Head and Neck Necrotizing Fasciitis: Abbreviated SOFA Score Associated With Death and Infection Spread.

Objective: Describe features unique to head and neck (H&N) necrotizing fasciitis (NF) compared to other anatomic regions and specify a prognostic score associated with death and descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: Tertiary care, level 1 trauma center. Methods: A single-institution database identified 399 confirmed cases of NF between 2006 and 2021, 33 of which involved the H&N. Patients with confirmed H&N NF were sorted into cohorts based on clinical outcomes, with the "poor" outcomes group defined by death and/or DNM. Results: Thirty-three patients with H&N NF were included. Compared to NF of other regions, patients with H&N NF had a significantly lower mortality rate (6.06% vs 20.8%, p = .041) and significantly lower rates of obesity (27.3% vs 63.7%, p < .001) and hypertension (42.4% vs 60.9%, p = .038). Within the H&N group, there were 2 deaths (6.06%) and 8 cases of DNM (24.2%). Diabetes was associated with poor outcomes (p = .047), as was an abbreviated sequential organ failure assessment score for necrotizing fasciitis (nfSOFA) of 2 or greater (p = .015). Conclusion: H&N NF is unique among other forms of NF, with a lower mortality rate and lower rates of obesity and hypertension in affected patients. Within the H&N cohort, worse outcomes were associated with diabetes as well as a nfSOFA score of 2 or greater. Timely surgical debridement alongside broad-spectrum antibiotics remains the mainstay of treatment for NF; however, this simple prognostic score may play a role during the early stages of care for patients with H&N NF.

Ethical and Legal Considerations for Recording in the Operating Room: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: The integration of high-resolution video into surgical practice has fostered widespread interest in capturing surgical video recordings for the purposes of patient care, medical training, quality improvement, and documentation. The capture, analysis, and storing of such recordings inherently impact operating room (OR) activities and introduce potential harms to patients as well as members of the surgical team, which can be analyzed from both ethical and legal perspectives. METHODS: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic literature search of PubMed was conducted. The citations of included articles were then reviewed to find any articles not captured by our initial search. RESULTS: 62 Articles were included in the review (52 from PubMed search and 10 from citation review). Prevalent key issues in the literature at present include privacy, consent, ownership, legal use and discoverability, editing, data security, and recording's impact on the surgical team. CONCLUSIONS: This review aims to spark proactive discussions of the ethical and legal implications of recording in the OR, which will guide transformation as the medical field adapts to new and innovative technologies without compromising its ideals or patient care.

Metatarsophalangeal Joint Reconstruction Using Talar Osteochondral Allograft following a Failed Dorsal Cheilectomy.

Dorsal cheilectomy is often used as a first-line surgical treatment for hallux rigidus; however, revision surgery is needed in nearly 9% of cases. One option for revision surgery is interpositional arthroplasty, which is designed to preserve joint motion and is favorable in young, active populations. This case discusses a young female patient with persistent, painful hallux rigidus and a large osteochondral defect despite prior dorsal cheilectomy. We performed an interpositional arthroplasty of the first metatarsophalangeal joint using an osteochondral allograft from the talus. At three-year follow-up, she had greatly improved function and was able to run without pain. To our knowledge, this is the first documented use of an osteochondral allograft from the talus in conjunction with metatarsophalangeal joint interpositional arthroplasty for treatment of hallux rigidus and a severe osteochondral defect. This technique introduces osseous subchondral scaffolding as well as mature hyaline cartilage into an osteochondral lesion, thereby reestablishing proper joint architecture and congruent articulation and ultimately improving range of motion and reducing pain. We present this technique as an experimental treatment option for restoring both the integrity and function of the metatarsophalangeal joint following trauma, osteochondritis dissecans, or prior operative failure in patients who wish to delay metatarsophalangeal joint fusion.

Socioeconomic factors associated with helmet use in pediatric ATV and dirt bike trauma.

