Endoscopic Proximal Hamstring Tendon Repair With Knotless Suture-Bridge Technique.

Symptomatic proximal hamstring tendon tears are typically repaired surgically, with open incision and knot-tying technique. An endoscopic, knotless, suture-bridge repair technique is presented. Potential advantages include knotless simplicity, compression over a broad zone to improve tendon-bone healing, and decreased pain secondary to elimination of knots and the open incision and approach.

Classification of cervical biopsy free-text diagnoses through linear-classifier based natural language processing.

Routine cervical cancer screening has significantly decreased the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. As selection of proper screening modalities depends on well-validated clinical decision algorithms, retrospective review correlating cytology and HPV test results with cervical biopsy diagnosis is essential for validating and revising these algorithms to changing technologies, demographics, and optimal clinical practices. However, manual categorization of the free-text biopsy diagnosis into discrete categories is extremely laborious due to the overwhelming number of specimens, which may lead to significant error and bias. Advances in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), particularly over the last decade, have led to significant accomplishments and impressive performance in computer-based classification tasks. In this work, we apply an efficient version of an NLP framework, FastText™, to an annotated cervical biopsy dataset to create a supervised classifier that can assign accurate biopsy categories to free-text biopsy interpretations with high concordance to manually annotated data (>99.6%). We present cases where the machine-learning classifier disagrees with previous annotations and examine these discrepant cases after referee review by an expert pathologist. We also show that the classifier is robust on an untrained external dataset, achieving a concordance of 97.7%. In conclusion, we demonstrate a useful application of NLP to a real-world pathology classification task and highlight the benefits and limitations of this approach.

Arthroscopic Fixation of Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans With Interlinked Knotless All-Suture Anchors.

Unstable, displaced, and persistently symptomatic osteochondritis dissecans of the knee typically requires surgical treatment. An arthroscopic, knotless fixation method using interlinked all-suture anchors is presented, with potential advantages over other current techniques in fixation over a broad zone, treatment versatility for a wide range of fragment types, retensioning ability after stressing, decreased risk of implant-breakage complications, and avoidance of additional surgery for implant removal.

Molecular Signatures of KRAS-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma: Analysis of Concomitant EGFR, ALK, STK11, and PD-L1 Status.

Background: KRAS mutations are the most common oncogenic driver mutations of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Western world. Mutations of the KRAS gene are most prevalent in the patient population of current and former cigarette smokers. With the recent pivotal approval of a targeted inhibitor therapy for patients with KRAS p.G12C mutated and pretreated NSCLC, analysis of the heterogeneity of KRAS mutations and concomitant molecular alterations in patients with these tumors at all clinical stages is indicated. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, patient pathology records were reviewed for all cases receiving a pathologic diagnosis of NSCLC within our hospital system. All data were collected with IRB approval. Cases of indeterminate tumor type favoring a non-lung primary, as well as non-adenocarcinoma NSCLC (eg, squamous) were excluded from the cohort. In this hospital system, molecular testing for KRAS mutations is part of a molecular biomarker panel that is reflex ordered at initial diagnosis by the pathologist and may be performed as a single gene test or as a solid organ cancer hotspot panel by next generation sequencing. For each patient, KRAS mutational status and specific KRAS mutations, if present, were collated. Additional information assessed for this study included patient demographics (age, gender, and smoking history), tumor staging if available, PD-L1 expression levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the presence of other genetic alterations (EGFR, ALK, and STK11). Results: Between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2019, there were 276 patients diagnosed with NSCLC of all stages who had KRAS mutational analysis performed in our hospital system and who met the criteria for inclusion into the study cohort. A KRAS driver mutation was detected in 29% of these patients. The most frequently identified KRAS mutation was p.G12C (38%), followed by p.G12D (21%) and p.G12V (13%). KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinoma was significantly associated with current or former patient smoking status in this cohort (29/202 (14%) smokers and 1/74 (1%) non-smokers; P = .0006). PD-L1 expression of at least 1% by IHC was present in 43% of KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinomas and 45% of non-KRAS-mutated adenocarcinomas. In this study, KRAS mutations were not found to co-occur with gene alterations in EGFR, ALK, or STK11. In 48% of cases, at least one genetic alteration (KRAS, ALK, EGFR, or STK11) was identified. Conclusions: In this study cohort, KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinoma demonstrated significant mutational heterogeneity, which is consistent with previously published studies. KRAS mutational status was also significantly associated with a current or former smoking history. Notably, p.G12C was the most frequently identified KRAS mutation in this cohort, with a frequency of 38%. This finding is particularly relevant given the recent approval of a KRAS p.G12C-specific targeted inhibitor therapy and the continued development of additional KRAS targeted therapies that may prove effective in treating NSCLC. These findings also highlight the necessity of considering molecular testing for KRAS mutations in patients with NSCLC and a smoking history, as this population most frequently harbors KRAS mutations and may benefit from these emerging targeted therapies.

