Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Musculoskeletal Care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides a review of recent published research studying racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric musculoskeletal care. RECENT FINDINGS: Disparities in pediatric musculoskeletal care are demonstrated in two general realms: access to care and health outcomes. Though initiatives have been proposed or enacted to address disparities, underrepresented minorities and patients from lower socioeconomic statuses continue to face barriers across the spectrum of orthopedic care and poorer ultimate outcomes after both non-operative and operative management. Minority pediatric patients and those from lower socioeconomic statuses experience delays across the spectrum of orthopedic care for both urgent and non-urgent conditions. They wait longer between injury date and initial orthopedic evaluation, longer to receipt of diagnostic imaging, and longer to ultimate treatment than their counterparts. When finally able to obtain musculoskeletal care and treatment, they are at higher risk of poor in-hospital outcomes and inpatient complications, worse patient reported outcomes, and suboptimal pain management. In the outpatient setting, they receive less physical therapy and follow-up clinic visits, resulting in greater stiffness and strength deficits, and are ultimately less likely to meet return to sport criteria.

Acute pain consult and management is associated with improved mortality in rib fracture patients.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic rib fractures result in significant patient morbidity and mortality, which increases with patient age and number of rib fractures. A dedicated acute pain service (APS) providing expertize in multimodal pain management may reduce these risks and improve outcomes. We aimed to test the hypothesis that protocolized APS consultation decreases mortality and morbidity in traumatic rib fracture patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational, propensity-matched cohort study of adult patients with trauma with rib fractures from 2012 to 2015, at a single, large level 1 trauma center corresponding to introduction and incorporation of APS consultation into the institutional rib fracture pathway. Using electronic medical records and trauma registry data, we identified adult patients presenting with traumatic rib fractures. Patients with hospital length of stay (LOS) ≥2 days were split into two cohorts based on presence of APS consult using 1:1 propensity matching of age, gender, comorbidities and injury severity. The primary outcome was difference in hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included LOS and pulmonary morbidity. RESULTS: 2486 patients were identified, with a final matched cohort of 621 patients receiving APS consult and 621 control patients. The mortality rate was 1.8% among consult patients and 6.6% among control patients (adjusted OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.50; p=0.001). The average treatment effect of consult on mortality was 4.8% (95% CI 1.2% to 8.5%;. p<0.001). APS consultation was associated with increased intensive care unit (ICU) LOS (1.19 day; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.90; p=0.001) and hospital LOS (1.61 days; 95% CI 0.81 to 2.41 days; p<0.001). No difference in pulmonary complications was observed. DISCUSSION: An APS consult in rib fracture patients is associated with decreased mortality and no difference in pulmonary complications yet increased ICU and hospital LOS.

Complication to consider: delayed traumatic hemothorax in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests older adults may experience subtle hemothoraces that progress over several days. Delayed progression and delayed development of traumatic hemothorax (dHTX) have not been well characterized. We hypothesized dHTX would be infrequent but associated with factors that may aid prediction. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed adults aged ≥50 years diagnosed with dHTX after rib fractures at two level 1 trauma centers (March 2018 to September 2019). dHTX was defined as HTX discovered ≥48 hours after admission chest CT showed either no or 'minimal/trace' HTX. Two blinded, board-certified radiologists reviewed inpatient chest imaging and classified injury patterns according to Chest Wall Injury Society (CWIS) taxonomy. Descriptive analysis was performed for demographic and hospitalization characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 14 patients with pooled dHTX rate of 1.3%. After initial chest CT negative for concerning hemothoraces, the patients did not undergo follow-up imaging until new symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain) developed: eight (57%) were not diagnosed until after discharge from initial hospitalization (mean (range): 9 (2-20) days after discharge). Aspirin and/or anticoagulants were involved in fewer than half of cases (43%). According to CWIS taxonomy, all patients had a series of posterolateral fractures with at least one offset or displaced fracture, and an average of six consecutive rib fractures. All patients underwent tube thoracostomy and six patients (42%)-all aged <65-underwent operative interventions. DISCUSSION: Preliminary data suggest older adults with rib fractures may be at risk of experiencing delayed progression of trace hemothoraces or a delayed presentation of hemothoraces. Asymptomatic progression or readmission to other services/hospitals likely occurs and true dHTX rates are likely higher. Our preliminary findings suggest a possible anatomic explanation for severe chest wall injury patterns' association with dHTX. Further characterization and capturing the true incidence of dHTX first requires wider recognition of this complication.

