Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacologic treatment of patients newly diagnosed with osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: This study determined whether initiation of pharmacologic treatment was delayed for newly diagnosed osteoporosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: 1,189 patients ≥50 years with newly diagnosed osteoporosis using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening at a single academic institution were included. Patients with previous osteoporosis were excluded. Patients diagnosed between March 1, 2018-January 31, 2020 (pre-pandemic cohort, n = 576) were compared to those diagnosed between March 1, 2020-January 31, 2022 (pandemic cohort, n = 613). Age, sex, race, ethnicity, ordering providers (primary vs specialty), and pharmacological agents were evaluated. Primary outcomes included proportion of patients prescribed therapy within 3 and 6-months of diagnosis, and mean time from diagnosis to treatment initiation. RESULTS: The pre-pandemic cohort had more White patients (74.3 vs 68.4%, p = .02) and no differences between remaining demographic variables. Only 40.5% of newly diagnosed patients initiated pharmacologic therapy within 6 months. Patients treated at 3-months (31.8 vs 35.4%, p = 0.19) and 6-months (37.8 vs 42.9, p = 0.08) were comparable between cohorts (47.2 vs 50.2% p = 0.30). Mean time from diagnosis to treatment initiation was similar (46 vs 45 days, p = 0.72). There were no treatment differences based on gender, race, or ethnicity or between ordering providers (65.1 vs 57.4% primary care, p = 0.08). Bisphosphonates were most often prescribed in both cohorts (89% vs 82.1%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study assessing COVID-19's impact on pharmacologic treatment of newly diagnosed osteoporosis. 40.5% of newly diagnosed patients were treated pharmacologically within six months of diagnosis, and the pandemic did not significantly affect treatment rates.

Inguinal Bladder Hernia Indirectly Treated With Prostate Artery Embolization.

An inguinal bladder hernia (IBH) is an abnormal protrusion of the bladder into the inguinal canal accompanied by a peritoneum sheath that creates the hernia sac. Clinical presentations vary greatly from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and reduction in scrotal size after voiding to being entirely asymptomatic. Since inguinal bladder hernias are uncommon and often accompanied by varied and nonspecific symptoms, it is challenging to diagnose and rarely included in differentials. Currently, computerized tomography (CT) imaging with contrast or voiding cystourethrography is recommended for diagnosis. There is no consensus on the best treatment for inguinal bladder hernias, with options ranging from laparoscopic repair to catheterization. In this study, we report the case of inguinal bladder hernia in an 86-year-old male presenting with symptoms of recurrent hematuria and two failed voiding trials after a Foley catheter placement from prostatomegaly resulting in bladder diverticula, and IBH. He was treated with prostate artery embolization (PAE) to address LUTS related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The resultant decreased prostatic volume resolved his symptoms of IBH, hematuria, and urinary retention.

Biomechanical Performance of Biodegradable Screw Fixation in Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis.

Internal distraction devices are commonly used in congenital micrognathia. The eventual need for device and screw removal can be challenging, requiring extensive dissection and disturbance of bone regenerate. Bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) screws, compared to traditional titanium screws, simplify device removal. Previous in vivo studies have found that the maximal compressive force generated by mandibular distraction is 69.4N. We hypothesized that PLLA screws could support these compressive/distraction forces. Ten mandibles were obtained from 5 canine cadavers. Paired mandibles from the same cadaver were each fixated to a mandibular distractor with eight screws (either titanium or PLLA). Devices were each set to 15 and 30 mm of distraction distance. Compression force of 80 N was then generated parallel to the axis of the distraction device. Distractor displacement was measured to detect any mechanical failure during this pre-set load. Finally, if no failure was observed at 80 N, a load-to-failure compression test was done in the PLLA group to determine the mechanical failure point. All distractors in both the titanium and PLLA screw groups withstood 80 N of compression without failure. When the load-to-failure test was performed in the PLLA group, the average device failure point was 172.8 N (range 148-196 N). Review of high-frame-rate video demonstrated that all failures occurred due to the PLLA screws breaking or falling out. Bioabsorbable PLLA screws can withstand compressive forces more than double that of the maximal in vivo forces needed during mandibular distraction. These screws may be an acceptable alternative for the fixation of internal mandibular distractors.

Hematoma Disguised as Cancer.

Hematomas are often associated with benign processes such as sport-related injuries, postsurgical complications, and medications such as blood thinners. Rarely, hematomas can occur spontaneously without any identifiable cause or recollection of an inciting event. Such events can lead to inaccurately diagnosing a patient, which could delay or alter treatment and worsen the patient's prognosis. This patient reported sudden-onset abdominal pain with radiation to her back and denied any recent medication use or trauma while at home. The case highlights the key radiographic findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound to eventually confirm an obscure case of hepatocellular carcinoma and help guide management.

Cerebrospinal fluid flushing as a means of neuroprotection.

Central nervous system (CNS) injury or disease states are often difficult to treat due to the closed system of the dura mater/blood-brain barrier and the bony skull and vertebrae. The closed system results in at least partial containment of any pro-inflammatory molecules, pathogens, or toxic byproducts in the case of brain or spinal cord lesions, which can result in a destructive feedback loop. Cervical-approach access techniques (lateral C1-C2, suboccipital and lateral atlanto-occipital space punctures) are less-common methods of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling due to the relative ease and safety of lumbar spinal taps. However, with improved image-guidance, these cervical-level CSF access points are still useful when there are certain contraindications and difficulties when attempting to sample the CSF via the typical lumbar spinal approach. With the advent of microcatheters and minimally invasive techniques, combined with body fluid filtration technology, the question arises: could dual microcatheters be introduced for inflow and outflow of purified or artificial CSF to break the destructive feedback loop and thus diminish CNS damage?. We hypothesize that intrathecal spinal catheters could be placed in 2 positions (e.g., via a cervical route and the typical lumbar spinal route) to allow for both an input and output to more effectively filter or "flush" the CSF. This could have broad implications in the treatment of strokes, traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, infections, autoimmune diseases, and even malignancies within the CNS-in short, any disease with abnormalities detectable in the CSF.

Concussion severity and functional outcome using biomarkers in children and youth involved in organized sports, recreational activities and non-sport related incidents.

This prospective multicenter study evaluated differences in concussion severity and functional outcome using glial and neuronal biomarkers glial Fibrillary Acidic (GFAP) and Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase (UCH-L1) in children and youth involved in non-sport related trauma, organized sports, and recreational activities. Children and youth presenting to three Level 1 trauma centersfollowing blunt head trauma with a GCS 15 with a verified diagnosis of a concussion were enrolled within 6 hours of injury. Traumatic intracranial lesions on CT scan and functional outcome within 3 months of injury were evaluated. 131 children and youth with concussion were enrolled, 81 in the no sports group, 22 in the organized sports group and 28 in the recreational activities group. Median GFAP levels were 0.18, 0.07, and 0.39 ng/mL in the respective groups (p = 0.014). Median UCH-L1 levels were 0.18, 0.27, and 0.32 ng/mL respectively (p = 0.025). A CT scan of the head was performed in 110 (84%) patients. CT was positive in 5 (7%), 4 (27%), and 5 (20%) patients, respectively. The AUC for GFAP for detecting +CT was 0.84 (95%CI 0.75-0.93) and for UCH-L1 was 0.82 (95%CI 0.71-0.94). In those without CT lesions, elevations in UCH-L1 were significantly associated with unfavorable 3-month outcome. Concussions in the 3 groups were of similar severity and functional outcome. GFAP and UCH-L1 were both associated with severity of concussion and intracranial lesions, with the most elevated concentrations in recreational activities .