A Cadaveric Comparison of Discectomy Performance During Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Approach Using an Endoscopic Technique versus a Minimally Invasive Tubular Approach.

Study Design: Cadaveric study.

Objective: Compare discectomy performance between transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) done via an endoscopic versus a tubular technique.

Summary Of Background Data: Performance of an adequate discectomy is essential to lumbar fusion when performing a TLIF.

Graft Resorption After Posterior Distal Tibial Allograft Augmentation for Posterior Shoulder Instability: A Case Report.

Case: A 19-year-old man underwent arthroscopic posterior glenoid reconstruction with a distal tibia allograft (DTA) after failing 2 posterior, soft-tissue instability surgeries. Although he experienced near-complete resolution of symptoms and return to sport, graft resorption was noted 7 months postoperatively. The patient underwent revision surgery for screw removal.

Characterizing neck injuries in the national football league: a descriptive epidemiology study.

Background: Neck injury is a common and often debilitating injury among athletes participating in American football. Limited data exists regarding neck injuries among elite athletes in the National Football League (NFL). To characterize the epidemiology of non-season ending, season-ending, and career-ending neck injuries in the NFL from 2016 through 2021.

Three-Dimensional Printing Applications in Pediatric Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic Review.

Objective: 3DP technology use has become increasingly more common in the field of medicine and is notable for its growing utility in spine surgery applications. Many studies have evaluated the use of pedicle screw placement guides and spine models in adult spine patients, but there is little evidence assessing its efficacy in pediatric spine patient populations.

Customized 3-dimensional-printed Vertebral Implants for Spinal Reconstruction After Tumor Resection: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To examine the outcomes of customized 3-dimensional (3D) printed implants for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection.

Summary Of Background Data: Various techniques exist for spinal reconstruction after tumor resection.

Anterior Column Realignment Using an Anterior-To-Psoas Approach: A Radiographic-Anatomic Feasibility Study at L1-L5.

Study Design: Cross-sectional radioanatomic study.

Objective: To determine the feasibility of performing an anterior column realignment (ACR) using an anterior-to-psoas (ATP) approach at L1-L5.

Methods: Axial magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the L1-L5 disc levels obtained at a single institution were obtained and analyzed.

Living with a C2-Sacrum Spinal Fusion: Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients Fused from C2 to the Sacrum.

Study Design: Single center, retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Little is known about the surgical outcomes and quality of life in patients with C2-sacrum posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Though it is thought to be a "final" construct, it remains unknown how patients fare postoperatively.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin versus unfractionated heparin for patients undergoing operative treatment of closed femoral shaft fractures.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare inpatient mortality rates for patients with operatively treated closed femoral shaft fractures (AO/OTA 32 A-C) who received venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis with either low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of a national database of patients presenting to Level I through IV trauma centers in the United States. All patients ≥18 years of age who sustained an operatively treated closed femoral shaft fracture were included.

Hypertrophy of the sublime tubercle in elbow ulnar collateral ligament injuries: a case series of baseball pitchers undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with short-term follow-up.

Background: The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow is subject to repetitive stress in overhead throwing athletes. This can lead to morphologic changes at the bony attachments of the UCL and hypertrophy of the sublime tubercle. The purpose of this case series is to describe the surgical details and clinical outcomes of a series of competitive baseball pitchers with hypertrophic sublime tubercles who underwent UCL reconstruction (UCLR).

The Relationship of Radiographic Parameters and Morphological Changes at Various Stages of Degeneration of the Lumbar Facet Joints: Cadaver Study.

Study Design: Cadaveric specimens.

Objective: To perform a pathomorphological analysis of the degree of facet joint (FJ) degeneration utilizing fresh cadaveric models and correlating these structural changes with imaging findings.

Methods: L1-L5 FSU including all tissue between the anterior longitudinal ligament to the posterior spinal structures were obtained on 28 patients at a mean of 5.

Fractures of the posterior malleolus: a systematic review and analysis of patient-reported outcome scale selection.

Purpose: Despite the extensive use of PROs in ankle fracture research, no study has quantified which PROs are most commonly used for assessing outcomes of patients who sustain fractures of the posterior malleolus. The purpose of this study was therefore to quantify which PROs are most commonly used for outcome research after posterior malleolus fractures.

Methods: A systematic search was performed using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines.

Artificial Learning and Machine Learning Applications in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: This current systematic review sought to identify and evaluate all current research-based spine surgery applications of AI/ML in optimizing preoperative patient selection, as well as predicting and managing postoperative outcomes and complications.

