Social determinants of health and sepsis: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to identify whether social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with the development of sepsis and assess the differences between individuals living within systematically disadvantaged neighbourhoods compared with those living outside these neighbourhoods. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre case-control study including 300 randomly selected adult patients (100 patients with sepsis and 200 patients without sepsis) admitted to the emergency department of a large academic tertiary care hospital in Hamilton, ON, Canada. We collected data on demographics and a limited set of SDoH variables, including neighbourhood household income, smoking history, social support, and history of alcohol disorder. We analyzed study data using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The study included 100 patients with sepsis with a median [interquartile range (IQR)] age of 75 [58-84] yr and 200 patients without sepsis with a median [IQR] age of 72 [60-83] yr. Factors significantly associated with sepsis included arrival by ambulance, absence of a family physician, higher Hamilton Early Warning Score, and a recorded history of dyslipidemia. Important SDoH variables, such as individual or household income and race, were not available in the medical chart. In patients with SDoH available in their medical records, no SDoH was significantly associated with sepsis. Nevertheless, compared with their proportion of the Hamilton population, the rate of sepsis cases and sepsis deaths was approximately two times higher among patients living in systematically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the lack of available SDoH data in electronic health records. Despite no association between the SDoH variables available and sepsis, we found a higher rate of sepsis cases and sepsis deaths among individuals living in systematically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Including SDoH in electronic health records is crucial to study their effect on the risk of sepsis and to provide equitable care.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons cherché à déterminer si les déterminants sociaux de la santé (DSS) étaient associés à l'apparition de sepsis et à évaluer les différences entre les personnes vivant dans des quartiers systématiquement défavorisés et celles vivant à l'extérieur de ces quartiers. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude cas témoins monocentrique portant sur 300 patient·es adultes sélectionné·es au hasard (100 personnes atteintes de sepsis et 200 témoins sans sepsis) admis·es au service des urgences d'un grand hôpital universitaire de soins tertiaires à Hamilton, ON, Canada. Nous avons recueilli des données démographiques et un ensemble limité de variables de DSS, y compris le revenu des ménages du quartier, les antécédents de tabagisme, le soutien social et les antécédents de troubles liés à l'alcool. Nous avons analysé les données de l'étude à l'aide de modèles de régression logistique multivariés. RéSULTATS: L'étude a inclus 100 patient·es atteint·es de sepsis avec un âge médian [écart interquartile (ÉIQ)] de 75 [58-84] ans et 200 patient·es sans sepsis avec un âge médian [ÉIQ] de 72 [60-83] ans. Les facteurs significativement associés au sepsis comprenaient l'arrivée en ambulance, l'absence de médecin de famille, un score Hamilton Early Warning Score plus élevé et des antécédents enregistrés de dyslipidémie. D'importantes variables de DSS, telles que le revenu individuel et du ménage et la race, n'étaient pas disponibles dans le dossier médical. Chez les personnes dont les DSS étaient disponibles dans leur dossier médical, aucun DSS n'était significativement associé au sepsis. Néanmoins, comparativement à leur proportion dans la population de Hamilton, le taux de cas de sepsis et de décès dus au sepsis était environ deux fois plus élevé chez les personnes vivant dans des quartiers systématiquement défavorisés. CONCLUSION: Cette étude a révélé le manque de données disponibles sur les DSS dans les dossiers de santé électroniques. Bien qu'il n'y ait pas d'association entre les variables disponibles et le sepsis, nous avons constaté un taux plus élevé de cas de sepsis et de décès dus à la septicémie chez les personnes vivant dans des quartiers systématiquement défavorisés. L'inclusion des DSS dans les dossiers de santé électroniques est cruciale pour étudier leur effet sur le risque de sepsis et pour dispenser des soins équitables.

Predicting amputation using machine learning: A systematic review.

Amputation is an irreversible, last-line treatment indicated for a multitude of medical problems. Delaying amputation in favor of limb-sparing treatment may lead to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This systematic review aims to synthesize the literature on how ML is being applied to predict amputation as an outcome. OVID Embase, OVID Medline, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore were searched from inception to March 5, 2023. 1376 studies were screened; 15 articles were included. In the diabetic population, models ranged from sub-optimal to excellent performance (AUC: 0.6-0.94). In trauma patients, models had strong to excellent performance (AUC: 0.88-0.95). In patients who received amputation secondary to other etiologies (e.g.: burns and peripheral vascular disease), models had similar performance (AUC: 0.81-1.0). Many studies were found to have a high PROBAST risk of bias, most often due to small sample sizes. In conclusion, multiple machine learning models have been successfully developed that have the potential to be superior to traditional modeling techniques and prospective clinical judgment in predicting amputation. Further research is needed to overcome the limitations of current studies and to bring applicability to a clinical setting.

