similar programs in their communities.

Mask Use for Athletes: A Systematic Review of Safety and Performance Outcomes.

CONTEXT: With the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for mask use to minimize transmission of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) coupled with concern for future pandemics that would require mask wearing, providing data-driven guidance with respect to athletic performance is essential. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of existing literature on the use of face masks while exercising to assess the physiologic effects of face masks worn during athletic activities. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was conducted of studies on face mask use during exercise according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Potential studies were identified through searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL databases. STUDY SELECTION: Screening was completed independently by 2 coauthors who sought to identify studies that described the effects of oronasal mask use, if any, on sports/exercise/physical activity, for any age, gender, or level of sport. Articles describing mask effects without exercise, articles published before 1980, and non-English language studies were excluded. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction focused on physiologic parameters measured during physical activity performed while wearing a face mask. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles met all inclusion criteria. Study analysis revealed that the use of masks in healthy volunteers during exercise had no significant effect on physiologic parameters measured including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation, and perceived exertion. Of the studies that investigated N95 masks in the healthy adult population, 2 reported modest changes in RR and maximum power output indicative of decreased athletic performance when subjects were exercising at maximum effort. Similar findings were seen in studies of subpopulations including children and pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Available data suggest that healthy individuals can perform moderate-to-vigorous exercise while wearing a face mask without experiencing changes in HR, RR, and oxygen saturation that would compromise individual safety or athletic performance. In the specific situation in which an N95 mask is worn, maximum power generated may be impaired. WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUBJECT: To date, there has been no systematic review of the existing literature to provide a clear consensus on whether face mask use significantly impacts athletic performance. Mask use has been demonstrated safe in the workplace; however, the use of face masks during exercise has not been examined on a large scale, particularly with respect to physiologic parameters. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE: This analysis highlights that available data suggest that healthy individuals can perform heavy exercise in face masks with minimal physiologic changes. This is the first systematic review of studies analyzing exercise use wearing masks. With the evidence presented here commonly cited concerns about both safety and performance decrements with mask use during physical activities may be allayed.

Flexible Nailing of Pediatric Both Bone Forearm Fracture.

SUMMARY: This is the case of a 12-year-old boy presented with a displaced radial and ulnar shaft fracture. Historically, these fractures were managed conservatively with closed reduction and cast immobilization; however, there has been an increasing trend toward operative fixation. Malalignment is an indication for operative fixation of pediatric both bone forearm fractures. Flexible nailing was performed in this case because of the small incisions, minimal tissue disruption, shorter operative time, and ease of implant removal. Five years postoperatively, the patient's fracture was healed. Patient presented with an excellent clinical outcome including full range of motion and no pain. He had full strength of his arm and no deficits.

Intra-articular Distal Humerus Fractures: Parallel Versus Orthogonal Plating.

Background: Dual-plating osteosynthesis is the standard treatment for Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA)-type 13-C distal humerus fractures. However, optimal plate position is debated. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dual-plate positioning following intra-articular distal humerus fracture repair by comparing outcomes between patients plated in parallel and those plated orthogonally following open-reduction, internal-fixation (ORIF) of intra-articular distal humerus fractures. Methods: All OTA-type 13-C intra-articular distal humerus fractures treated operatively at our institution over a 10-year period were reviewed. Clinical outcomes and complications were compared between those plated in parallel and those plated orthogonally. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact tests. Results: A total of 69 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up among this cohort was 19.3 months; 45 (64.8%) patients had orthogonal dual plating, and 24 (35.2%) had parallel plating. Groups did not differ with respect to demographics or duration of follow-up. Clinically, there were no significant differences in time to union, elbow arc of motion at any time point, or patient Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) scores at final follow-up. Furthermore, there were no differences in complications. Conclusion: Parallel and orthogonal plating following ORIF of distal humerus fractures with modern, contoured locking compression plates had similar outcomes in this study. This study represents the largest comparative series in the literature at the time of its writing. Both techniques may be considered when deciding on dual-plating technique for treating intra-articular distal humerus fractures.