Methods: A comprehensive search of publications was conducted through the EMBASE, Medline, and PubMed databases using relevant keywords to maximize the sensitivity of the search. No limits were placed on level of evidence or timing of the study.

The Impact of the Instigator Rule on Fighting in the National Hockey League.

Background: Fighting is often considered an essential part of professional hockey. Increased ticket sales, a means to self-regulate other dangerous gameplay, and helping teams win are a few of the reasons that fighting advocates provide for retaining fighting in the NHL. However, fighting trends have changed over the past 50 years.

Increased Elbow and Olecranon Injury History in Professional Pitchers With Increased Elbow Flexion at Ball Release.

Background: Elbow flexion at late portions of the pitch has been associated with increased elbow varus torque, a kinetic surrogate associated with injury risk. Direct examinations of injury incidence with elbow flexion angles have not been conducted in professional pitchers.

Purpose: To compare elbow and shoulder injury incidence among professional baseball players stratified by degree of elbow flexion at ball release (BR).

Recent Trends in Private Equity Acquisition of Orthopaedic Practices in the United States.

Background: Private equity acquisition of medical specialty practices has increased in recent years. With the projected increase in the volume of elective, ambulatory orthopaedic procedures, especially in the outpatient setting, private equity firms are increasingly investing in orthopaedic practices. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to report recent trends and variations in acquisitions of US orthopaedic practices by private equity firms and other institutional investors (venture capital firms, trusts, and large investment companies).

A national analysis on complications and readmissions for adult cerebral palsy patients undergoing primary spinal fusion surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective National Database Study.

Objective: Surgical intervention with spinal fusion is often indicated in cerebral palsy (CP) patients with progressive scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to utilize the National Readmission Database to determine the national estimates of complication rates, 90-day readmission rates, and costs associated with spinal fusion in adult patients with CP.

Clinical Trial Quality Assessment in Adult Spinal Surgery: What Do Publication Status, Funding Source, and Result Reporting Tell Us?

Study Design: Narrative Review.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare publication status of clinical trials in adult spine surgery registered on ClinicalTrials.gov by funding source as well as to identify other trends in clinical trials in adult spine surgery.

Preoperative Anemia Is Associated With 30-Day Morbidity in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Given the heightened focus on decreasing length of stay and readmissions following total joint arthroplasty, meticulous preoperative optimization has become increasingly important. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative anemia and postoperative morbidity and mortality at 30 days. We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2006 and 2016.

CT-to-fluoroscopy registration versus scan-and-plan registration for robot-assisted insertion of lumbar pedicle screws.

Objective: Pedicle screw insertion for stabilization after lumbar fusion surgery is commonly performed by spine surgeons. With the advent of navigation technology, the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion has increased. Robotic guidance has revolutionized the placement of pedicle screws with 2 distinct radiographic registration methods, the scan-and-plan method and CT-to-fluoroscopy method.

Effect of Resident and Fellow Involvement on Outcomes of Sarcoma Surgery: A NSQIP Database Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The complexity of sarcoma surgery often justifies surgical assistants of higher levels of academic training: senior residents, fellows, or co-surgeons. The association between the level of training of assistants and outcomes of these procedures has yet to be studied.

Methods: The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes comprising the "core" procedures for musculoskeletal oncology fellowships were gathered.

The accuracy of robot-assisted S2 alar-iliac screw placement at two different healthcare centers.

Background: Current literature on robot-assisted S2 alar-iliac (S2AI) screw placement shows favorable outcomes and screw accuracy; however, the data is limited by a few retrospective, single-surgeon studies. To the author's knowledge, this is the first multicenter study which evaluates the accuracy of robot-assisted S2AI screws.

Methods: Adult (≥18 years old) patients who underwent robot-assisted S2AI screw placement from 2017-2019 were reviewed.

Comparing hyperlordotic and standard lordotic cages for achieving segmental lumbar lordosis during transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in adult spinal deformity surgery.

Background: Few studies directly compare the effect of interbody cages with different degrees of lordosis in producing segmental lumbar lordosis (SLL) in the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) procedure. Thus, we aimed to investigate changes in SLL in hyperlordotic cages compared to standard lordotic cages in open TLIF procedures.

Methods: Thirty-eight consecutive patients who received open TLIF procedures performed by a single surgeon between 2017 and 2018 were reviewed.