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BACKGROUND: This study aims to provide insight regarding the different qualities of international medical graduates (IMGs) involved in US orthopedic residency programs. METHODS: Orthopedic residency programs accredited by the ACGME and listed in the AMA database were screened. Data on program size and location, IMG year of training, the geographic region of IMG's medical schools, their research experiences and number of gap years were included. RESULTS: A total of 167(80.3%) orthopedic residency programs were included. A total of 3838 residents were identified, of which 44 (1.15%) were IMGs. The United Kingdom and Ireland had the highest number of matched IMGs with four (9.1%) each. Massachusetts was the state with the highest number of enrolled IMGs. On average, IMGs had 26.3 publications and joined US orthopedic residency 4.66 years following medical school graduation. CONCLUSION: Despite the many hurdles experienced by IMGs, a decent number succeeds in matching into US orthopedic residency programs each year.
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Internato e Residência , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Médicos Graduados Estrangeiros , Educação de Pós-Graduação em Medicina , Avaliação Educacional , Faculdades de MedicinaRESUMO
The subacromial balloon spacer is a novel treatment option for the management of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. This device is introduced into the glenohumeral joint and acts to alleviate the acromiohumeral impingement, caused by the massive irreparable rotator cuff tear. The device also redistributes the tension around the adjacent muscles in the joint, allowing them to compensate for the torn rotator cuff tendons. By doing so, the balloon can act as a "rehabilitation accelerator", ultimately resulting in improved shoulder pain and function. Adherence to balloon indications when selecting the appropriate patient is necessary, and these include an irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear, with preserved subscapularis function, minimal to no osteoarthritis, and the ability to forward flex to 90 degrees. Clinical studies have demonstrated promising potential regarding the benefit of the balloon, with numerous studies demonstrating great outcomes after its implantation. Nevertheless, future research remains necessary to render the evidence behind its utility unequivocal.
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Osteoartrite , Lesões do Manguito Rotador , Articulação do Ombro , Humanos , Lesões do Manguito Rotador/cirurgia , Manguito Rotador/cirurgia , Dor de Ombro/terapiaRESUMO
Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears are difficult to treat. Several different treatment options have been explored in the orthopedic realm. A 69-year-old male with a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear was originally treated with a subacromial balloon spacer around five years prior to presentation. The patient started having increasing shoulder discomfort. Treatment options were discussed following review of MRI results and the patient decided to move forward with a second balloon spacer. The patient underwent his revision procedure and noted significant improvement in his pain and function on follow-up. Revision subacromial balloon spacers constitute an effective surgical treatment option that may slow the progression of rotator cuff arthropathy and relieve pain and dysfunction in the setting of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.
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Ortopedia , Lesões do Manguito Rotador , Masculino , Humanos , Idoso , Lesões do Manguito Rotador/diagnóstico por imagem , Lesões do Manguito Rotador/cirurgia , Resultado do Tratamento , DorRESUMO
PURPOSE: Patient-reported outcome measures assess health status and treatment outcomes in orthopedic care, but they may burden patients with lengthy questionnaires. Predictive models using machine learning, known as computerized adaptive testing (CAT), offer a potential solution. This study evaluates the ability of CAT to improve efficiency of the 30-item Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and 11-item QuickDASH questionnaires. METHODS: A total of 2,860 DASH and 27,355 QuickDASH respondents were included in the analysis. The CAT system was retrospectively applied to each set of patient responses stored on the instrument to calculate a CAT-specific score for all DASH and QuickDASH entries. The accuracy of the CAT scores, viewed in the context of the minimal clinically important difference for both patient-reported outcome measures (DASH, 12; QuickDASH, 9), was determined through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient, and distribution of scores and score differences. RESULTS: The CAT model required an average of 15.3 questions to be answered for the DASH and 5.8 questions for the QuickDASH, representing a 49% and 47% decrease in question burden, respectively. Mean CAT score was the same for DASH and 0.1 points lower for QuickDASH with similar SDs (DASH, 12.9 ± 19.8 vs 12.9 ± 19.9; QuickDASH, 32.7 ± 24.7 vs 32.6 ± 24.6). Pearson coefficients (DASH, 0.99; QuickDASH, 0.98) and intraclass correlation coefficients (DASH, 1.0; QuickDASH, 0.98) indicated strong agreement between scores. The difference between the CAT and full score was less than the minimal clinically important difference in 99% of cases for DASH and approximately 95% of cases for QuickDASH. CONCLUSIONS: The application of CAT to DASH and QuickDASH surveys demonstrated an ability to lessen the response burden with negligible effect on score integrity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the case of DASH and QuickDASH, CAT is an appropriate alternative to full questionnaire implementation for patient outcome score collection.