Self-Reported Feelings of Disability Following Lower Extremity Orthopaedic Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 20% of Americans consider themselves disabled. A common cause of disability is unexpected orthopaedic trauma. The purpose of this current study, assessing common lower extremity trauma, is the following: to assess the prevalence of self-reported feelings of disability following these injuries, to determine if self-reported feelings of disability impact functional outcomes, and to understand patient characteristics associated with self-reported feelings of disability. METHODS: The functional statuses of patients with tibial plateau fractures and ankle fractures were prospectively assessed. Patient reported feelings of disability (acquired from validated functional outcome surveys), which were compared with overall patient-reported functional outcome and emotional status at each follow-up visit. Additionally, patient demographics were analyzed, to assess associations with feelings of disability. RESULTS: A total of 710 patients were included in our analysis. At short-term follow-up (3 months), a strong positive correlation existed between self-reported feelings of disability and worse functional outcomes (rs = 0.744, P < 0.001). At long-term follow-up (12-months), a strong positive correlation existed between self-reported feelings of disability and worse functional outcomes (rs = 0.741, P < 0.001). Self-reported feelings of disability were associated with increased age at both short-term (P = 0.015) and long-term (P = 0.003) follow-ups. At short-term follow-up, 41% of males and 59% of females self-reported feelings of disability (P < 0.001) No significant differences existed between genders at long-term follow-up (P = 0.252). Self-reported feelings of disability declined at each follow-up visit, from 48.1% at short-term follow-up to 22.1% at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Self-reported feelings of disability, following lower extremity trauma, had strong positive correlations with worse outcomes. Orthopaedic trauma surgeons should be aware of the percentage of patients who feel disabled following lower extremity fractures, and know that this is associated with sub-optimal outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Telemedicine Utilization at an Academic Medical Center During COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Some Patients Being Left Behind?

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the use of telemedicine at one academic health care center during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify opportunities to improve access to this novel delivery method of care. Methods: All patients who underwent telemedicine visits at one urban academic medical center between March 2020 and June 2020 were included. All departments were included including surgical and nonsurgical. Demographic data, primary language, and visit type were collected. Primary zip code was used as surrogate for socioeconomic status through use of the zip code median household income. The demographics of the New York metropolitan area were obtained through the U.S. Census Bureau and used as a control cohort. Results: A total of 362,413 telemedicine visits met inclusion criteria with the majority of visits performed in April and May; 127,851 (35.3%) and 110,166 (30.4%), respectively. The highest performing department was Internal Medicine, which performed 72,796 visits or 20% of the total cohort. In our cohort of telemedicine patients, 59.6% identified as White, 11.4% as Black, and 5.7% as Asian. This is less diverse than the overall population of the metropolitan area, which is 17.5% Black and 11.5% Asian. There was also a large gender gap in the utilization of telemedicine services in general, where women (60.2%) were more likely than men (39.8%) to utilize the virtual visits. In addition, although over a third of patients in the Metropolitan area have median household incomes of <50,000, this population only represented 13.6% of our total cohort. Conclusions: This study highlights both the capability of telemedicine to provide care at a large urban academic medical center during a pandemic in addition to identifying potential gaps in care with telemedicine. The disparities highlighted in our cohort stress the importance of outreach to non-White older patients of lower socioeconomic status.

The role of patients' overall expectations of health on outcomes following proximal humerus fracture repair.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between patients' own health expectations and treatment outcomes following surgical repair of proximal humerus fractures. HYPOTHESIS: Patients' health expectations will correlate with treatment outcomes following surgical repair of proximal humerus fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a 14-year period, 247 patients with a displaced proximal humerus fracture who underwent ORIF with locking compression plates were prospectively followed at one academic institution. Minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Patient-reported functional outcome data for the latest follow up visit (12 months and greater) was obtained from Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaires. Survey responses regarding health expectations were recorded at 3-month follow-up and converted to dichotomous variables. Two groups were identified: the high expectations and the low expectations groups. Statistical analysis comparing the two groups and their functional and clinical outcomes was performed using the independent t-test, using p<0.05 for significance. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated to further statistically characterize the relationship between health expectations at 3 months and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-five (75.0%) patients available for analysis with a mean follow-up length of 24.8 months. The cohort included 124 (67%) females and 61 (33%) males and the average age at time of injury was 59.5 years. Eighty-six (46.5%) patients had low expectations for their overall health and 99 (53.5%) patients had high expectations for their health. No significant differences were seen between groups in regards to age, gender, follow-up length, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), smoking and tobacco use, fracture pattern (OTA and Neer classifications), early complications (p>0.05), fracture healing, and avascular necrosis. The mean DASH score at the latest follow up for patients with low expectations was 31.42±22.8 whereas the mean for those with high expectations was 16.76±20.2 (p<0.0005). The mean forward flexion of the shoulder for patients with low expectations was 137.8±31.5 degrees as compared to 148.5±26.3 degrees (p<0.05). The positive predictive value of good expectations correlating with good outcomes was 71.7%. DISCUSSION: Patients with high expectations for their health early following injury had better outcomes in the long term. These high expectations also appeared to have an optimal influence on range of shoulder motion. This data suggests attitudinal and psychological factors that affect patient health expectations early on in the course of treatment may also influence patients' functional and clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II; Retrospective Study.