Partial debridement is the most commonly reported treatment option for mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To determine clinical outcomes and risks of various management strategies for mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (MD-ACL). METHODS: Three databases MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception to January 29th, 2023 for literature outlining clinical outcomes for various management strategies of MD-ACL. The authors adhered to the PRISMA and R-AMSTAR guidelines as well as the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data on satisfaction scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Lysholm scores, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, Knee Osteoarthritis and Outcome Scores (KOOS), range of motion and Lachman test were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies comprising 776 patients (782 knees) were included in this review. Partial debridement was reported in ten (71.4%) studies comprising 446 patients, showing significant improvements in VAS, Lysholm, IKDC scores and range of motion. Complete debridement was reported by two (14.2%) studies comprising 250 patients, and resulted in increases in Lysholm scores, KOOS, and range of motion. Reduction plasty was reported in two (14.2%) studies comprising 26 patients and showed improvements in VAS and Lysholm scores, and range of motion. Other methods of treatment included conservative management and ultrasound decompression. Complete debridement resulted in 10/23 (43%) patients with a positive Lachman test. This was followed by reduction plasty and partial debridement, with 5/26 (19.2%) and 45/340 (13.2%) patients respectively having positive Lachman or elevated knee arthrometer scores. Pivot shifting was only reported in studies on partial debridement and reduction plasty, with 14/93 (15.1%) and 1/21 (4.8%) patients have positive results, respectively. CONCLUSION: The most commonly reported management strategy for MD-ACL is partial debridement with complete debridement, reduction plasty and conservative management as alternative options. Current operative management strategies place individuals at risk for ACL insufficiency. Information from this review can aid surgeons and clinicians in understanding what treatment options are best for this patient population, by understanding the reported clinical benefits and risks of each strategy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Posterior tibial slope, notch width index and tibial tubercle to trochlear groove distance contribute to development of mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To determine what knee morphological factors are associated with the development of mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). METHODS: Three databases MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception to January 29th, 2023 for literature outlining knee morphological factors that potentially lead to the development of mucoid degeneration of the ACL. The authors adhered to the PRISMA and R-AMSTAR guidelines as well as the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve parameters such as area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity, odds ratios, as well as p values for comparisons of values between mucoid degeneration of the ACL and control patients were recorded. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) score was used for all studies to perform a quality assessment of included studies. RESULTS: A total of 7 studies comprising 1326 patients (1330 knees) were included in this review. Four studies reported a significant association between increasing posterior tibial slope angles and mucoid degeneration of the ACL presence, with one study specifying that posterolateral tibial slope had a greater association than posteromedial tibial slope. Two studies reported a significant association between lower notch width index values and mucoid degeneration of the ACL presence. One study found that the presence of trochlear dysplasia was correlated with mucoid degeneration of the ACL and two studies found that increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (TT-TG) was associated with mucoid degeneration of the ACL. CONCLUSION: Increased posterior tibial slope, decreased notch width index, and elevated TT-TG and trochlear dysplasia were associated with the presence of mucoid degeneration of the ACL. Information from this review can aid surgeons in understanding what morphological features predispose their patients to the development of mucoid degeneration of the ACL. Identifying what features predispose patients to mucoid degeneration of the ACL can help determine if regular screening or preventative strategies are necessary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Patients with discoid menisci have similar clinical outcomes to those without discoid menisci when undergoing surgical intervention: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To compare post-operative clinical outcomes of discoid meniscus tear procedures such as saucerization with or without repair with those of non-discoid meniscus tears such as meniscectomy or repair in skeletally mature patients with no concomitant injuries. METHODS: Three databases MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception to July 3rd, 2022 for literature describing patient-reported outcome measures after meniscus surgery in discoid or non-discoid meniscus tears. The authors adhered to the PRISMA and R-AMSTAR guidelines as well as the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Clinical outcome data on Lysholm, Tegner, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), revision rates, and complications were recorded, with MINORS and Detsky scores used for quality assessment. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies comprising 2213 patients were included with a mean age of 38.6 years (range: 9.0-64.4). The mean follow-up time was 54.1 months (range: 1-234) and the average percentage of female participants was 46.8% (range: 9.5-95.5). The mean change between pre-operative and post-operative Lysholm scores ranged from 21.0-39.0, 7.4-24.1, and 24.2-48.4 in the discoid, non-discoid meniscectomy, and non-discoid repair groups, respectively. The mean change in Tegner scores ranged from 0.0 to 2.3, 1.3, and 0.4-1.3 in the discoid, non-discoid meniscectomy, and non-discoid repair groups, respectively. Pre-operative IKDC scores were not reported, however mean post-operative IKDC scores ranged from 77.4 to 96.0, 46.9 to 85.7, and 63.1 to 94.0 in discoid, non-discoid meniscectomy, and non-discoid repair groups, respectively. Revision rates for discoid procedures, non-discoid meniscectomies, and non-discoid meniscus repairs ranged from 3.2 to 44.0%, 8.3 to 56.0%, and 5.9 to 28.0%, respectively. The most common reasons for revision were acute trauma and persistent pain. CONCLUSION: Discoid saucerization procedures with or without repair leads to similar Lysholm scores as non-discoid repair procedures, and similar IKDC scores and revision rates compared to non-discoid meniscectomy or repair procedures. Patients undergoing discoid procedures appeared to have slightly higher Tegner activity scores compared to patients undergoing non-discoid procedures; however this is to be considered in the context of a younger population of patients undergoing discoid procedures than non-discoid procedures. This information can help guide surgeons in the decision-making process when treating patients with discoid menisci, and should guide further investigations on this topic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.