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Avaliação da Deficiência , Ombro , Humanos , Medidas de Resultados Relatados pelo Paciente , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Computerized adaptive test (CAT) questionnaires may allow standardization of patient-reported outcome measures and reductions in questionnaire burden. We evaluated the validity, accuracy, and efficacy of a CAT system in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: CAT Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) and CAT KOOS-JR questionnaires were applied to 1871 standard form KOOS and 1493 KOOS-JR patient responses, respectively. Mean, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients, interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), frequency distribution plots, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the precision, validity, and accuracy between CAT scores and full-form scores. RESULTS: There was a mean reduction of 14 questions (33%) in the CAT KOOS and 1.4 questions (20%) with the CAT KOOS-JR version, compared with the standard KOOS and KOOS-JR surveys, respectively. There were no significant differences between KOOS and CAT KOOS scores with respect to pain (P = .66), symptoms (P = .43), quality of life (P = .99), activities of daily living (P = .68), and sports (P = .84). Similarly, there were no significant differences between the standard form KOOS-JR and CAT KOOS-JR scores (P = .94). There were strong correlations with minimal variability between the CAT KOOS and standard KOOS questionnaires for pain (r = 0.98, ICC: 0.98), symptoms (r = 0.97, ICC: 0.97), quality of life scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99), activities of daily living scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99), and sports scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99). Similarly, there were strong correlations between the KOOS-JR and the CAT KOOS-JR scores (r = 0.99, ICC: 0.99). CONCLUSION: CAT KOOS and the CAT KOOS-JR versions are accurate and reduce questionnaire burden up to one-third compared with standard surveys. CAT versions may improve patient compliance and decrease fatigue.
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Artroplastia do Joelho , Osteoartrite do Joelho , Atividades Cotidianas , Computadores , Humanos , Osteoartrite do Joelho/cirurgia , Medidas de Resultados Relatados pelo Paciente , Qualidade de Vida , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Probability-based computer algorithms that reduce patient burden are currently in high demand. These computer adaptive testing (CAT) methods improve workflow and reduce patient frustration, while achieving high measurement precision. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy and validity of the CAT Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) and the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Joint Replacement (HOOS-JR) by comparing them to the full version of these scoring systems in a subset of patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasties. METHODS: A previously developed CAT HOOS and HOOS-JR was applied to 354 and 1547 HOOS and HOOS-JR patient responses, respectively. Mean, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients, interclass correlation coefficients, frequency distribution plots, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the precision, validity, and accuracy between CAT scores and full-form scores. RESULTS: By modifying the questions to past responses, the CAT HOOS demonstrated a mean reduction of 30% of questions (28 vs 40 questions). There were no significant differences between the full HOOS and CAT HOOS with respect to pain (P = .73), symptoms (P = .94), quality of life (P = .99), activities of daily living (P = .82), and sports (P = .99). There were strong linear relationships between the CAT versions and the standard questionnaires (r > 0.99). The Bland-Altman plot showed that differences between CAT HOOS and full HOOS were independent of the overall scores. CONCLUSION: The CAT HOOS and HOOS-JR have high correlation and require fewer questions to finish compared to the standard full-form questionnaires. This may represent a reliable and practical alternative that may be less burdensome to patients and may help improve compliance for reporting outcome metrics.
