Want a better h-index? - All you need to know about copyright and open access.

INTRODUCTION: Physicians, whether in the public or private sector, are increasingly bound to "publish or perish". Although researchers have become aware of certain ethical concerns relating to the concept of authorship, clinicians still tend to neglect issues of copyright. The present study aims: 1) to explain to orthopedic surgeons what exactly is protected by copyright in a scientific article; 2) to assess the legal implications of publishing contracts; and 3) to specify the means of publication that best boost the author's h-index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was based on intellectual property legislation and jurisprudence and the underlying principles. The European and American medical and legal literature was analyzed. RESULTS: It is vital to understand the basic principles of copyright and the legal implications of publishing contracts. A scientific article is protected by copyright as soon as it has been written. This confers both moral and property rights. "Moral" rights protect the person of the author and are inalienable; unlike property rights, they cannot be transferred. Publishing contracts can only concern property and other derivative rights. Most scientific articles are published in open access via Creative Commons (CC) licenses. The greater the freedom of use provided for in the CC license, the more easily other authors can use the article, adding to it or altering it. As all CC licenses include an attribution clause, authors publishing under a relatively unrestrictive CC license increase the chances of boosting their h-index. CONCLUSION: Forewarned is forearmed. Mastering the means of publication enables authors to make the most of their publications in boosting their h-index, and also to contribute to the new Open Science paradigm: abandoning some intellectual property in favor of innovation and knowledge sharing rather than clinging to data protection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in patients with shoulder pathologies.

BACKGROUND: To date, medical history and dedicated questionnaires are the fastest and easiest way to assess risks of joint metal hypersensitivity. No published studies determined the overall prevalence of hypersensitivity to metals in patients with shoulder pathologies. The purpose of this study was therefore to estimate the prevalence of metal hypersensitivity reported by patients with shoulder pathologies, and to identify patients at risk of joint metal hypersensitivity based on a dedicated questionnaire. METHODS: The authors prospectively asked all adult patients consulting for shoulder pathologies between September 2018 and February 2019 at 10 centers to fill in a form. The main outcome was "reported hypersensitivity to metals," comprising belt buckles, coins, earrings, fancy jewelry, keys, leather, metallic buttons, piercings, spectacles, watch bracelets, or zips. RESULTS: A total of 3217 patients agreed to fill in the survey, aged 55 ± 16 (range, 18-101) with equal proportions of men (51%) and women (49%), and a majority of patients consulting for cuff pathology (55%). A total of 891 (28%) patients had professions considered at risk for metal hypersensitivity. The most frequently reported metal hypersensitivities were fancy jewelry (15%), earrings (13%), and watch bracelets (9%). A total of 629 (20%) patients, of which the vast majority were women, reported hypersensitivity to 1 or more metals. CONCLUSIONS: This survey of 3217 patients identified 20% who reported metal hypersensitivities, though only 2.2% had done patch tests. Matching profiles of those with positive patch tests to those with no patch tests revealed that 9.4% of the total cohort had similar sex and self-reported metal hypersensitivities. Factors associated with a positive patch test were female sex, self-reported cutaneous allergy, and self-reported metal hypersensitivity. The clinical applicability of these estimates remains uncertain as there is insufficient evidence that allergy to metal implants can be predicted by questionnaires or patch tests.

Bipolar Sealers Do not Improve Blood Loss or Functional Outcomes of Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Several methods were introduced to limit perioperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). By transcollation of soft tissues below 100°C, bipolar sealers intend to reduce bleeding and tissue damage, compared with conventional electrocautery. Existing studies report contradictory findings about the performance of bipolar sealers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a bipolar sealer on blood loss, transfusions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and functional scores in primary TKA. In this single-center prospective study, 101 patients, undergoing primary TKA in a fast-track setting without tourniquet use, were randomly assigned to either (1) the study group which was operated with a bipolar sealer or (2) the control group operated with conventional electrocautery. The study cohort comprised 49 men and 52 women, aged 71.1 ± 8.8 years. There was no significant difference between the bipolar sealer group and the control group in terms of blood loss at day 3 (1,240 ± 547.4 vs. 1,376 ± 584.4 mL; p = ns [not significant]), transfusion rate (10 vs. 4%; p = ns), surgery time (48.2 ± 10.8 vs. 46.6 ± 9.1 minute; p = ns) or LOS (4.1 ± 2.7 vs 4.3 ± 2.0 days; p = ns). At a mean follow-up of 63.3 ± 4.9 days, there was no significant difference between the bipolar sealer group and the control group in terms of net improvement of Knee Society Score (KSS) knee (26.0 ± 16.7 vs. 23.7 ± 12.3; p = ns) and KSS function (20.4 ± 19.3 vs. 20.8 ± 19.9; p = ns). Compared with the use of conventional electrocautery in primary TKA without tourniquet, we found no effect of bipolar sealer use on blood loss, transfusion rates, LOS, or functional recovery. This is a Level II, prospective cohort study.

