Interobserver and Intraobserver Agreement are Unsatisfactory When Determining Abstract Study Design and Level of Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Understanding differences between types of study design (SD) and level of evidence (LOE) are important when selecting research for presentation or publication and determining its potential clinical impact. The purpose of this study was to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver reliability when assigning LOE and SD as well as quantify the impact of a commonly used reference aid on these assessments. METHODS: Thirty-six accepted abstracts from the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) 2021 annual meeting were selected for this study. Thirteen reviewers from the POSNA Evidence-Based Practice Committee were asked to determine LOE and SD for each abstract, first without any assistance or resources. Four weeks later, abstracts were reviewed again with the guidance of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) LOE chart, which is adapted from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated using Fleiss' kappa statistic (k). χ2 analysis was used to compare the rate of SD-LOE mismatch between the first and second round of reviews. RESULTS: Interobserver reliability for LOE improved slightly from fair (k=0.28) to moderate (k=0.43) with use of the JBJS chart. There was better agreement with increasing LOE, with the most frequent disagreement between levels 3 and 4. Interobserver reliability for SD was fair for both rounds 1 (k=0.29) and 2 (k=0.37). Similar to LOE, there was better agreement with stronger SD. Intraobserver reliability was widely variable for both LOE and SD (k=0.10 to 0.92 for both). When matching a selected SD to its associated LOE, the overall rate of correct concordance was 82% in round 1 and 92% in round 2 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Interobserver reliability for LOE and SD was fair to moderate at best, even among experienced reviewers. Use of the JBJS/Oxford chart mildly improved agreement on LOE and resulted in less SD-LOE mismatch, but did not affect agreement on SD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

The CT guided transoral approach: A biopsy technique for a poorly differentiated chordoma in a 5 year old.

Mass lesions presenting at the craniocervical junction often present a unique challenge due to the complex anatomic arrangement limiting access for tissue diagnosis. The transoral approach has predominantly been used for percutaneous vertebroplasty of high cervical vertebrae with limited literature describing image guided biopsy for bony lesions in this region in the pediatric patient. We describe a technique of computed tomography guided transoral biopsy of a poorly differentiated chordoma located at the C1-C2 level in a 5-year-old child, and review this diagnosis.

What is the effect of intraoperative traction on correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)?

PURPOSE: Determine the efficacy of intraoperative traction (IOT) on curve correction in AIS. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, longitudinal database identified patients with major thoracic AIS (Lenke 1-4) treated with surgery using IOT and follow-up of 2 years. These cases were matched to comparable cases treated without traction (non-IOT). All patients were treated with single-stage posterior only surgery with pedicle screw constructs. Perioperative, radiographic and clinical outcome data at 2 years post-op were compared between the groups. RESULTS: 104 cases treated with IOT were matched to 104 treated without IOT. Operating room time was significantly greater in the IOT group (339 vs. 306 min, p = < 0.001). Neuromonitoring alerts were more frequent in the IOT group (23% vs. 5%, p < 0.001). There were no postoperative neurological deficits in either group. The IOT group showed significantly greater MT curve correction (IOT 71% vs. non-IOT 66.7%, p < 0.003), with the effect most pronounced in curves > 70° (IOT 72% vs. non-IOT 64%, p = 0.04). IOT was associated with a significant reduction in 2D T5-T12 kyphosis measurements (IOT - 6.5° vs non-IOT + 0.48°, p < 0.001), yet significant improvements in estimated 3D thoracic kyphosis were made in both groups, with the non-IOT group making greater improvement when compared to the IOT group (IOT + 18.1° vs. non-IOT + 22.3° vs., p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: IOT is associated with modestly enhanced coronal deformity correction. Surgeons should be aware of the increased rates of neuromonitoring alerts when using this technique and its affect on the sagittal profile. Given this IOT may be best suited to larger curves. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the spine: results of surgical management from a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft-tissue sarcomas. Resection is the mainstay of treatment and the most important prognostic factor. However, complete resection of spinal MPNSTs with tumor-free margins is challenging due to the likelihood of residual tumor cells. The objective of this study was to describe whether the type of Enneking resection in the management of spinal MPNSTs had an effect on local recurrence and survival. METHODS The AOSpine Knowledge Forum Tumor developed a multicenter database that includes demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, local recurrence, and survival data on patients with primary spinal column tumors. Patients who had undergone surgery for a primary spinal MPNST were included and were analyzed in 2 groups: 1) those undergoing Enneking appropriate (EA) resections and 2) those undergoing Enneking inappropriate (EI) resections. EA surgery was performed if there was histopathological evidence of an intact tumor pseudocapsule and at least a marginal resection on a vital structure. EI surgery was performed if there was an intentional or inadvertent transgression of the margin. RESULTS Between 1993 and 2012, 29 primary spine MPNSTs were identified in 12 (41%) females and 17 (59%) males with a mean age at diagnosis of 40 ± 17 years (range 5-74 years). The median patient follow-up was 1.3 years (range 42 days to 11.2 years). In total, 14 (48%) patients died and 14 (48%) patients suffered a local recurrence, 10 (71%) of whom died. Within 2 years after surgery, the median survival and local recurrence were not achieved. Data about Enneking appropriateness of surgery were available for 27 patients; 9 (33%) underwent an EA procedure and 18 (67%) underwent an EI procedure. Enneking appropriateness did not have a significant influence on local recurrence or survival. Twenty-two patients underwent adjuvant treatment with combined chemo- and radiotherapy (n = 7), chemotherapy alone (n = 3), or radiotherapy alone (n = 12). Adjuvant therapy had no significant influence on recurrence or survival. CONCLUSIONS The rates of recurrence and survival were similar for spinal MPNSTs regardless of whether patients had an EA or EI resection or received adjuvant therapy. Other factors such as variability of pathologist interpretation, PET CT correlation, or neurofibromatosis Type 1 status may play a role in patient outcome. Nonetheless, MPNSTs should still be treated as sarcomas until further evidence is known. The authors recommend an individualized approach with careful multidisciplinary decision making, and the patient should be informed about the morbidity of en bloc surgery when considering MPNST resection.