Over 30% of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Focused on Rotator Cuff Tear Treatments Contained Spin in the Abstract.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of spin in the abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on treatments for rotator cuff tears and whether various study and publishing journal characteristics were associated with the presence of spin. METHODS: A search strategy was developed for Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase to retrieve systematic reviews focused on treatments for rotator cuff tears. For an article to be included, it must meet the following criteria: (1) the article must be a systematic review with or without a meta-analysis, (2) the article must pertain to the treatment of rotator cuff tears, (3) the article must only contain human subjects, and (4) the article must be accessible in English. Systematic reviews were analyzed for spin using a previously developed classification scheme in a masked, duplicate manner. Binary logistic regression was used to examine independent associations via unadjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals between the presence of spin and study characteristics. RESULTS: Search queries returned 932 articles, of which 121 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were eligible. A total of 36.4% (44/121) of systematic reviews contained spin. Among the general characteristics evaluated, there were no correlations with spin. CONCLUSIONS: Spin was present in more than one-third of systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering rotator cuff tear treatments. Spin was not associated with any general study or journal characteristics, which indicates that clinicians must be aware of the potential presence of spin in all such abstracts. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians rely on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, especially abstracts of these articles, to provide succinct guidance on best practices in patient care. The presence of spin could adversely affect patient care; thus, steps should be taken to improve the reporting quality of abstracts on rotator cuff tear treatment.

The 23-point arthroscopic examination of the hip: basic setup, portal placement, and surgical technique.

The 23-point arthroscopic examination of the hip has been used for more than 400 arthroscopic hip procedures. It ensures that all components of the hip are carefully inspected and allows for proper documentation. It is vital that a precise knowledge of hip anatomy and common portal placement is coupled with proper patient selection, sound preoperative planning, and a consistent arthroscopic technique in order to maximize clinical outcomes. The 23-point arthroscopic examination of the hip uses 3 standard portals (anterior, anterolateral, and posterolateral) that provide a systematic method of examination of the key structures of the central and peripheral hip joint. The points are divided up into groups based on the portal through which they are viewed. The 23-point arthroscopic examination of the hip is reproducible, and offers some standardization within the evolving field of hip arthroscopy. It provides a consistent routine for hip arthroscopy that has yet to be published. Using this standardized examination can assist with the diagnostic accuracy of hip arthroscopy.

Development of a Hazard Classification Scheme for Substances Used in the Fraudulent Adulteration of Foods.

Food fraud, the intentional misrepresentation of the true identity of a food product or ingredient for economic gain, is a threat to consumer confidence and public health and has received increased attention from both regulators and the food industry. Following updates to food safety certification standards and publication of new U.S. regulatory requirements, we undertook a project to (i) develop a scheme to classify food fraud-related adulterants based on their potential health hazard and (ii) apply this scheme to the adulterants in a database of 2,970 food fraud records. The classification scheme was developed by a panel of experts in food safety and toxicology from the food industry, academia, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Categories and subcategories were created through an iterative process of proposal, review, and validation using a subset of substances known to be associated with the fraudulent adulteration of foods. Once developed, the scheme was applied to the adulterants in the database. The resulting scheme included three broad categories: 1, potentially hazardous adulterants; 2, adulterants that are unlikely to be hazardous; and 3, unclassifiable adulterants. Categories 1 and 2 consisted of seven subcategories intended to further define the range of hazard potential for adulterants. Application of the scheme to the 1,294 adulterants in the database resulted in 45% of adulterants classified in category 1 (potentially hazardous). Twenty-seven percent of the 1,294 adulterants had a history of causing consumer illness or death, were associated with safety-related regulatory action, or were classified as allergens. These results reinforce the importance of including a consideration of food fraud-related adulterants in food safety systems. This classification scheme supports food fraud mitigation efforts and hazard identification as required in the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls Rules.

Fibrin glue fixation of a digital osteochondral fracture: case report and review of the literature.

Surgical treatment options for digital osteochondral fractures are limited by the small amount of bone available for fixation and the propensity for digital stiffness with the introduction of hardware. Fibrin sealant is used in a variety of clinical settings as a biologic bonding agent and may circumvent the drawbacks of traditional fixation or simple excision for certain digital osteochondral injuries. Successful use of fibrin sealant fixation for a patient with an osteochondral fracture involving the proximal interphalangeal joint is documented, and the literature on fibrin sealant for osseous fixation is reviewed.