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Artroplastia de Quadril , Osteoartrite do Quadril , Atividades Cotidianas , Computadores , Humanos , Osteoartrite do Quadril/cirurgia , Medidas de Resultados Relatados pelo Paciente , Pacientes , Qualidade de Vida , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
PURPOSE: The reported incidence of postoperative complications after distal biceps tendon repairs (DBTRs) has been determined largely by retrospective studies. We hypothesized that a large prospective cohort study of DBTRs would demonstrate increased complication rates relative to existing literature values. Secondarily, we hypothesized that most complications would be transient and self-limiting, regardless of the surgical technique employed for the repair. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing acute, primary DBTR from July 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled. The repair technique, postoperative protocol, and follow-up intervals were determined by the individual surgeons' protocols. Demographic information, surgical data, and complications were tabulated prospectively. Exclusion criteria included chronic DBTRs, secondary DBTRs requiring allograft, DBTRs of partial tears, and postoperative follow-up of less than 12 weeks. We included 212 repairs performed by 37 orthopedic surgeons in 3 different subspecialties. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (30.7%) had 73 complications. Fifty patients (44.6%) in the 1-incision group experienced complications compared with 15 (15.0%) in the 2-incision group. Sixty patients (28.3%) developed a minor complication. Fifty-seven patients (26.9%) had sensory neurapraxias, 47 after a 1-incision procedure and 10 after a 2-incision procedure, a statistically significant difference. Of the patients with neurapraxias, 94.7% were resolved or improving at the time of the latest follow-up. Five patients (2.4%) developed a major complication, defined as a return to the operating room in the postoperative period due to deep infection or rerupture. CONCLUSIONS: The complication rate after DBTR appears to be higher than 2 other retrospective studies and is predominantly in the form of transient neurapraxias. This study confirms that there is a higher complication rate in 1-incision techniques as compared with 2-incision techniques. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.
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Traumatismos do Antebraço/cirurgia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Traumatismos dos Tendões/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Bursite/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ossificação Heterotópica/etiologia , Parestesia/etiologia , Estudos Prospectivos , Reoperação/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: We examined practice patterns and surgical indications in the management of common shoulder procedures by surgeons practicing at physician-owned facilities. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 501 patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder procedures performed by five surgeons in our practice at one of five facilities during an 18-month period. Two of the facilities were physician-owned, and three of the five surgeons were shareholders. Demographics, insurance status, symptom duration, time from injury/symptom onset to the decision to perform surgery (at which time surgical consent is obtained), and time to schedule surgery were studied to determine the influence of facility type and physician shareholder status. RESULTS: Median duration of symptoms before surgery was significantly shorter in workers' compensation patients than in non-workers' compensation patients (47% less; P < 0.0001) and in men than in women (31% less; P < 0.001), but was not influenced by shareholder status or facility ownership (P > 0.05). Time between presentation and surgical consent was not influenced by facility ownership (P = 0.39) or shareholder status (P = 0.50). Time from consent to procedure was 13% faster in physician-owned facilities than in non-physician-owned facilities (P = 0.03) and 35% slower with shareholder physicians than with nonshareholder physicians (P < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: The role of physician investment in private healthcare facilities has caused considerable debate in the orthopaedic surgery field. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effects of shareholder status and facility ownership on surgeons' practice patterns, surgical timing, and measures of nonsurgical treatment before shoulder surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Neither shareholder status nor facility ownership characteristics influenced the speed with which surgeons determined that shoulder surgery was indicated or surgeons' use of preoperative nonsurgical treatment. After the need for surgery was determined, patients underwent surgery sooner at physician-owned facilities than at non-physician-owned facilities and with nonshareholder physicians than with shareholder physicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
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Artroscopia/estatística & dados numéricos , Instalações de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Propriedade/estatística & dados numéricos , Padrões de Prática Médica/estatística & dados numéricos , Ombro/cirurgia , Adulto , Artroscopia/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Mini suture anchors are commonly used in hand surgery involving attachment of soft tissue to bone. There are few data on the biomechanical behavior of these implants under physiologic conditions. Commercially available mini anchors were inserted into the carpal bones of fresh-frozen cadaver wrists. Anchors were divided into threaded and pronged types according to design. The anchors were cyclically loaded. Pronged anchors (1.3 and 2.1 mm) failed at a range of 199 to 5,155 cycles. Threaded anchors (2.5 and 2.8 mm) consistently completed 40,000 cycles without failure. Before failure pronged anchors displaced on average 5.1 mm and threaded anchors displaced on average 0.01 mm. The pronged implants failed because of either prong fatigue or fracture; the threaded anchors remained structurally intact. The larger threaded suture anchors seem to have superior biomechanical properties than smaller pronged anchors.