PROMIS Utilization in Pediatric Orthopaedics: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: The lack of a common patient-reported outcome metric used among the orthopaedic population is a problem that has been previously identified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was developed by the National Institute of Health with the goal of creating a precise and efficient measurement tool for patient-reported symptoms, functioning, and health-related quality of life to be used in clinical research. A study summarizing its use in the pediatric orthopaedic population has not been previously performed. METHODS: We performed a literature search of Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 2010 to August 2021. There were 1961 unique citations included after the removal of 1756 duplicates. After initial screening, 183 studies were screened under full-text review leaving a final number of 51 studies included in this scoping review. RESULTS: Pediatric PROMIS studies were grouped by body part or sub-speciality: "Hand and Upper Extremity" (25.5%, n=13), "Sports" (23.5%, n=12), "Spine" (13.7%, n=7), "Trauma" (13.7%, n=7), "General Pediatric Orthopaedics" (11.8%, n=6), "Lower Extremity" (9.8%, n=5), and "Orthopaedic Oncology" (2%, n=1). An increase in studies utilizing PROMIS was seen throughout the study period with only 3 studies published from 2013 to 2016 to 39 in 2020 and 2021 alone. The 3 most frequently used pediatric PROMIS domains were Pain Interference (76.5%, n=39/51), Mobility (60.8%, n=31/51), and Upper Extremity (54.9%, n=28/51). 64.3% (n=9/14) of the included studies which reported on the floor effects of Pain Interference exhibited a significant floor effect. In all, 77.8% (n=7/9) of the included studies which reported on ceiling effects of Upper Extremity exhibited a significant ceiling effect. CONCLUSION: The use of PROMIS increased significantly since the first publication in 2013 suggesting orthopaedic providers have increasingly utilized PROMIS in their day-to-day practice as an outcome measure. Ceiling and floor effects were prominent in several of the included domains (Pain Interference and Upper Extremity). Overall, PROMIS measures are efficient, reliable, and effective to use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The effects of race/ethnicity and physician recommendation for physical activity on physical activity levels and arthritis symptoms among adults with arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Among U.S. adults with physician-diagnosed arthritis, we examined the association of 1) participant race/ethnicity with meeting physical activity guidelines and arthritis symptoms, and 2) the association of receipt of a physician exercise recommendation with physical activity levels and arthritis symptoms, and whether race/ethnicity moderates these associations. METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional study of National Health Interview Survey pooled data from 2002, 2006, 2009, and 2014 from 27,887 U.S. adults aged ≥18 years with arthritis. Outcomes were meeting aerobic (yes/no) and strengthening guidelines (yes/no), arthritis-associated activity limitations (yes/no) and arthritis-related pain (0-10; higher score = more pain). Predictors were race/ethnicity (White, African American, Latino, and Asian) and receipt of physician recommendation for exercise (yes/no). Covariates included demographic and health characteristics. RESULTS: Adjusting for covariates, African Americans were more likely (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI 1.12, 1.43) and Asians were less likely (AOR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.61, 0.92) than Whites to meet muscle strengthening activity guidelines. Compared to Whites, African Americans (B = 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.72) and Latinos (B = 0.44; 95% CI 0.15, 0.72) reported more severe, while Asians reported less severe (B = -0.68; 95% CI -1.22, - 0.14) joint pain. Controlling for covariates, physician exercise recommendation was associated with meeting aerobic (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.11, 1.30) and strengthening (AOR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.11, 1.33) guidelines, regardless of race/ethnicity except for a weak negative association with meeting strengthening guidelines (AOR = 0.85; CI 0.74-0.99) among Latinos. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in pain exist for African Americans and Latinos with arthritis. Physician exercise recommendation is critical among patients with arthritis to relieve symptom burden.

Sport-related Structural Brain Injury in High School and College American Football Athletes, 2002-2020: Effect of Lystedt Law.