Objectives: Recreational off-road vehicle crashes can produce severe injury and death among children, often from head trauma sustained while riding unhelmeted. Although required for competition, recreational riders commonly forego helmets. This study aimed to identify socioeconomic factors associated with unhelmeted injuries among children riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes recreationally, thus informing injury prevention efforts. Methods: A retrospective review was completed of patients younger than 18 years who presented after recreational ATV or dirt bike crash to a single American College of Surgeons-verified level 1 pediatric trauma center (2010-2019). Demographic, injury, and outcome data were collected. US Census data regarding median and per capita income, poverty prevalence, and scholastic graduation rates were recorded for each patient's home county. Relationships between helmet use at the time of injury, demographics, and socioeconomic variables were examined. Results: The cohort comprised 680 injured recreational ATV (n=510; 75%) and dirt bike (170; 25%) riders. Unhelmeted riders (n=450) were significantly older (median age 13 vs 11 years; p=0.008) and more often rode ATVs (n=399). Significantly greater percentages of females (77.9%; p<0.001) and passengers (89.5%; p<0.001) were unhelmeted at the time of injury. Residents of counties with lower median and per capita income, higher poverty prevalence, and lower high school and college graduation rates were significantly more likely to be unhelmeted at the time of their crash (p=0.003). In multivariable analysis, unhelmeted injuries were independently associated with ATV use (OR=6.757; p<0.0001), passenger status (OR=6.457; p<0.0001), and older age (OR=1.219; p<0.0001). Conclusion: In children, ATV use, passenger status, and older age associated independently with unhelmeted riding in recreational vehicle crash. Residence in a county with both lower median income and scholastic graduation rates associated with unhelmeted crashes, and lower median income significantly predicted unhelmeted crashes. This study revealed socioeconomic factors that identify communities with greatest need for injury prevention initiatives. Level of evidence: III-retrospective comparative epidemiological study.

The impact of helmet use on neurosurgical care and outcomes after pediatric all-terrain vehicle and dirt bike crashes: a 10-year single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: All-terrain vehicle (ATV) and dirt bike crashes frequently result in traumatic brain injury. The authors performed a retrospective study to evaluate the role of helmets in the neurosurgical outcomes of pediatric patients involved in ATV and dirt bike crashes who were treated at their institution during the last decade. METHODS: The authors analyzed data on all pediatric patients involved in ATV or dirt bike crashes who were evaluated at a single regional level I pediatric trauma center between 2010 and 2019. Patients were excluded if the crash occurred in a competition (n = 70) or if helmet status could not be determined (n = 18). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association of helmet status with the primary outcomes of 1) neurosurgical consultation, 2) intracranial injury (including skull fracture), and 3) moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (MSTBI) and to control for literature-based, potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: In total, 680 patients were included (230 [34%] helmeted patients and 450 [66%] unhelmeted patients). Helmeted patients were more frequently male (81% vs 66%). Drivers were more frequently helmeted (44.3%) than passengers (10.5%, p < 0.001). Head imaging was performed to evaluate 70.9% of unhelmeted patients and 48.3% of helmeted patients (p < 0.001). MSTBI (8.0% vs 1.7%, p = 0.001) and neurosurgical consultation (26.2% vs 9.1%, p < 0.001) were more frequent among unhelmeted patients. Neurosurgical injuries, including intracranial hemorrhage (16% vs 4%, p < 0.001) and skull fracture (18% vs 4%, p < 0.001), were more common in unhelmeted patients. Neurosurgical procedures were required by 2.7% of unhelmeted patients. One helmeted patient (0.4%) required placement of an intracranial pressure monitor, and no other helmeted patients required neurosurgical procedures. After adjustment for age, sex, driver status, vehicle type, and injury mechanism, helmet use significantly reduced the odds of neurosurgical consultation (OR 0.250, 95% CI 0.140-0.447, p < 0.001), intracranial injury (OR 0.172, 95% CI 0.087-0.337, p < 0.001), and MSTBI (OR 0.244, 95% CI 0.079-0.758, p = 0.015). The unadjusted absolute risk reduction provided by helmet use equated to a number-needed-to-helmet of 6 riders to prevent 1 neurosurgical consultation, 4 riders to prevent 1 intracranial injury, and 16 riders to prevent 1 MSTBI. CONCLUSIONS: Helmet use remains problematically low among young ATV and dirt bike riders, especially passengers. Expanding helmet use among these children could significantly reduce the rates of intracranial injury and MSTBI, as well as the subsequent need for neurosurgical procedures. Promoting helmet use among recreational ATV and dirt bike riders must remain a priority for neurosurgeons, public health officials, and injury prevention professionals.