Impact of a New Helicopter Base on Transport Time and Survival in a Rural Adult Trauma Population.

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities in access to prompt helicopter transport exist among rural trauma populations. We evaluated the impact of an additional helicopter base on transport time and mortality in a rural adult trauma population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with trauma transported by helicopter from scene to a level one trauma center between 2014 and 2018. A new rural helicopter base added to the trauma center's catchment area in 2016 served as the transition time for an interrupted time series analysis. Patients injured in this base's county and adjoining counties were analyzed. Baseline characteristics were compared with a Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-squared test. Cox and linear regression models evaluated the new base's effect on mortality and transport time, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 332 patients were analyzed: 120 (36.1%) transported before the addition of the new helicopter base and 212 (63.9%) transported after. Patients transported after the addition of the base had higher injury severity score (13.7 versus 10.1, P < 0.001) and were more likely to receive blood en route (19.3% versus 6.7%, P = 0.005). After the addition of the base, there was a decreased hazard ratio for mortality (hazard ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.65, P = 0.004) with no significant change in transport time (-36.7 min, P = 0.071) for the area. CONCLUSIONS: Local helicopter transport units may confer improved survival for the injured patient. This study demonstrates the important role of helicopter transport within a regional trauma system and the impact that expanded access to rapid air transport can have on mortality.

Cerebellar mutism after posterior fossa tumor resection in children: a multicenter international retrospective study to determine possible modifiable factors.

PURPOSE: A preliminary survey of pediatric neurosurgeons working at different centers around the world suggested differences in clinical practice resulting in variation in the risk of pediatric cerebellar mutism (CM) and cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) after posterior fossa (PF) tumor resection. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the incidence and severity of CM and CMS after midline PF tumor resection in children treated at these centers and (2) to identify potentially modifiable factors related to surgical management (rather than tumor biology) that correlate with the incidence of CM/CMS. METHODS: Attending pediatric neurosurgeons at British Columbia's Children's Hospital (BCCH) and neurosurgeons who completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at BCCH were invited to provide data from the center where they currently practiced. Children aged from birth to less than 18 years who underwent initial midline PF tumor resection within a contemporary, center-selected 2-year period were included. Data was obtained by retrospective chart and imaging review. Modifiable surgical factors that were assessed included pre-resection surgical hydrocephalus treatment, surgical positioning, ultrasonic aspirator use, intraoperative external ventricular drain (EVD) use, surgical access route to the tumor, and extent of resection. CM was defined as decreased or absent speech output postoperatively and CMS as CM plus new or worsened irritability. RESULTS: There were 263 patients from 11 centers in 6 countries (Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, India, Indonesia, and the USA). Median age at surgery was 6 years (range < 1 to 17 years). The overall incidence of postoperative CM was 23.5% (range 14.7-47.6% for centers with data on ≥ 20 patients). The overall incidence of CMS was 6.5% (range 0-10.3% for centers contributing data on ≥ 20 patients). A multivariate logistic regression on the full data set showed no significant association between pre-resection surgical hydrocephalus treatment, prone position, ultrasonic aspirator use, EVD use, telovelar approach, complete or near total resection, or treating center and either postoperative CM or CMS. CONCLUSIONS: While there was variation in surgical management of midline PF tumors among centers participating in this study, the factors in management that were examined did not predict postoperative CM or CMS.

