Incidence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Foot and Ankle Arthrodesis Nonunions.

Background Vitamin D has been found to be crucial in musculoskeletal health. The role of vitamin D levels in orthopedic patients has become a growing area of interest given its negative impact on fracture healing which can contribute to the development of nonunion following surgery. We sought to investigate the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in a cohort of patients who experienced a nonunion following a foot and ankle arthrodesis procedure. Methodology Patients who underwent a major elective foot and ankle arthrodesis procedure and developed a nonunion were given the opportunity to obtain serum vitamin D levels. All vitamin D levels were reported from percutaneous venous blood samples and compared to our institution's range of accepted normal values (25-80 ng/mL). Results A total of 13 patients who developed a nonunion agreed to have a vitamin D level obtained, and 11 of 13 patients had a low vitamin D level (average = 14.6 ng/mL, range = 9-24 ng/mL). Five patients underwent revision arthrodesis after normalization of vitamin D levels, and four out of five patients went on to successful union. Conclusions Hypovitaminosis D may be a modifiable risk factor for nonunion following a major foot and ankle arthrodesis procedure. Orthopedic surgeons should consider vitamin D screening and supplementation in patients undergoing elective arthrodesis procedures.

Similar rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and failure of non-operative management for early versus delayed VTE chemoprophylaxis in adolescent blunt solid organ injuries: a propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early initiation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis in adults with blunt solid organ injury (BSOI) has been demonstrated to be safe but this is controversial in adolescents. We hypothesized that adolescent patients with BSOI undergoing non-operative management (NOM) and receiving early VTE chemoprophylaxis (eVTEP) (≤ 48 h) have a decreased rate of VTE and similar rate of failure of NOM, compared to similarly matched adolescents receiving delayed VTE chemoprophylaxis (dVTEP) (> 48 h). METHODS: The 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database was queried for adolescents (12-17 years of age) with BSOI (liver, kidney, and/or spleen) undergoing NOM. We compared eVTEP versus dVTEP using a 1:1 propensity score model, matching for age, comorbidities, BSOI grade, injury severity score, hypotension on arrival, and need for transfusions. We performed subset analyses in patients with isolated spleen, kidney, and liver injury. RESULTS: From 1022 cases, 417 (40.8%) adolescents received eVTEP. After matching, there was no difference in matched variables (all p > 0.05). Both groups had a similar rate of VTE (dVTEP 0.6% vs. eVTEP 1.7%, p = 0.16), mortality (dVTEP 0.3% vs. eVTEP 0%, p = 0.32), and failure of NOM (eVTEP 6.7% vs. dVTEP 7.3%, p = 0.77). These findings remained true in all subset analyses of isolated solid organ injury (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of VTE with adolescent BSOI is exceedingly rare. Early VTE chemoprophylaxis in adolescent BSOI does not increase the rate of failing NOM. However, unlike adult trauma patients, adolescent patients with BSOI receiving eVTEP had a similar rate of VTE and death, compared to adolescents receiving dVTEP.

Blunt Adrenal Injury is Not Associated With Worse Outcomes in Adult Trauma Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt adrenal injury is rare. Given production of hormones including catecholamines, adrenal injury may lead to worse outcomes. However, there is a paucity of literature on this topic. As such, we compared blunt trauma patients (BTPs) with and without adrenal injuries, hypothesizing similar mortality and complications between cohorts. METHODS: The 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database was queried for adult (≥18-year-old) BTPs. Patients with penetrating trauma, traumatic brain injury, severe thoracic injury, or who were transferred from another hospital were excluded. Patients with adrenal injury were compared to those without using a 1:2 propensity score model. Matched variables included patient age, comorbidities, vitals on admission and concomitant injuries (i.e., liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas, and hollow viscus). Univariable logistic regression was then performed for associated risk of mortality. RESULTS: 2287 (0.2%) BTPs had an adrenal injury, with 1470 patients with adrenal injury matched to 2940 without adrenal injury. The rate of all complications including sepsis (0.1% versus 0.0%) was similar between cohorts (all P > 0.05). Patients with adrenal injury had a lower rate of mortality (0.1% versus 0.6%, P = 0.035) but increased length of stay (4 [3-6] versus 3 [2-5] days, P = 0.002). However, there was no difference in associated risk of mortality for patients with and without adrenal injury (odds ratio = 0.234; confidence interval = 0.54-1.015; P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: Blunt adrenal injury occurred in <1% of patients. After propensity matching, there was a similar associated rate of complications but longer hospital length of stay for patients with adrenal injury. Adrenal injury was not associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis in geriatric trauma patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE: Low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and mortality compared to unfractionated heparin (UH) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to see if this association persists among a subset of patients, namely elderly patients with isolated TBI. METHODS: This Trauma Quality Improvement Project (TQIP) database study included patients ≥ 65 years old with severe TBI (Abbreviated injury score [AIS] ≥ 3) that received either LMWH or UH for VTE prophylaxis. Patients with associated severe injuries (extracranial AIS ≥ 3), transferals, deaths < 72-h, hospitalization < 2 days, VTE chemoprophylaxis other than UH or LMWH, or with a history of bleeding diathesis were excluded. The association between VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) with VTE chemoprophylaxis was analyzed with multivariable analysis, subset analyses of different grades of AIS-head injury, and a 1:1 matched LWMH:UH cohort of patients. RESULTS: Out of 14,926 patients, 11,036 (73.9%) received LMWH. Multivariate analysis showed that patients receiving LMWH had a decreased risk of mortality (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.97, p < 0.001) but a similar risk of VTE (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.08). Analysis according to head-AIS showed that LMWH was associated with a decreased risk of PE in patients AIS-3 but not in AIS 4 or 5. In a 1:1 matched cohort of LMWH:UH patients, the risk of PE, DVT and VTE were all similar but LMWH continued to be associated with a decreased risk of mortality (OR 0.81, CI 0.67-0.97, p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: LMWH was associated with a decreased risk of overall mortality and reduced risk of PE compared to UH among geriatric patients with a severe head injury.