Effect of critical shoulder angle, glenoid lateralization, and humeral inclination on range of movement in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To date, no study has considered the impact of acromial morphology on shoulder range of movement (ROM). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of lateralization of the centre of rotation (COR) and neck-shaft angle (NSA) on shoulder ROM after reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in patients with different scapular morphologies. METHODS: 3D computer models were constructed from CT scans of 12 patients with a critical shoulder angle (CSA) of 25°, 30°, 35°, and 40°. For each model, shoulder ROM was evaluated at a NSA of 135° and 145°, and lateralization of 0 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm for seven standardized movements: glenohumeral abduction, adduction, forward flexion, extension, internal rotation with the arm at 90° of abduction, as well as external rotation with the arm at 10° and 90° of abduction. RESULTS: CSA did not seem to influence ROM in any of the models, but greater lateralization achieved greater ROM for all movements in all configurations. Internal and external rotation at 90° of abduction were impossible in most configurations, except in models with a CSA of 25°. CONCLUSION: Postoperative ROM following RSA depends on multiple patient and surgical factors. This study, based on computer simulation, suggests that CSA has no influence on ROM after RSA, while lateralization increases ROM in all configurations. Furthermore, increasing subacromial space is important to grant sufficient rotation at 90° of abduction. In summary, increased lateralization of the COR and increased subacromial space improve ROM in all CSA configurations.Cite this article: A. Lädermann, E. Tay, P. Collin, S. Piotton, C-H Chiu, A. Michelet, C. Charbonnier. Effect of critical shoulder angle, glenoid lateralization, and humeral inclination on range of movement in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:378-386. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.88.BJR-2018-0293.R1.

Immediate self-rehabilitation after open Latarjet procedures enables recovery of preoperative shoulder mobility at 3 months.

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of shoulders treated for anterior instability by open Latarjet procedures (OLP) followed by immediate self-rehabilitation. The hypothesis was that patients would recover preoperative function at 3 months with no adverse events related to self-rehabilitation. METHODS: The authors retrieved clinical and radiographic records of 307 consecutive shoulders treated by the same surgeon for anterior instability by OLP with immediate self-rehabilitation. Four shoulders did not meet eligibility criteria and 38 were lost to follow-up, leaving a study cohort of 265 shoulders. Patients performed self-rehabilitation exercises at home from the first postoperative day. Follow-ups at 1 and 3 months evaluated recurrence of instability, postoperative complications, pain, active forward elevation (AFE), passive forward elevation (PFE), external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR). RESULTS: The difference between mobility before surgery and at 3 months was 0° for AFE, 0° for PFE, 10° for ER, and 0 spine segments for IR. Thirteen shoulders (5%) which had not followed the self-rehabilitation protocol during the first month had significantly more pain and less improvements in mobility (p < 0.05). Multivariable analyses revealed that patients who adhered to self-rehabilitation in the first month had greater improvements of AFE, PFE, and IR (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate self-rehabilitation after open Latarjet procedures enabled recovery of preoperative shoulder mobility at 3 months. Patients who did not adhere to immediate self-rehabilitation had more pain and less improvement in mobility. Furthermore, immediate self-rehabilitation was found to be independently associated with better recovery and did not cause any adverse events. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Magnetic resonance arthrography is insufficiently accurate to diagnose biceps lesions prior to rotator cuff repair.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy between magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and arthroscopic examination for the assessment of pathologies of the long head of the biceps (LHB) prior to rotator cuff (RC) repair. The hypothesis was that MRA is suitable to identify biceps instabilities, due to improved visibility of the biceps pulley. METHODS: Sixty-six patients aged 58.5 ± 17.6 (range, 46-71) scheduled to have RC repair between 2016 and 2017 were prospectively enrolled. MRA images of the LHB were interpreted by one radiologist and two surgeons, then compared to arthroscopic findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated by comparing MRA axial readings to arthroscopic assessment in the neutral position (static instability), MRA sagittal readings to arthroscopic assessment in external rotation (dynamic s instability), MRA coronal and axial readings to arthroscopic assessment in the neutral position (tendinopathy). RESULTS: Among the three observers, the radiologist obtained the highest sensitivity and specificity for MRA, which were respectively: (1) for static instability, 62% (C.I. 35-85) and 77% (C.I. 63-88); (2) for dynamic instability, 50% (C.I. 29-71) and 62% (C.I. 46-77), and (3) for tendinopathy, 49% (C.I. 36-62) and 100% (C.I. 3-100). CONCLUSIONS: MRA is not suitable for the diagnosis of LHB lesions prior to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, Level I.

