How Comprehensive and Efficient Are Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Individuals with Lower Extremity Amputation Undergoing Implantation of Osseointegrated Bone Anchored Limbs?

¼ Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential for measuring quality and functional outcomes after implantation of osseointegrated bone anchored limbs for patients with lower extremity amputation.¼ Using a novel assessment criterion with 8 domains, this study assessed all commonly used PROMs for their efficiency and comprehensiveness.¼ Comprehensiveness was scored according to the presence or absence of PROM questions related to these 8 domains (maximum score = 60): mobility (15 items), prosthesis (14 items), pain (10 items), psychosocial status (10 items), independence/self-care (4 items), quality of life/satisfaction (4 items), osseoperception (1 item), general information (1 item), and vitality (1 item).¼ The efficiency scores were calculated by dividing the comprehensiveness score by the total number of questions answered by the patients with higher scores being deemed more efficient.¼ The most comprehensive PROMs were Orthotics and Prosthetics User's Survey-Lower Extremity Functional Status (OPUS-LEFS) (score = 36), Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) (score = 31), and Questionnaire for Persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (score = 27).¼ The most efficient PROMs were the OPUS-LEFS (score = 1.8) and European Quality of Life (score = 1.4).

Formal Orthopaedic Surgery "Boot Camp" Curriculum to Optimize Performance on Acting Internships.

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the most competitive residency specialties in the National Residency Matching Program. To improve the odds of matching, senior medical students applying in the field participate in orthopaedic surgery away rotations with programs across the country. Students who do well on these rotations have a higher likelihood of matching because clinical performance is a principal criterion used by admissions committees to rank applicants. On the other hand, these rotations can be physically and emotionally taxing on medical students because poor performance can negatively affect their application and, thus, chances of matching at that institution. Unfortunately, the resources provided by medical schools to prepare students for these high-stakes rotations are usually sparse and unstructured. To address this gap in training at our institution, we developed a formal "boot camp" offered through the university to prepare interested senior medical students for their orthopaedic surgery acting internships. This course focuses on building a solid foundation of musculoskeletal knowledge and exposing students to surgical and procedural skills that are fundamental to the practice of orthopaedic surgery. Over the 2 years, this course has been offered at our institution, and it has proven successful in outcome measures, such as student satisfaction and preparedness, student orthopaedic knowledge, program director evaluations, and match rate. This article describes the novel 1-month curriculum, which includes lectures, laboratory, and clinical experience.

Multi-day delay to care identified in pediatric trauma cases during COVID-19.

This study aims to establish how pediatric fracture patterns were altered at a level 1 trauma center in a state that implemented a shutdown during the initial height of COVID-19. After IRB approval, we identified 2017 patients treated at a pediatric institution for definitive management of a fracture between 26 March and 31 May 2018, 2019, or 2020. Dates were chosen based on statewide stay-at-home orders for Colorado. Patients were excluded for treatment at another institution (n = 148), no fracture noted in clinic (n = 18), or other (n = 13). Data were retrospectively collected from the remaining 1838 patients regarding demographics, fracture injury, mechanism, and treatment. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for each variable during COVID-19 relative to prior years. The number of fractures during 2020 decreased by 26% relative to 2019 and 23% to 2018. A larger proportion of patients experienced at least a 5-day delay to definitive treatment [OR: 1.55, confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.96, P = 0.0002]. Rates of non-accidental trauma (NAT) increased non-significantly (OR: 2.67, CI: 0.86-8.32, P = 0.0900) during 2020 (1.2%) relative to 2018 (0.6%) and 2019 (0.3%). Fractures occurring at home increased to 79.9% (OR: 6.44, CI: 5.04-8.22, P < 0.0001). Despite less overall trauma during shelter-in-place orders, greater fracture numbers were seen among younger children and severe fractures were likely among older children. Patients may hesitate to seek care during 2020. Rates of NAT doubled during 2020. As communities prepare for future waves, treatment centers should warn against common fracture mechanisms and raise awareness of NAT.

Delays in Obtaining Knee MRI in Pediatric Sports Medicine: Impact of Insurance Type.

BACKGROUND: Increased enrollment in government-based insurance plans has been reported. With youth sports injuries on the rise, increased ordering of advanced imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has occurred. This study sought to report on the impact of insurance type on access to and results of knee MRI in pediatric sports medicine patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of 178 consecutive pediatric sports medicine clinics was completed. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients younger than 18 years, routine knee MRI ordered, sports medicine diagnosis, and insurance. Data included basic demographics, injury date, date and location (urgent care vs. clinic) of the first presentation, details of MRI ordering and approval, date and location of MRI follow-up, MRI results (negative, minor findings, major findings), and eventual treatment required. RESULTS: A total of 168 charts underwent a complete review. The patients' average age was 14±3 years and 54% (N=90) were female. Ninety-eight had government insurance and 70 had commercial insurance. The time between injury and MRI completion was significantly longer with government insurance (34 vs. 67 d, P<0.01). Government insurance had increased wait time between the first visit and MRI completion (11 vs. 40 d, P<0.001) as well as MRI order and completion (9 vs. 16.5 d, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in positive findings on MRI between insurance groups, including both major and minor findings nor in the proportion receiving eventual operative treatment. CONCLUSION: Pediatric sports medicine patients with government insurance have delays in obtaining knee MRI, despite there being no difference in the rate of positive findings and subsequent operative treatments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-case-control study.