Minimally invasive versus open distal pancreatectomy: a matched analysis using ACS-NSQIP.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) is gaining popularity due to improved perioperative outcomes over open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes of MIDP and ODP using patients within a nationwide cohort. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons' National Quality Improvement Program (2014-2018) was used to evaluate incidence of post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) as well as 30-day composite major morbidity for patients undergoing MIDP vs. ODP. Matching was performed with a Mahalanobis-distance model for demographic characteristics, preoperative risk factors, and benign versus malignant pathology. Outcomes were assessed via weighted multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 3940 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy (1978 MIDP, 1962 ODP). After matching, 2985 patients were included (1978 MIDP, 1007 ODP). The rates of major morbidity (8.65% MIDP vs. 9.76% ODP, p = 0.37) were similar between groups. The MIDP group was found to have significantly decreased length of stay (5.6 vs. 7 days, p ≤ 0.001), but greater rates (12.54% MIDP vs. 9.35% ODP, p = 0.02) of post-operative fistula. CONCLUSIONS: When matched for baseline patient characteristics, MIDP was associated with shorter length of hospitalization with similar rates of morbidity compared to ODP. However, MIDP was associated with significantly increased rates of POPF. Further studies are needed to investigate this difference in POPF rate, and determine how to optimize MIDP surgical technique to reduce this risk.

Is Laparoscopy Underutilized for Sigmoid Volvulus?

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly prevalent. However, the majority of colectomies for volvulus are still performed via an open technique. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a difference in outcomes between laparoscopic and open procedures for sigmoid volvulus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and colectomy-targeted procedure databases were queried from 2013 to 2018. Patients undergoing partial colectomy without ileal resection for the indication of volvulus were compared based on approach (planned laparoscopic vs. planned open). The 2 groups were propensity score matched for perioperative variables. A subgroup analysis was performed comparing unplanned laparoscopic conversion to open (CTO) with planned open procedures. The primary outcomes were overall morbidity, mortality, and length of stay. RESULTS: Total 2493 patients were identified. Four hundred ninety-two cases began laparoscopically (20%), of which 391 were completed laparoscopically (79%). Laparoscopic approach was associated with longer operative times (133 vs. 104 min, P <0.001). Laparoscopic approach was associated with decreased overall morbidity (OR: 0.71, 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93) and decreased length of stay when >7 days (OR: 0.70, 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.94). On subgroup analysis, there was no difference in outcomes when comparing unplanned CTO to planned open approach. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic approach is used in a fraction of cases for colonic volvulus. When utilized, the majority are completed without CTO. Laparoscopy is associated with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. Even with unplanned conversion to open, there is no difference in outcomes compared against planned open procedures. Surgeons should consider the utilization of laparoscopy for colonic volvulus.

Same day discharge does not lead to worse outcomes in patients undergoing uncomplicated laparoscopic foregut surgery.