Comparison of revision rates and radiographic observations of long and short, uncoated and coated humeral stem designs in total shoulder arthroplasty.

There is no consensus on outcomes of long versus short and uncoated versus coated uncemented stems in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).We reviewed the literature to compare revision rates and adverse radiographic observations at ⩾ 2 years of various uncemented humeral stem designs.We performed an electronic PubMed search for studies on uncemented primary TSA that reported one or more of the following observations at ⩾ 2 years for distinct stem designs: stem revision; subsidence; stress shielding; radiolucent lines; and humeral loosening.The search returned 258 records, from which 20 articles (22 cohorts) met the inclusion criteria.The most frequently reported designs were short uncoated stems (7/13 cohorts) at < 3 years and long uncoated stems (8/9 cohorts) at > 3 years.The incidences of revisions and adverse radiographic observations were lower for short coated designs, compared with short and long uncoated designs, but these findings should be confirmed by prospective studies with a longer follow-up. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:70-76. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180046.

Correction to: Risk of biochemical recurrence based on extent and location of positive surgical margins after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that the authors' last names have been incorrectly tagged as first names and vice-versa. The original publication has been corrected.

Risk of biochemical recurrence based on extent and location of positive surgical margins after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: There are no published studies on the simultaneous effect of extent and location of positive surgical margins (PSMs) on biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). The aim was to report the incidence, extent, and location of PSMs over the inclusion period as well as the rates of BCR and cancer-related mortality, and determine if BCR is associated with PSM extent and/or location. METHODS: Retrospective review of 530 consecutive patients who underwent RALP between 2003 and 2012. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analyses and Cox regressions were performed to determine variables associated with BCR. RESULTS: For the 530 operated patients, evaluated at a median of 92 months (IQR, 87-99), PSMs were observed in 156 (29%), of which 24% were focal. Out of 172 PSMs, 126 (73%) were focal and 46 (27%) were extensive. The KM survival using BCR as endpoint was 0.81 (CI, 0.78-0.85) at 5 years and was 0.67 (CI, 0.61-0.72) at 10 years; and using cancer-related mortality as endpoint was 0.99 (CI, 0.99-1.00) at 5 years and 0.95 (CI, 0.92-0.98) at 10 years. Multi-variable analysis revealed the strongest predictors of BCR to be Gleason score ≥ 8 (HR = 7.97; CI, 4.38-14.51) and 4 + 3 (HR = 3.88; CI, 2.12-7.07), lymph nodes invasion (HR = 3.42; CI, 1.70-6.91), pT stage 3b or 4 (HR = 3.07; CI, 1.93-4.90), and extensive apical PSMs (HR = 2.62; CI, 1.40-4.90) but not focal apical PSMs (HR = 0.86; CI, 0.49-1.50; p = 0.586). CONCLUSION: Extensive apical PSMs significantly increased the risk of BCR, independently from pT stage, Gleason score and lymph nodes invasion, while focal apical PSMs had no significant effect on BCR.

Tenodesis renders better results than tenotomy in repairs of isolated supraspinatus tears with pathologic biceps.

BACKGROUND: Many authors recommend systematic biceps tenotomy or tenodesis when repairing rotator cuff tears, regardless of whether the biceps is normal or pathologic. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 10-year outcomes of repairs of isolated supraspinatus tears are influenced by adjuvant biceps tenodesis or tenotomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent repair of isolated supraspinatus tears were recalled for evaluation at a minimum follow-up of 10 years. A total of 249 patients (51% men) aged 56.7 ± 6.3 years were evaluated clinically (Constant score), of whom 182 were also evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (Sugaya classification). The biceps was intraoperatively found to be pathologic in 52% of shoulders, of which 39% had a tenotomy and 54% had a tenodesis; it was found to be normal in 48% of shoulders, of which 88% were left intact. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in Constant scores for patients who had normal biceps without adjuvant procedures (77.1 ± 11.7) compared with patients who had pathologic biceps with either tenodesis (79.8 ± 11.5, P = .104) or tenotomy (75.3 ± 10.7, P = .420). However, for patients who had pathologic biceps, Constant scores were significantly better for those with tenodesis compared with those with tenotomy (P = .025). Multivariable regression revealed Constant scores to be significantly lower for women, as well as patients with fatty infiltration of stages 1 and 2, but significantly higher for patients who underwent tenodesis. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant biceps procedures are not required when repairing isolated supraspinatus tears, unless biceps pathology is observed intraoperatively, for which tenodesis grants better function and strength than tenotomy.