Correlation Between Patient-Reported and Clinician-Measured Shoulder Range of Motion in Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: There has been increasing interest in remote measures of patients' health, both in the clinical and research settings. This study sought to evaluate correlations between patient-reported and clinician-measured (CM) shoulder range of motion (ROM). METHODS: ROM measures including elevation, abduction, and internal rotation were recorded by a patient-reported picture-based survey and clinician measurement during each patient visit. A total of 13,842 visits over a 16-year period met inclusion criteria. Spearman correlation was performed to determine the correlation between patient-reported and CM elevation, abduction, and internal rotation. A subgroup analysis was conducted to evaluate motion in patients who underwent arthroplasty and arthroscopy. RESULTS: Patients were 52.4% male with a median age of 67 years (range, 18 to 96). PR and CM shoulder ROM were gathered at 13,842 patient visits. Strong correlations between PR and CM elevation (r = 0.70) and internal rotation (r = 0.66) were found, as well as a moderate correlation between PR and CM abduction (r = 0.59). Strong correlations were found between all three PR and CM measures of motion in the arthroplasty subgroup (elevation r = 0.74, abduction r = 0.63, and internal rotation r = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong correlation between patient-reported and CM shoulder elevation and internal rotation, as well as a moderate correlation between PR and CM abduction. This allows for a method of assessing patient motion without requiring an in-person visit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Retrospective Cohort Study.

Techniques for Managing the Subscapularis and Addressing Failures of the Tendon in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) is an accepted treatment for a variety of degenerative conditions of the glenohumeral joint. The manner in which the subscapularis tendon is handled during the approach in aTSA is not universally agreed on. Failure of the repair after aTSA has been shown to be associated with poorer outcomes in some cases. There is no consensus on how to treat failures, as all techniques described in the literature demonstrate shortcomings. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the methods of handling the tendon in aTSA and to review options for treating failure following surgery. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(5):e264-e272.].

Rotator Cuff Repair Augmented With Interpositional Nanofiber Scaffold.

Despite advances in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, failure rates up to 94% have been reported in the literature for large tears, with rates as high as 36% for small and medium tears. One strategy for improving outcomes is augmentation with a patch, which has typically been incorporated onto the bursal portion of the repaired tendon and been made up of either dermal or bovine collagen tissue. The Rotium wick (Atreon Orthopedics, Columbus, OH)-an interpositional augmentation-is a nanofiber scaffold that is meant to be sandwiched between the rotator cuff and humerus at the bone-tendon interface and is currently the only implant approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to be used in this manner. The scaffold works to improve the cellular organization of the basement membrane during tendon healing at the enthesis and, in a recent sheep study, has been shown to better replicate the natural Sharpey-like fibers similar to the native tendon and increase the strength of the repair more rapidly. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe the means for use of an interpositional nanofiber scaffold for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Nontraditional Methods of Fibula Fixation.

This article explores different nontraditional methods that could be adopted in clinical settings as alternatives to the traditional fibular fixation. Less invasive methods, such as intramedullary nail and screw fixation, might be viable alternatives for managing ankle fractures. These methods might especially benefit patients with poor soft tissue envelopes, low immunity, and poor bone quality. There is minimal soft tissue coverage for most orthopedic implants around the ankle. Various authors have highlighted the importance of minimally invasive surgery as an effective modality for ensuring superior prognosis for ankle fracture surgery or those fractures involving both the distal tibia and fibula.

Enigmatic and Unusual Cases of Upper Extremity Pain: Mislabeling As Malingerers.

With the intricate anatomy of the hand and upper extremity, there are many possible etiologies of pain. In addition, one must be alert to conditions typically affecting other areas of the body presenting in the hand and upper extremity. To add to the complexity of diagnosis, one must also be aware of potential secondary gains. With this in mind, a thorough history, physical examination, and broad differential can help avoid mislabeling patients with uncommon ailments. In this article, we present 4 cases of unusual causes of hand and upper extremity pain.

Mental and Physical Health Disparities in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Living With High Levels of Social Deprivation.