Arthroscopic Patellar Osteochondral Transplantation.

The undersurface location of the patellar articular cartilage presents unique challenges to osteochondral defect treatment. Current osteochondral grafting techniques and instrumentation require arthrotomy and patellar eversion to access the defect with the necessary perpendicular trajectory. We describe an all-arthroscopic patellar osteochondral grafting technique, with transpatellar retrograde reaming for recipient socket creation and graft fixation, to treat focal patellar cartilage defects.

Knotless, Retensionable Posterior Meniscal Root Repair With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair TightRope and FiberRing Sutures.

Posterior meniscal root repair techniques continue to evolve, influenced by rapidly increasing clinical interest, surgical technology advances, and biomechanical insights. A posterior meniscal root repair technique is presented, utilizing a knotless, retensionable suspensory construct developed for anterior cruciate ligament repair but is also well suited for meniscal root repair. Benefits include built-in shuttling sutures, knotless technology, and poststressing retensioning capability to ensure maximal final repair security.

Tensionable Distal Biceps Tendon Repair With Intramedullary Knotless All-Suture Anchors and FiberLoop w/FiberTag Suture.

Distal biceps tendon rupture is commonly repaired via bicortical drilling, extramedullary cortical button placement, and inlay tendon fixation. A retensionable technique with unicortical drilling, intramedullary knotless all-suture anchors placement, and onlay tendon fixation is presented, incorporating up-to-date advances in tendon-bone healing basic science, biceps tendon/radial tuberosity biomechanics, and knotless all-suture implant technology to facilitate radial tuberosity bone preservation, anatomic footprint restoration, improved suture-tendon connection security, and avoidance of drilling and implant-related injury to the posterior interosseous nerve.

Outcomes and prognostic contributors in patients with KRAS mutated non-small cell pulmonary adenocarcinomas: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: KRAS is the most frequently encountered driver mutation in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With targeted therapy for the most common KRAS mutation p.G12C on the horizon, the aim of this study is to retrospectively report outcomes in patients with KRAS mutated NSCLC. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of 7 hospitals in Texas with reflex biomarker testing in all lung adenocarcinomas. Patients were included if they had pathologically diagnosed adenocarcinoma of any stage originating in the lung with molecularly confirmed KRAS driver mutation of any genotypic subtype. Twelve-month survival was assessed and compared between KRAS p.G12C and all other detected KRAS mutations. Other outcomes including impact of age, sex, smoking status, and pack years smoked were assessed to determine if they had prognostic significance on mortality in KRAS mutated patients. RESULTS: There were 58 patients diagnosed with KRAS mutated NSCLC, 63.8% were at an advanced stage at diagnosis, 55.8% of patients were female, and 82.8% were white. The median age was 72 [52-88] years, and 93.1% were either current or prior smokers. KRAS p.G12C was the most common KRAS mutation (44.8%). At diagnosis, patients with KRAS p.G12C had poorer performance statuses compared to other KRAS mutations. A total of 32 (55.2%) patients died, 26 with advanced disease. In this study, current smoking status (P=0.1652), pack years smoked (P=0.6597), age (P=0.5092), sex (P=0.4309), and underlying KRAS codon mutation controlling for stage (P=0.2287) did not impact survival. However, KRAS p.G12C had a numerically lower 12 months overall survival (OS) compared to all other KRAS mutations in both early stage (56.3% vs. 90.9%) and advanced stage (25.0% vs. 47.6%) disease. Of note, 16 (27.6%) patients had prior, concurrent, or second malignancies, but these did not significantly impact OS (P=0.7696). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find a prognostic difference with sex, smoking history, age, or p.G12C mutation. The patients in this cohort with KRAS p.G12C had a numerically lower 12-month overall survival in both early and advanced stage disease compared to other mutations, and over one-quarter had a notable history of previous and second primary malignancies.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Chronic Tibial Spine Malunion.