Evaluation of General and Musculoskeletal Health Literacy Disparities in Pediatric Sports Injury Patient and Guardian Populations.

BACKGROUND: Increased participation of adolescents in organized sports has led to an increase in pediatric sports injury. Limited health literacy puts patients at risk for worse outcomes through decreased compliance. We aim to evaluate the extent of health literacy disparities in pediatric sports medicine populations. METHODS: Patients aged 10 to 17 years and their consenting guardians visiting clinic for treatment of a sports-related injury completed a unique questionnaire including self-reported health literacy measures and direct assessment of knowledge regarding care for musculoskeletal injuries. Statistical analysis based on socioeconomic factors and demographics was performed using t tests. RESULTS: A total of 268 patient surveys (14.37±1.94 y) and 251 guardian surveys (43.62±9.08 y) were collected. In self-reported general health literacy scores for guardians, all categories except ethnicity played a statistically significant role, with higher health literacy scores associated with higher education, use of English as the primary language at home, private insurance, and female guardians (P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, 0.011). In contrast, age was the only factor affecting scores in the patient population (P=0.015). Among self-reported musculoskeletal health literacy and directly measured musculoskeletal literacy scores, there were significant differences in groups by age, primary language, and level of education (P=0.020, 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparities in general and musculoskeletal health literacy exist within pediatric sports medicine populations, most notably between guardian groups. Improving disparities in health literacy for these populations may best be aimed at guardians, using medical education through verbal/written instruction in multiple languages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Integrating physical activity into the primary school curriculum: rationale and study protocol for the "Thinking while Moving in English" cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The current and declining physical activity levels of children is a global concern. Integrating physical activity into the school curriculum may be an effective way not only to improve children's physical activity levels but also enhance educational outcomes. Given the recent national focus in Australia on improving the literacy levels of children in primary school, and an increasing proportion of time spent on explicitly teaching these skills, integrating physical activity into English could be a viable strategy to improve literacy levels and physical activity at the same time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the 'Thinking While Moving in English' (TWM-E) program on children's physical activity, on-task behavior in the classroom, academic achievement, and executive function. METHODS: Grade 3-4 children from 10 public schools in New South Wales, Australia will be randomly allocated to intervention (n = 5) or control (n = 5) groups. All teachers will receive 1-day workshop of registered professional learning and a TWM-E equipment pack (e.g., chalk, lettered bean bags). Intervention schools will be asked to adapt their English lessons to embed movement-based learning in their daily program for three 40-min lessons per week, over a six-week period. The primary outcome is children's physical activity levels across the school day (measured using accelerometry). Secondary outcomes are children's on-task behavior during English lessons, academic achievement in English, and executive function. A detailed process evaluation will be undertaken including questionnaires, fidelity checks, and teacher and student interviews. DISCUSSION: The TWM-E program has the potential to improve primary school children's physical activity levels, along with academic outcomes (on-task behavior, cognition, and academic achievement), and provide stakeholders with exemplar lessons and guidelines which illustrate how to teach English to children whilst they are moving. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical trial Register ACTRN12618001009202 Date registered: 15/06/2018 retrospectively registered.

Use of the subcutaneous lumbar spine (SLS) index as a predictor for surgical complications in lumbar spine surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Lumbar spine surgeries require adequate exposure to visualize key structures and limited exposure can make surgery more technically difficult, thus increasing the potential for complications. Body mass index and body mass distribution have been shown to be associated with worse surgical outcomes. PURPOSE: This study aims to further previous investigations in elucidating the predictive nature of body mass distribution with peri- and postoperative complications in lumbar surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a retrospective study conducted at a single institution. PATIENT SAMPLE: Two hundred eighty-five patients who underwent lumbar laminectomy, laminotomy, or posterior lumbar interbody fusion or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedures between 2013 and 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results and electronic medical records were reviewed for measurements and relevant complications. METHODS: Previously known risk factors were identified and MRI measurements of subcutaneous adipose depth (SAD) relative to spinous process height (SPH) were measured at the surgical site to generate the subcutaneous lumbar spine (SLS) index. This measurement was then analyzed in association with recorded surgical complications. RESULTS: The SLS index was found to be a significant risk factor for total complications (0.292, p=.041), perioperative complications (0.202, p=.015), and need for revision surgery (0.285, p<.001). The SAD alone proved to be negatively associated with perioperative complications (-0.075, p=.034) and need for revision surgery (-0.104, p=.001), with no predictive association seen for total or postoperative complications. Linear regression revealed an SLS index of 3.43 as a threshold value associated with a higher risk of total complications, 5.8 for perioperative complications, and 3.81 for the need for revision surgeries. CONCLUSION: Body mass distribution of the surgical site as indicated by SAD to SPH (SLS index) is significantly associated with increasing risk of postoperative and perioperative complications as well as increased likelihood for necessary revision surgery. This relationship was shown to be a more accurate indication of perioperative risk than previous standards of body mass index and SAD alone, and may allow spine surgeons to assess surgical risk when considering lumbar spine surgery using simple calculations from standard preoperative MRI results.