PURPOSE: Social, mental, and physical health have a complex interrelationship with each influencing individuals' overall health experience. Social circumstances have been shown to influence symptom intensity and magnitude of disability for a variety of medical conditions. We tested the null hypothesis that social deprivation would not impact Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores or objective health factors in patients presenting for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 367 patients who presented for evaluation of CTS to 1 of 6 hand surgeons at a tertiary academic center between August 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Patients completed PROMIS Physical Function-v1.2, Pain Interference-v1.1, Depression-v1.0, and Anxiety-v1.0 Computer Adaptive Tests. The Area Deprivation Index was used to quantify social deprivation. Medical record review determined duration of symptoms, tobacco and opioid use, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for each patient. Sample demographics, PROMIS scores, and objective health measures were compared in groups defined by national quartiles of social deprivation. RESULTS: Patients with CTS living in the most deprived quartile had worse mean scores across all 4 PROMIS domains compared with those living in the least deprived quartile. A higher proportion of individuals from the most deprived quartile had a heightened level of anxiety than those in the least deprived quartile (37.3% vs 12.6%). The mean CCI was higher in the most deprived quartile, as was the proportion of individuals using tobacco. There were no differences in opioid use or symptom duration between patients from each deprivation quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Social deprivation is associated with worse patient-reported health measures in patients with CTS. Compared with those from the least deprived areas, patients from the most deprived areas also have a greater comorbidity burden and higher rates of tobacco use at presentation to a hand surgeon. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Variability of PROMIS Scores Across Hand Conditions.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function and Pain Interference scores varied at presentation for specialty care by nontrauma hand condition. The secondary aim was to compare PROMIS scores with a reference standard, the Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH), regarding the magnitude and direction of score differentials among diagnoses. METHODS: PROMIS Physical Function and Pain Interference scores were analyzed from 1,471 consecutive new adult patient clinic visits at a tertiary orthopedic hand clinic presenting with 1 of 5 nontrauma hand conditions. A 5-point difference on PROMIS assessments was presumed to be clinically relevant. A random sample of 30 QuickDASH scores from each diagnostic group was evaluated for score differentials among groups. We also measured the correlation between PROMIS and QuickDASH scores. RESULTS: Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and thumb basal joint arthritis reported worse physical function and more pain interference, whereas those with Dupuytren contractures and ganglion cysts reported less pain and better function. For both domains, patients with trigger fingers averaged PROMIS scores among the other groups. Similar differences were observed in QuickDASH scores because patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and thumb arthritis reported clinically worse upper-extremity function than did patients with ganglion cysts and Dupuytren contracture. A strong correlation was seen between QuickDASH scores with both PROMIS Physical Function scores and Pain Interference scores. CONCLUSIONS: The PROMIS system is sufficiently able to capture differences in self-reported function and pain interference among patients with different hand conditions. Moreover, PROMIS Physical Function demonstrates construct validity when evaluated against a reference of the QuickDASH across nontrauma hand conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of PROMIS is expanding, but because PROMIS is not disease-specific, assessment of its construct validity is necessary for hand conditions.

Using Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Measures to Understand the Relationship Between Improvement in Physical Function and Depressive Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: This investigation determined whether improved physical function and decreased pain would reduce depressive symptoms using the Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). METHODS: This cohort study analyzed PROMIS Depression, Physical Function, and Pain Interference CAT scores from 3,339 patients presenting to a tertiary orthopaedic center. Patients demonstrating at least a-five point (effect size, 0.5) improvement in PROMIS Physical Function between consecutive visits were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: Patients presented, on average, with Physical Function and Pain Interference scores nearly one SD worse than population averages and Depression scores that approximated the normal population. Improved Physical Function and Pain Interference scores demonstrated no correlation with change in Depression scores (r = -0.13; r = 0.25). CONCLUSION: Substantial early improvement in PROMIS Physical Function scores is not associated with change in PROMIS Depression scores. PROMIS Depression scores likely reflect underlying mental health rather than situational depressive symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, level III.

Anxiety in the orthopedic patient: using PROMIS to assess mental health.

PURPOSE: This study explored the performance of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety assessment relative to the Depression assessment in orthopedic patients, the relationship between Anxiety with self-reported Physical Function and Pain Interference, and to determine if Anxiety levels varied according to the location of orthopedic conditions. METHODS: This cross-sectional evaluation analyzed 14,962 consecutive adult new-patient visits to a tertiary orthopedic practice between 4/1/2016 and 12/31/2016. All patients completed PROMIS Anxiety, Depression, Physical Function, and Pain Interference computer adaptive tests (CATs) as routine clinical intake. Patients were grouped by the orthopedic service providing care and categorized as either affected with Anxiety if scoring > 62 based on linkage to the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 survey. Spearman correlations between the PROMIS scores were calculated. Bivariate statistics assessed differences in Anxiety and Depression scores between patients of different orthopedic services. RESULTS: 20% of patients scored above the threshold to be considered affected by Anxiety. PROMIS Anxiety scores demonstrated a stronger correlation than Depression scores with Physical Function and Pain Interference scores. Patients with spine conditions reported the highest median Anxiety scores and were more likely to exceed the Anxiety threshold than patients presenting to sports or upper extremity surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: One in five new orthopedic patients reports Anxiety levels that may warrant intervention. This rate is heightened in patients needing spine care. Patient-reported Physical Function more strongly correlates with PROMIS Anxiety than Depression suggesting that the Anxiety CAT is a valuable addition to assess mental health among orthopedic patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic level III.