Reports of surgical resection and internal fixation for symptomatic tibial spine malunion are rare, and the reported techniques typically involve an open surgical approach. We present an all-arthroscopic technique of tibial spine malunion treatment, with selective arthroscopic bone resection below the tibial spine, preserving the anterior cruciate ligament attachment, followed by internal fixation of the tibial spine with a hybrid transtibial and suture-bridge construct using knotless anchors and tape sutures.

Pathology Trainee Redeployment and Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Experience.

Pathology training programs throughout the United States have endured unprecedented challenges dealing with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. At Houston Methodist Hospital, the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine planned and executed a trainee-oriented, stepwise emergency response. The focus was on optimizing workflows among areas of both clinical and anatomic pathology, maintaining an excellent educational experience, and minimizing trainee exposure to coronavirus disease 2019. During the first phase of the response, trainees were divided into 2 groups: one working on-site and the other working remotely. With the progression of the pandemic, all trainees were called back on-site and further redeployed within our department to meet the significantly increased workload demands of our clinical laboratory services. Adjustments to trainee educational activities included, among others, the organization of a daily coronavirus disease 2019 virtual seminar series. This series served to facilitate communication between faculty, laboratory managers, and trainees. Moreover, it became a forum for trainees to provide updates on individual service workflows and volumes, ongoing projects and research, as well as literature reviews on coronavirus disease 2019-related topics. From our program's experience, redeploying pathology trainees within our department during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic resulted in optimization of patient care while ensuring trainee safety, and importantly, helped to maintain continuous high-quality education through active involvement in unique learning opportunities.

Age-specific 3-year cumulative risk of cervical cancer and high-grade dysplasia on biopsy in 9434 women who underwent HPV cytology cotesting.

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-Papanicolaou (Pap) cotesting is recommended for cervical cancer screening in women aged ≥30 years. The current study analyzed the effectiveness of cotesting on risk management in different age groups. METHODS: A retrospective review of a 5-year cytology database identified 9434 women with HPV-Pap cotesting and follow-up cervical biopsy. The 3-year cumulative risk of developing high-grade cervical lesions (≥high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL]) was analyzed using age stratification. RESULTS: The 3-year cumulative risk of developing ≥HSIL was found to be significantly different in women with baseline cotesting HPV-positive and Pap-positive results (HPV+/Pap+; defined as ≥atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), HPV+ and Pap-negative results, and HPV-negative and Pap+ results at 19.2%, 7.9%, and 3.1%, respectively (P < .001). The risk of ≥HSIL peaked at ages 30 to 39 years and significantly decreased at ages 50 to 59 years (16.6% vs 6.7%; P < .001). Women aged <30 years shared a high risk similar to that of women aged 30 to 39 years (17.3% vs 16.6%; P = .52), and risk stratification by cotesting was found to be equally effective in the younger age group (HPV+ and Pap+: 19.6%; HPV+ and Pap-negative: 7.2%; and HPV-negative and Pap+: 4.4% [P < .001]). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk HPV-Pap cotesting appears to be extremely sensitive for the prediction of the risk of developing ≥HSIL and is an effective tool for risk stratification. In the current study, the 3-year cumulative risk of developing ≥HSIL varied significantly with age, with the highest risk noted among women aged <40 years and the lowest risk observed in women aged 50 to 59 years. Pap testing significantly impacted risk stratification in the HPV+ positive group, especially in women aged <60 years. Women aged <30 years were found to have a risk profile and cotesting efficacy similar to those of women aged 30 to 39 years. Modification of the current recommendation to offer cotesting to women aged ≥30 years might be considered to include those patients aged <30 years.

Pectoralis major transfer for anterior-superior subluxation in massive rotator cuff insufficiency.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome after subcoracoid pectoralis major transfer for anterior-superior shoulder instability in massive rotator cuff insufficiency. Fourteen patients underwent subcoracoid pectoralis major transfer for this debilitating surgical complication. At a mean 17.5-month follow-up, there were 11 satisfactory and 3 unsatisfactory results. Nine of the patients were satisfied with the procedure and would repeat the operation under similar circumstances. Pain scores, as measured on a visual analog scale, decreased from 6.9 to 3.2 postoperatively. Mean forward flexion increased from 24.4 degrees to 60.8 degrees. American Shoulder and Elbow Society functional outcome score increased from 27.2 preoperatively to 47.7 postoperatively. Thirteen of the fourteen patients had improved humeral head containment and improved ability to perform activities of daily living at waist level. A subcoracoid pectoralis major muscle transfer has a low complication rate and is a viable option in this difficult patient population, with better results than those previously reported.