A Rare Laryngeal Presentation of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare but severe mucocutaneous epidermolysis commonly triggered by medications. SJS is characterized by mucocutaneous lesions of the trunk, face, and limbs, as well as the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract. Although uncommon, laryngeal involvement in SJS can lead to severe respiratory, phonatory and deglutitive complications. Providers caring for patients with SJS should maintain a high index of suspicion for laryngeal involvement and low threshold to solicit Otolaryngology consultation. Laryngeal complications can be more expediently managed when anticipated early in the course of disease. Laryngoscope, 131:2519-2522, 2021.

Changes in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Community mitigation measures were implemented to decrease the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, secondary to acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and trauma, before and during the pandemic. We hypothesized that the numbers of ED visits and ARIs would decrease, whereas the proportion of trauma visits would increase. METHODS: A retrospective study from 2018 to 2020 was performed on children 18 years and younger presenting to the ED either for ARI or trauma at a high-volume comprehensive pediatric hospital between March and May each year. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification admission diagnosis codes were used to identify ARI, trauma, and injury mechanisms. Pearson's χ2 test was used to compare proportions between categorical variables. RESULTS: Overall, 6393 total ED visits occurred in 2020, compared with 11 758 and 12 138 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In 2020, the total ARI number declined by 58%, and ARI frequency decreased significantly, whereas the total trauma number declined by 34%, and the proportion of trauma visits significantly increased. In addition, the number and proportion of recreational vehicle crashes increased, whereas the number and proportion decreased for all intentional and animal-related traumas. CONCLUSIONS: The total number of pediatric ED visits dropped precipitously in 2020, but the proportion of trauma visits increased significantly in 2020, accounting for greater than one-quarter of all ED visits. Injury mechanism varied significantly compared to previous years. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the benefits of community mitigation to decrease ARIs and strategies directed to reduce mechanism-specific trauma.

Sensorimotor abilities predict on-field performance in professional baseball.

Baseball players must be able to see and react in an instant, yet it is hotly debated whether superior performance is associated with superior sensorimotor abilities. In this study, we compare sensorimotor abilities, measured through 8 psychomotor tasks comprising the Nike Sensory Station assessment battery, and game statistics in a sample of 252 professional baseball players to evaluate the links between sensorimotor skills and on-field performance. For this purpose, we develop a series of Bayesian hierarchical latent variable models enabling us to compare statistics across professional baseball leagues. Within this framework, we find that sensorimotor abilities are significant predictors of on-base percentage, walk rate and strikeout rate, accounting for age, position, and league. We find no such relationship for either slugging percentage or fielder-independent pitching. The pattern of results suggests performance contributions from both visual-sensory and visual-motor abilities and indicates that sensorimotor screenings may be useful for player scouting.

Visual abilities distinguish pitchers from hitters in professional baseball.

This study aimed to evaluate the possibility that differences in sensorimotor abilities exist between hitters and pitchers in a large cohort of baseball players of varying levels of experience. Secondary data analysis was performed on 9 sensorimotor tasks comprising the Nike Sensory Station assessment battery. Bayesian hierarchical regression modelling was applied to test for differences between pitchers and hitters in data from 566 baseball players (112 high school, 85 college, 369 professional) collected at 20 testing centres. Explanatory variables including height, handedness, eye dominance, concussion history, and player position were modelled along with age curves using basis regression splines. Regression analyses revealed better performance for hitters relative to pitchers at the professional level in the visual clarity and depth perception tasks, but these differences did not exist at the high school or college levels. No significant differences were observed in the other 7 measures of sensorimotor capabilities included in the test battery, and no systematic biases were found between the testing centres. These findings, indicating that professional-level hitters have better visual acuity and depth perception than professional-level pitchers, affirm the notion that highly experienced athletes have differing perceptual skills. Findings are discussed in relation to deliberate practice theory.