INTRODUCTION: With the advancement of minimally invasive surgical techniques surgeons have moved away from elective open foregut surgeries. Despite studies demonstrating the safety of same day discharge in appropriate patient populations, ambulatory surgery has yet to be established as the practice norm for patients undergoing uncomplicated laparoscopic foregut surgery. METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP database was queried from 2005 to 2018 for patients who had undergone elective and non-emergent laparoscopic Heller myotomy, fundoplication, and paraesophageal hernia repairs with and without mesh. The primary endpoints in this study included number and severity of complications as classified by the Clavien-Dindo Classification, readmission, and return to the operating room. RESULTS: 6893 patients who met inclusion criteria were identified, 696 (10.1%) of which were discharged on the day of surgery. Patients who were discharged on post-operative day one were matched at a 3:1 ratio producing 2088 comparisons. There was no difference in overall morbidity (p = 0.264), readmission (OR 0.849, 95% CI 0.522-1.419), or return to the operating room (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.531-2.761) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Same day discharge for patients without life threatening comorbidities undergoing elective minimally invasive Heller myotomy, Nissen and Toupet fundoplication, and paraesophageal hernia repairs is safe and feasible.

Intraoperative bile spillage as a risk factor for surgical site infection: a propensity score-matched NSQIP analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed operations in the USA. Surgical site infection complicates 1-2% of these operations and can be associated with significant morbidity. Bile spillage (bile spillage) occurs in many of these operations. The associated risk of surgical site infection (SSI) is an ongoing area of research. METHODS: NSQIP registries between 2005 and 2018 were queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes 47,562 and 47,563 to identify patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were considered to have bile spillage if the wound classification was annotated 3 or 4. Acute cholecystitis was excluded by ICD code. Patients were propensity scored for bile spillage and matched for preoperative risk factors. The rates of surgical site infections, morbidity, and mortality and length of stay were analyzed. RESULTS: 47,919 (31,946 with no spillage and 15,973 with spillage) patients were matched and included in the analysis. After matching, no significant difference was found in superficial or deep SSI regardless of bile spillage. An absolute increase in organ-space SSI of 0.32% was detected. The group with bile spillage had small increases in both minor (1.41% vs. 2.12%) and major (0.67% vs. 1.01%) complications. There was no difference in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This database analysis demonstrates no clinically relevant difference in surgical site infection rates after intraoperative bile spillage.

Feedback-Seeking Behavior and Practice Readiness for General Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between feedback-seeking behavior, operationalized as the number of trainee-requested evaluations, with ratings of surgical trainees' operative autonomy and performance. DESIGN: We analyzed operative assessment data using the System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning's smartphone-based assessment app called Society for Improving Medical Professional Learning (SIMPL) OR. Using cross-classified mixed effects models, we analyzed the association between trainee-requested SIMPL OR app evaluations and both trainee performance and autonomy ratings. Models included covariates for requested evaluations, PGY-year, month of the academic year, and patient-related case complexity. Random effects for program, procedure, rater, and trainee were also included to account for correlations among evaluations. Only ratings for procedures deemed Core to general surgery were included. SETTING: Operative assessment data using the SIMPL OR app requested by categorical U.S. general surgery residents between September 2015 to April 2021. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 61 general surgery residency programs, encompassing 2190 categorical general surgery residents. RESULTS: A total of 58,104 SIMPL app operative assessments were analyzed. Autonomy scores were weakly but positively associated with number of trainee-requested evaluations (B = 0.002, p < 0.001). Trainee-requested evaluations were also statistically associated with operative performance scores ( B = 0.002, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The propensity of a resident to seek feedback using the SIMPL app was weakly associated with higher operative autonomy ratings and higher operative performance ratings. While regular feedback is important for monitoring performance over time, more direct approaches related to the quality of feedback that trainees receive may be needed to better assess the relationships between feedback-seeking behavior and operative autonomy as well as performance.

Role of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy When Performing Elective Open Colectomy.

Background: The impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as an adjunct to colorectal surgery is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NPWT impacts wound complications during elective open colectomy. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) and colectomy targeted procedure databases were queried from 2012-2018 for patients undergoing non-emergent planned open colectomies. Groups were propensity score matched for anastomosis type (ileo-colic, colo-colic, colo-rectal), age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, smoking, steroid use, wound classification, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, operative time, and wound layers closed. Wound complications were defined as superficial surgical site infection (SSI), deep incisional SSI, and dehiscence. Results: A total of 15,770 patients were identified; 92 underwent simultaneous NPWT (0.58%). Non-NPWT patients were matched at a 5:1 ratio, producing 460 comparisons. There was no difference in wound complications (8.26% non-NPWT vs. 6.52% NPWT; p = 0.574). In addition, there were no differences in wound complications when only including patients who had NPWT placed over closed skin (9.11% non-NPWT vs. 7.25% NPWT; p = 0.789). On multivariable analysis, NPWT was not associated with wound complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-1.69). Conclusions: Negative pressure wound therapy does not reduce wound complications in open elective colectomies. Large randomized studies and more granular data are needed to ascertain if there is any benefit in select patient populations.

Time to weigh in on obesity and associated comorbidities in combat-wounded amputees.