BACKGROUND: A previous report revealed an average of 7.2 (0.67 per 100,000 participants) sport-related structural brain injuries (SRSBIs) with macroscopic lesions per year in high school (HS) and college football players. The Lystedt law and other rule changes have been implemented with intent to reduce the risk of brain injury in football. HYPOTHESIS: To update the profile of SRSBIs in HS and college football players and evaluate the efficacy of legislation intended to reduce brain injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 18 academic years (July 2002 through June 2020) of SRSBIs catalogued by the National Registry of Catastrophic Sports Injuries. The incidence of SRSBIs was assessed at the HS level during the pre (July 2002 through June 2009), transitional (July 2009 through June 2014), and post (July 2014 through June 2020) universal adoption time periods of the Lystedt law. In addition, the incidence of SRSBIs during the second half of the study (2011-2012 through 2019-2020) was compared with the first half of the study (2002-2003 through 2010-2011). RESULTS: During the study period, there was a total of 228 SRSBIs (12.7 per year, 1.01 per 100,000 participants): 212 (93%, 11.8 per year, 1.00 per 100,000) in HS athletes and 16 (7%, 0.89 per year, 1.17 per 100,000) in college athletes. There were 52 fatalities (2.9 per year, 0.22 per 100,000 participants) with 46 (2.56 per year, 0.22 per 100,000) in HS athletes and 6 (0.33 per year, 0.43/100,000) in college athletes. There was no significant difference in risk of HS total SRSBIs or fatalities during the 3 Lystedt periods. The risk of combined SRSBI cases [relative risk (RR) = 1.22, P = 0.13] and fatalities (RR = 1.20, P = 0.52) was similar in the second half of the study compared with the first half of the study. CONCLUSION: Despite implementation of rule changes intended to reduce head injury, in particular the Lystedt law, the incidence of SRSBIs has remained unchanged. Further research is necessary to develop effective prevention programs for SRSBIs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SRSBIs remain a persistent problem in HS and college American football. The recent head injury rule changes have not been effective at reducing SRSBIs.

Ergonomic assessment of robotic general surgeons: a pilot study.

Inadequacies exist in the ergonomics of upper body positioning of robotic surgeons; these deficits in biomechanical efficacy predispose surgeons to musculoskeletal injury. Ergonomics and biomechanics may be objectively measured using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to quantify ergonomic efficacy. The purpose of this study is to use validated ergonomic tools to assess the posture of robotic surgeons to examine deficiencies. Four robotic surgeons using the da Vinci model were observed for a minimum of 30 min each. An Xbox connect camera was positioned 10 feet away from the surgeon console. Kinetisense software measured position of the head, shoulders, mid-spine, hips, and knees. One image was captured every 30 s. The software measured the positions in centimeters that deviated from an ideal central postural line (plumb line). RULA and REBA were also employed to assess posture using a still image at 15 min. The average RULA score for the four surgeons was 4.75 (range 3-6). The average REBA score for the four surgeons was 7 (range 5-8). The average RULA score of 4.5/7 and the average REBA of 7/15 qualify as medium risk with the recommendation that action is needed to improve ergonomics. While this pilot study is limited in size, it demonstrates the need for further investigation. With more than half of surgeons reporting musculoskeletal pain after robotic surgery (McDonald et al. in Gynecol Oncol 134:243-247, 2014), poor posture may offer an explanation.

Symptomatic Extra-Adrenal Myelolipoma in the Spleen.

A 42-year-old male patient presented with intermittent abdominal pain and gastrointestinal discomfort present for 4 years. Work-up included ultrasound and computed tomography, which identified a fat-containing splenic mass 5.6 cm in size. Due to recurrent symptoms, the patient sought medical care again. Subsequent images showed an increase in size to 7.6 cm, which was concerning for neoplasm. This was removed via open splenectomy, which was challenging due to intra-abdominal adhesions despite never having had any abdominal surgery. The patient's recovery was uncomplicated. Pathologic assessment indicated that the mass was a myelolipoma. Extra-adrenal myelolipomas are rare and typically found within the retroperitoneum but are extremely rare within the spleen. This case report adds the 6th such case to the literature and demonstrates the need for it to remain in the differential diagnosis of patients with fatty splenic masses, as well as that splenectomy is an appropriate treatment.