Pelvic Floor Disorders Among U.S. Military Active-Duty Females.

IMPORTANCE: Women are a growing cohort within the U.S. military. Pelvic floor health is a component of health maintenance for which support needs vary by sex. The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that 1 in 4 women is affected by moderate to severe pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Understanding the specific experience of female service members is warranted for health care optimization and preservation of force readiness. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors associated with incident PFD in active-duty females during an 11-year window. STUDY DESIGN: We used the Medical Assessment and Readiness System at Womack Army Medical Center, which includes medical record and personnel data from 2011 to 2022. Pelvic floor dysfunction diagnoses were identified using diagnosis codes and analyzed with respect to demographic parameters. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2022, 32,996 of 550,303 active-duty females were diagnosed with PFD (period prevalence: 6.00%). Using 2011-2012 as a washout period, 27,046 of 486,558 participants were diagnosed during 1,879,990.90 person-years of follow-up (incidence rate: 14.39 cases per 1,000 person-years). The incidence rate of PFD increased in both new and established active-duty females. Increasing time since service entry was the strongest, statistically significant independent predictor of PFD. Three or more deployments and specific physical fitness scoring were also predictors of PFD. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of PFD among female service members is increasing, and multiple military-specific factors predict PFD. As the percentage of women in active-duty service continues to grow, additional investigation is needed to confirm PFD trends, illuminate other predictors, and prevent adverse outcomes.

Dorsal Spanning Plate for Perilunate Dislocations.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare radiographic outcomes in patients treated with the traditional method of open reduction, internal fixation (ORIF) and casting as compared with those treated with ORIF and dorsal spanning plate (DSP) fixation. We hypothesized that the application of a DSP to augment the repair of perilunate dislocations would maintain carpal stability while also allowing early loadbearing through the carpus. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective radiographic review of patients with a perilunate dislocation, who were treated with ORIF and casting or ORIF with a dorsal spanning plate between 2012-2018. Scapholunate (SL) and lunotriquetral (LT) intervals were measured immediately after the index surgery and after scheduled hardware removal. A total of 28 patients met inclusion criteria, including 13 cases with traditional treatment and 15 cases with dorsal spanning plate fixation. Results Comparison of the change in SL interval and LT interval between the 13 patients in the traditional treatment group and the 15 patients in the DSP group did not yield any clinically relevant variation after statistical analysis. Both groups demonstrated minimal change in the radiographic markers of carpal stability from postoperative radiographs obtained immediately after the index repair and after the removal of hardware. Conclusion DSP fixation placed at the index surgery with early loadbearing for the treatment of perilunate dislocation is not inferior to the current mainstay of treatment consisting of cast immobilization without loadbearing and does not confer any increased carpal instability in comparison to ORIF and casting.

Improper Restraint Use in Pediatric Patients Involved in Motor Vehicle Collisions.

BACKGROUND: Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading cause of unintentional death among children and adolescents; however, public awareness and use of appropriate restraint recommendations are perceived as deficient. We aimed to investigate the use of child safety restraints and examine outcomes in our community. METHODS: We retrospectively queried a level 1 trauma registry for pediatric (0-18 y) MVC patients from October 2013 to December 2018. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded. Data regarding appropriate restraint use by age group were examined. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-four cases of pediatric MVC were identified. Overall, 53% were improperly restrained or unrestrained. Sixty-two percent of car seat age and 51% of booster age children were improperly restrained or unrestrained altogether. Fifty-nine percent of back seat riding, seatbelt age were improperly restrained/unrestrained, with 26% riding in the front. Fifty-one percent of seatbelt-only adolescents were not belted. Black, non-Hispanic children were more often improperly restrained/unrestrained compared to Hispanics (63% versus 48%, P = 0.001). Improperly restrained/unrestrained children had higher injury severity (10% versus 4% Injury Severity Score > 25, P = 0.021), require operative/interventional radiology (33% versus 19%, P = 0.001), and be discharged to rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility (5.2% versus 1.5%, P = 0.033). Mortality in adolescents was higher among those unrestrained (5.2% versus 0.8%, P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Although efforts to improve adherence to restraint regulations have greatly increased in the last decade, more than half of children in MVC are still improperly restrained. Injury prevention services and community outreach is essential to educate the most vulnerable populations, especially those with infants and toddlers, on adequate motor vehicle safety measures in our community.

