Preoperative Epidural Steroid Injections and Postoperative Infections After Lumbar or Cervical Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To determine the risk difference and 95% prediction intervals (PIs) for postoperative infections (POIs) associated with preoperative epidural steroid injections (ESIs) in adults undergoing lumbar or cervical spine surgery. Methods: Comprehensive database searches were conducted from inception dates through December 2023. Inclusion criteria included all study designs involving adults receiving a preoperative ESI before lumbar or cervical decompression or fusion spine surgery. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified tool developed for uncontrolled studies. The summary estimates of risk difference and the corresponding PIs were reported. Results: A total of 12 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 9 were included in the meta-analysis. Preoperative ESIs within 1 month of lumbar spine decompression or fusion surgery were associated with a 0.6% and 2.31% greater risk of a POI, respectively. In adults ≥65 years of age, ESIs within 1 or 1-3 months of lumbar spine decompression or fusion surgery were associated with a 1.3% and 0.6% greater risk of a POI, respectively. Preoperative ESIs within 3 months of cervical spine fusion were not associated with an increased risk of a POI. The bounds of all corresponding 95% PIs were nonsignificant. Conclusion: The observations of this study provide summary estimates of risk difference and 95% PIs, which could be used to support shared decision-making about the use of ESIs before cervical or lumbar spine surgery.

Closing the gap in representation of racial and ethnic minorities in pain medicine: A 2018-2019 status report.

Racial health disparities persist despite increased public awareness of systemic racism. Due to the inherent subjectivity of pain perception, assessment and management, physician-patient bias in pain medicine remains widespread. It is broadly accepted that increasing racial diversity in the field of medicine is a critical step towards addressing persistent inequities in patient care. To assess the current racial demographics of the pain medicine pipeline, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of medical school matriculants and graduates, residents, and pain fellows in 2018. Our results show that the 2018 anesthesiology residency ERAS applicant pool consisted of 46.2% non-Hispanic White, 7.0% non-Hispanic Black and 5.8% Hispanic students. The population of 2018 anesthesiology residents included 63% non-Hispanic White, 6.8% non-Hispanic Black and 5.4% Hispanic persons. Of the total eligible resident pool for pain fellowships (n = 30,415) drawn from core specialties, 44% were non-Hispanic White, 4.9% non-Hispanic Black and 5.1% Hispanic. Similar proportions were observed for pain medicine and regional anesthesia fellows. We briefly discuss the implications of the shortage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic representation in pain medicine as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest approaches to improving these disparities.

Diversity of Pain Medicine Trainees and Faculty in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Fellowship Training from 2009-2019.

OBJECTIVE: Diversity and equity in medicine remain pivotal to care delivery. Data analysis on sex and racial diversity of pain medicine fellowship trainees and faculty in the United States are scant. We sought to characterize demographic and retention patterns among pain medicine fellows and faculty, who represent the emerging chronic pain management workforce. DESIGN: cross-sectional retrospective analysis. METHOD: We conducted an analysis of data from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the United States Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved residency and fellowship training-programs for each year from 2009 through 2019, inclusively. We compared changes in sex, racial/ethnicity composition and retention rates of fellows and faculty in the United States by practice setting. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2019, there was a 14% increase in the number of ACGME pain fellowship programs. From 2009 to 2019, the ratio of men to women pain fellows ranged from 5:1 to 3.7:1. Compared with their self-identified White peers, Asian (OR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.34-0.58), Black (OR 0.46; 95% CI: 0.30-0.72), and Native American/Alaskan Native (OR 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08-0.80) identifying individuals had significantly lower odds of being a pain fellow, P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in female (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.148-1.09) and Black (OR 0.36; 95% CI: 0.11-1.12) program-directors. Pain-fellow in-state retention was 53%. CONCLUSIONS: The demographics of pain medicine training programs reflect a persistent male vs. female gap with underrepresentation of racial minorities. Further research is needed to elucidate reasons underlying these disparities.

Beating the weekend trend: increased mortality in older adult traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients admitted on weekends.

BACKGROUND: Weekend admission is associated with mortality in cardiovascular emergencies and stroke but the effect of weekend admission for trauma is not well defined. We sought to determine whether differences in mortality outcomes existed for older adults with substantial head trauma admitted on a weekday versus over the weekend. METHODS: Data from the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Nationwide Inpatient Sample were combined and head trauma admissions were isolated. Abbreviated injury scale (AIS) scores were calculated using ICDMAP-90 Software. Individuals aged 65 to 89 y with head AIS equal to 3 or 4 and no other region score <3 were included. Individual Charlson comorbidity scores were calculated and individuals with missing mortality, sex, or insurance data were excluded. Wilcoxon rank sum and Student t-tests compared demographics, length of stay, and total charges for weekday versus weekend admissions. The χ2 tests compared sex and head injury severity. Logistic regression modeled mortality adjusting for age, sex, injury severity, comorbidity, and insurance status. RESULTS: Of the 38,675 patients meeting criteria, 9937 (25.6%) were admitted on weekends. Mean age was similar (78.4 versus 78.4, P = 0.796) but more weekend admissions were female (51.6% versus 50.2%, P = 0.022). Weekend patients demonstrated slightly lower comorbidity (mean Charlson = 1.07 versus 1.14, P < 0.001) and head injury severity (58.3% versus 60.8% AIS = 4, P < 0.001). Median weekend length of stay was shorter (4 versus 5 d, P < 0.001). Weekend and weekday median total charges did not differ ($27,128 versus $27,703, respectively, P = 0.667). Proportional mortality was higher among weekend patients (9.3% versus 8.4%, P = 0.008). After adjustment, weekend patients demonstrated 14% increased odds of mortality (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23). CONCLUSION: Older adults with substantial head trauma admitted on weekends are less severely injured, carry less comorbidity, and generate similar total charges compared with those admitted on weekdays. However, after accounting for known risk confounders, weekend patients demonstrated 14% greater odds of mortality. Mechanisms behind this disparity must be determined and eliminated.

Global surgical package reimbursement and the acute care surgeon: a threat to optimal care.

BACKGROUND: Emergency surgery patients risk greater mortality and morbidity than elective patients undergoing the same procedure. However, the differential effort required for the care of emergency surgical patients is poorly defined. This study sought to characterize costs and outcomes of elective versus emergent right hemicolectomy. METHODS: 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample data were used to compare mortality, total charges, and length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing emergency versus elective right hemicolectomy (International Classification of Diseases-9th procedure code 45.73). Mann-Whitney tests examined total costs and LOS; multivariable regression modeled inhospital mortality controlling for age, gender, insurance status, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Among 8,074,825 inpatient admissions, 7,767 emergent and 10,399 elective right hemicolectomies were identified. Emergent patients were similar in age (66.9 years vs. 67.6 years; p=0.129), more likely women (43.7% vs. 42.3%; p=0.048) and had greater comorbidity (Charlson score 3.37 vs. 3.01; p<0.001) compared with elective patients. Emergent patient LOS was approximately double that of elective patients (13 days vs. 7 days; p<0.001). Mean total charges were $78,118 for emergent versus $39,265 elective patients (p<0.001). Emergent patients had greater odds of inhospital mortality (odds ratio, 5.86; 95% confidence intervals, 4.80-7.14). CONCLUSIONS: Emergent right hemicolectomy patients have greater comorbidity, experience longer stays, accrue twice the charges, and have higher mortality risk. This reflects a heightened effort required to care for emergent patients unrecognized by Global Surgical Package reimbursement. The concentration of emergency surgical patients in acute care surgery services necessitates accounting for the additional effort associated with these predictable risks to ensure optimal care.