BACKGROUND: The Joint Trauma System database estimates that about 1,200 individuals have sustained a combat-related amputation during the Global War on Terror. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated that combat-related amputees develop obesity and cardiovascular disease, but the incidence of obesity and associated comorbidities in this population is unknown. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of obesity in the military amputee population and to compare this with the general population. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 978 patients who sustained a combat-related amputation from 2003 to 2014. Prevalence of obesity and comorbid conditions were determined. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify risk factors for postamputation obesity. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed using obesity as the event of interest. RESULTS: A total of 1,233 charts were reviewed with 978 patients included for analysis. The median age of injury was 24 years. Median follow-up time was 8.7 years, ranging from 0.5 years to 16.9 years. The average Injury Severity Score was 23.3. The average body mass index preinjury was 25.6 kg/m2, and the average most recent corrected body mass index was found to be 31.4 kg/m2. Prevalence of comorbidities was higher in the amputee population. Fifty percent of patients who progressed to obesity did so within 1.3 years. CONCLUSION: There is a notable prevalence of obesity that develops in the amputee population that is much higher than the general population. We determined that the amputee population is at risk, and these patients should be closely monitored for 1 to 2.5 years following injury. This study provides a targeted period for which monitoring and intervention can be implemented. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective, basic science, outcomes analysis, level III/IV.

Finding the Dieulafoy's Lesion: A Case of Recurrent Rectal Bleeding in an Immunosuppressed Patient.

A Dieulafoy's lesion (DL) is rare cause of acute gastrointestinal bleeding defined as a vascular abnormality of the submucosa. With a high prevalence for the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract, it is rarely observed in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Its prevalence is rare accounting for less than 2% of all cases of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. The etiology of DL is unknown. Common comorbidities include cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, alcohol abuse, liver disease, and chronic NSAID use. Few cases involving chronic steroid use and immunosuppressive treatment have been reported. The most common diagnostic and treatment modality is endoscopy with refractory cases treated with arterial embolization by angiography. We present a case involving a patient with significant comorbidities on chronic immunosuppression with a life-threatening, massive lower gastrointestinal bleed from a DL in the rectum.

Stereotactic radiosurgery alone or combined with embolization for brain arteriovenous malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) prior to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been reported to negatively affect obliteration rates. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes of AVMs treated with embolization plus SRS (E+SRS group) and those of AVMs treated with SRS alone (SRS group). METHODS A literature review was performed using PubMed to identify studies with 10 or more AVM patients and obliteration data for both E+SRS and SRS groups. A meta-analysis was performed to compare obliteration rates between the E+SRS and SRS groups. RESULTS Twelve articles comprising 1716 patients were eligible for analysis. Among the patients with radiological follow-up data, complete obliteration was achieved in 48.4% of patients (330/681) in the E+SRS group compared with 62.7% of patients (613/978) in the SRS group. A meta-analysis of the pooled data revealed that the obliteration rate was significantly lower in the E+SRS group (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.41-0.64, p < 0.00001). Symptomatic adverse radiation effects were observed in 6.6% (27/412 patients) and 11.1% (48/433 patients) of the E+SRS and SRS groups, respectively. The annual post-SRS hemorrhage rate was 2.0%-6.5% and 0%-2.0% for the E+SRS and SRS groups, respectively. The rates of permanent morbidity were 0%-6.7% and 0%-13.5% for the E+SRS and SRS groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Arteriovenous malformation treatment with combined embolization and SRS is associated with lower obliteration rates than those with SRS treatment alone. However, this comparison does not fully account for differences in the initial AVM characteristics in the E+SRS group as compared with those in the SRS group. Further studies are warranted to address these limitations.

Retrocecal appendix location and perforation at presentation.

Retrocecal appendicitis has been theorized to follow a more insidious course than other anatomic variants. To determine the influence of retrocecal anatomy on clinical course of appendicitis, 200 adult patients treated at a major university medical center with the diagnosis of appendicitis from 2001 to 2004 were retrospectively studied. Computed tomography (CT) scans of adult patients with an ultimate diagnosis of appendicitis were analyzed to determine an association between retrocecal appendix and perforation of the appendix at presentation. A higher perforation rate in the retrocecal group would imply patient delay in presentation from more tolerable symptoms. CT scans were examined for retrocecal location and perforation. No significant association was found between retrocecal anatomy and perforation rates at presentation (chi-square = 2.1, P = 0.15, odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval [0.8-3.0]). However, the risk of perforation was 60 per cent higher in the retrocecal group. By regression analysis, age and the presence of a fecalith on CT scan were predictors of appendix perforation. Appendix location was not. In this study, we found no significant association between retrocecal appendix anatomy and perforation at presentation.