The Influence of Opioid Use Disorder on Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Following Ankle Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures are common and may require open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Literature is scarce evaluating the associations of opioid use disorder (OUD) with ORIF postoperative outcomes. This study investigates whether OUD patients have increased (1) costs of care, (2) emergency room visits, and (3) readmission rates. METHODS: ORIF patients with a 90-day history of OUD were identified using an administrative claims database. OUD patients were matched (1:4) to controls by age, sex, and medical comorbidities. The Welch t-test determined the significance of cost of care. Logistic regression yielded odds ratios (ORs) for emergency room visits and 90-day readmission rates. RESULTS: A total of 2183 patients underwent ORIF (n = 485 with OUD vs n = 1698 without OUD). OUD patients incurred significantly higher costs of care compared with controls ($5921.59 vs $5128.22, P < .0001). OUD patients had a higher incidence and odds of emergency room visits compared with controls (3.50% vs 0.64%; OR = 5.57, 95% CI = 2.59-11.97, P < .0001). The 90-day readmission rates were not significantly different between patients with and without OUD (8.65% vs 7.30%; OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.83-1.73, P = .320). CONCLUSION: OUD patients have greater costs of care and odds of emergency room visits within 90 days following ORIF.Levels of Evidence: Level III: Retrospective cohort study.

HIV care provider perceptions and approaches to managing unhealthy alcohol use in primary HIV care settings: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: HIV care providers often serve as the specialist and the primary care point-of-contact for persons living with HIV (PLWH) and unhealthy alcohol use. The purpose of the present qualitative study was to understand HIV care provider perceptions and approaches to managing unhealthy alcohol use in HIV primary care settings. METHODS: Using a semi-structured interview guide, in-depth interviews were conducted among 14 HIV care providers (5 medical doctors, 5 nurse practitioners/physician assistants, 2 medical assistants, 2 clinical administrative staff) in private and public HIV clinics, across urban and rural areas of Florida. Interviews were coded using a grounded theory approach with inter-rater consensus. RESULTS: Six themes were identified. In summary, providers reported (1) inconsistent assessment of alcohol consumption, as well as (2) varying levels of confidence in self-report of alcohol use which may be affected by patient provider rapport and trust. While providers (3) acknowledge potential negative impacts of alcohol use on health outcomes and HIV treatment, providers reported (4) inconsistent recommendations regarding alcohol use among their patients. Lastly, providers reported (5) limited resources for patients with unhealthy alcohol use and (6) low confidence in their ability to help patients reduce use. CONCLUSIONS: Results from our study suggest salient differences in provider approaches to the assessment and management of unhealthy alcohol use in HIV primary care settings. Implementation of care for unhealthy alcohol use in these settings may be facilitated through use of clinically useful, validated alcohol use assessments and use of evidence-based recommendations of alcohol use/non-use among PLWH. Training in brief intervention techniques for alcohol reduction may increase provider confidence and support in the management of unhealthy alcohol use among PLWH.

Apnea of prematurity: caffeine dose optimization.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to evaluate the correlation between maintenance dose and response rates in neonates less than 28 weeks gestational age. Secondary objectives included clinical indicators of response (number of weight adjustments, dose increases, and mini-loads) and tachycardia associated with caffeine therapy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of neonates admitted to the North Carolina Children's Hospital from August 2009 to August 2011. Patients included were less than 28 weeks postmenstrual age and were treated with caffeine for apnea of prematurity. Patients were excluded if they were older than 28 weeks postmenstrual age, receiving caffeine therapy for other indications, or experiencing apnea from other conditions, or if therapy was initiated more than 7 days after birth. RESULTS: A total of 89 neonates with a mean birth weight of 0.844 kg (range: 0.391 to 1.306 kg) and median gestational age of 26 2/7 weeks (range: 23 to 27 6/7 weeks) were evaluated. The median initial maintenance dose of caffeine citrate was 7.9 mg/kg/day, and 94.1% of neonates receiving ≤7.9 mg/kg/day required a clinical intervention during therapy compared with 76.3% in those receiving >7.9 mg/kg/day. Absolute incidence of tachycardia was low, and caffeine levels collected ranged from 16.6 to 34.4 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In neonates less than 28 weeks gestational age, doses of caffeine citrate greater than 7.9 mg/kg/day are safe and are associated with a decreased need for clinical interventions.