Complication rates for preexisting baclofen pumps and ventricular shunts following scoliosis correction: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE Many patients undergoing spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis have preexisting neurosurgical implants, including ventricular shunts (VSs) for hydrocephalus and baclofen pumps (BPs) for spastic cerebral palsy. Recent studies have discussed a possible increase in implant complication rates following spinal fusion, but published data are inconclusive. The authors therefore, sought to investigate: 1) the rate of implant complications following fusion, 2) possible causes of these complications, and 3) factors that place patients at higher risk for implant-related complications. METHODS Cases involving pediatric patients with a preexisting VS or BP who underwent spinal fusion for scoliosis correction between 2005 and 2016 at a single tertiary children's hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, implant characteristics, spinal fusion details, neurosurgical follow-up, and implant complications in the 180 days following fusion were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS Overall, 75 patients who underwent scoliosis correction had preexisting implants: 39 had BPs, 31 VSs, and 5 both. The patients' mean age at fusion was 13.49 ± 2.78 years (range 3.62-18.81 years), and the mean time from the most recent previous implant surgery to fusion was 5.70 ± 4.65 years (range 0.10-17.3 years). The mean preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles were 62.4° ± 18.9° degrees (range 20.9°-109.0°) and 23.5° ± 13.3° degrees (range 2.00°-67.3°), respectively. No VS complications were identified. Two patients with BPs were found to have complications (unintentional cutting of their BP catheter during posterior spinal fusion) within 180 days postfusion. There were no recorded neurosurgical implant infections, failures, fractures, or dislodgements. Although 10 patients required at least 1 surgical procedure for irrigation and debridement of the spine wound following fusion, there were no abdominal or cranial implant wound infections requiring revision, and no implants required removal. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that spinal fusion for scoliosis correction does not increase the rates of complications involving previously placed neurosurgical implants. A large-scale, prospective, multicenter study is needed to fully explore and confirm this finding.

Unplanned readmission within 90 days after pediatric neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE Readmission and return to operating room after surgery are increasingly being used as a proxy for quality of care. Nearly 60% of these readmissions are unplanned, which translates into billions of dollars in health care costs. The authors set out to analyze the incidence of readmission at their center, to define causes of unplanned readmission, and to determine the preoperative and surgical variables associated with readmissions following pediatric neurosurgery. METHODS A total of 536 children who underwent operations for neurosurgical diagnoses between 2012 and 2015 and who were later readmitted were included in the final analysis. Unplanned readmissions were defined to have occurred as a result of complications within 90 days after index surgery. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the primary diagnosis, surgery indication, and cause of readmission and return to operating room. The cost for index hospitalization, readmission episode, and total cost were derived based on the charges obtained from administrative data. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. RESULTS Of 536 patients readmitted in total, 17.9% (n = 96) were readmitted within 90 days. Of the overall readmissions, 11.9% (n = 64) were readmitted within 30 days, and 5.97% (n = 32) were readmitted between 31 and 90 days. The median duration between discharge and readmission was 20 days (first quartile [Q1]: 9 days, third quartile [Q3]: 36 days). The most common reason for readmission was shunt related (8.2%, n = 44), followed by wound infection (4.7%, n = 25). In the risk-adjusted multivariable logistic regression model for total 90-day readmission, patients with the following characteristics: younger age (p = 0.001, OR 0.886, 95% CI 0.824-0.952); "other" (nonwhite, nonblack) race (p = 0.024, OR 5.49, 95% CI 1.246-24.2); and those born preterm (p = 0.032, OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.12) had higher odds of being readmitted within 90 days after discharge. The total median cost for patients undergoing surgery in this study cohort was $11,520 (Q1: $7103, Q3: $19,264). For the patients who were readmitted, the median cost for a readmission episode was $8981 (Q1: $5051, Q3: $18,713). CONCLUSIONS Unplanned 90-day readmissions in pediatric neurosurgery are primarily due to CSF-related complications. Patients with the following characteristics: young age at presentation; "other" race; and children born preterm have a higher likelihood of being readmitted within 90 days after surgery. The median cost was > $8000, which suggests that the readmission episode can be as expensive as the index hospitalization. Clearly, readmission reduction has the potential for significant cost savings in pediatric neurosurgery. Future efforts, such as targeted education related to complication signs, should be considered in the attempt to reduce unplanned events. Given the single-center, retrospective study design, the results of this study are primarily applicable to this population and cannot necessarily be generalized to other institutions without further study.