Relative Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Upper Extremity Conditions.

PURPOSE: Prior research regarding the impact of mental health on upper extremity musculoskeletal function and recovery has frequently grouped catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression. This study was designed to define the relative prevalence of heightened anxiety versus depressive symptoms among a patient population seeking upper extremity care and to determine if those prevalences varied according to the symptomatic condition. METHODS: All adult patients presenting to a tertiary upper extremity orthopedic center between June 1, 2016 and November 30, 2016 (n = 3,315) completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety and Depression Computer Adaptive Tests. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression assessed differences in average PROMIS scores between demographic and diagnostic groups. Patients were also analyzed according to crossing thresholds for heightened anxiety and depression scores based on established linkage tables with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression scales, respectively. Pearson chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to determine if the proportion of patients crossing these thresholds varied according to the primary symptomatic condition while accounting for patient age, sex, and race. RESULTS: African American patients and those with carpal tunnel syndrome, trapeziometacarpal arthritis, or shoulder conditions reported significantly higher PROMIS Anxiety scores. Higher PROMIS Depression scores varied only by diagnosis. Seventeen percent of patients exceeded the Anxiety symptoms score threshold and 10% of patients exceeded the Depression symptom threshold. In logistic regression modeling, the likelihood of exceeding the Anxiety threshold varied by diagnosis and was increased in African American patients and females. African American race was associated with exceeding the Depression threshold while accounting for sex and diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with upper extremity conditions more frequently report heightened anxiety than heightened depression. Patient race and diagnosis are independent predictors of anxiety among patients seeking care for upper extremity conditions. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

Performance of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity (UE) Versus Physical Function (PF) Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs) in Upper Extremity Clinics.

PURPOSE: To examine the performance of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity (UE) Function Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) relative to the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) CAT in patients seeking specialty care for upper extremity conditions. METHODS: This observational trial analyzed prospectively collected PROMIS UE and PF CAT scores from 5,202 adult patients with 10,344 outpatient clinic visits presenting to a tertiary orthopedic clinic. Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to evaluate the association between initial PF and UE scores as well as the association between changes in PF and UE scores between visits. Differences in scores between populations presenting with hand conditions versus shoulder and elbow conditions were evaluated via Student t test, as were differences in scores between new and return patient visits. RESULTS: The PROMIS UE CAT scores were strongly correlated with PROMIS PF CAT scores. However, patients averaged 8 points lower scoring on UE CAT testing than on PF CAT scores. The UE CAT demonstrated a ceiling effect at a score of 56 that affected 7% of patients with a secondary ceiling at 50. Changes in PF and UE scores between visits were moderately correlated with a mean difference of less than 1 point. Patients presenting for hand conditions achieved better PF and UE scores than patients presenting for shoulder and elbow conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The PROMIS UE module appears responsive to changes over time. However, the current UE CAT has a ceiling score of 56, which does not allow for improvement of scores 0.6 SD higher than the presumptive normative population mean of 50. Although a specific assessment of upper extremity function is desirable, continued refinement of the PROMIS UE CAT is required to better assess patients with higher levels of function. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

Distal radius fractures in the athlete.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Distal radius fractures are one of the most common upper extremity fractures. Athletes with distal radius fractures are treated according to the same principles as non-athletes but present several unique considerations. At all levels of sport, injured athletes desire to return to play as rapidly as possible. RECENT FINDINGS: Earlier operative fixation may allow an athlete to return to play more quickly. Volar locking plates are most commonly used for operative treatment of distal radius fractures due to their stability and low incidence of complications. Although the majority of distal radius fractures in athletes are treated non-operatively, operative intervention is offered when required to restore and maintain acceptable skeletal alignment. Return to sport is individualized guided by fracture stability, athlete age, and wrist-specific demands for competition.