Matching into Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Fellowships: Do USMLE Scores and AOA Status Still Matter?

Introduction: Despite the established importance of the United States Medical License Exam (USMLE) and Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) status in orthopedic residency selection, their significance in the fellowship match remains unknown. This study evaluates the influence of USMLE scores and AOA status on interview invitation rates and match positions for shoulder and elbow surgery fellowship applicants.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of data from the San Francisco Match database from 2018 to 2023.

Declining Rate of International Medical Graduates Matching Into Orthopedic Surgery Residency Programs in the United States: A 17-Year Analysis.

Introduction: International medical graduates (IMGs) continue to play an important role in the US health care system, but little is known about their trends of matching into highly competitive residencies such as orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze temporal trends of IMG applicants matching into US orthopedic residency programs between 2008 and 2024 and compare them with US allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) graduates.

Methods: Orthopedic residency specific data for years 2008 to 2024 was obtained from the National Resident Match Program and Electronic Residency Application Service.

Funding bias in shoulder arthroplasty research.

Background: Prior research has shown that industry funding can impact the outcomes reported in medical literature. Limited data exist on the degree of bias that industry funding may have on shoulder arthroplasty literature outside of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. The purpose of this study is to characterize the type and frequency of funding for recently published shoulder arthroplasty studies and the impact of industry funding on reported outcomes.

Biomechanics of subscapularis V-shaped tenotomy compared to standard tenotomy.

Background: Subscapularis function is critical after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA). Recently, however, a technique has been described that features a chevron or V-shaped subscapularis tendon cut (VT). This biomechanical study compared repair of the standard tenotomy (ST), made perpendicular to the subscapularis fibers, to repair of the novel VT using cyclic displacement, creep, construct stiffness, and load to failure.

Predicting successful outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is increasingly performed safely and efficiently as an outpatient procedure in certain patients. Patient selection is often based on surgeon choice, surgeon expertise, or institutional guidelines. One orthopedic research group released a publicly available shoulder arthroplasty outpatient appropriateness risk calculator that considers patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities with the aim of helping surgeons to predict successful outpatient TSA.

Dual Semitendinosus Allograft Reconstruction of Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures: Operative Technique and Outcomes.

Background: Dual semitendinosus allograft reconstruction of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures has several potential benefits including superior tensile strength compared with a turndown construct and avoidance of the morbidity and operative time associated with autograft augmentation. We present a series of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures reconstructed with dual semitendinosus allograft.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients aged 18 years and older who underwent reconstruction of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures using dual semitendinosus allograft.

The 50 most impactful articles on the medial ulnar collateral ligament: An altmetric analysis of online media.

The purpose of this study was to use the Altmetric Attention Score to determine the 50 most impactful medial ulnar collateral ligament articles in online media and compare their characteristics to the most-cited medial ulnar collateral ligament articles in the scientific literature. The Altmetric database was queried to identify all published articles about the medial ulnar collateral ligament, and this list was stratified by the Altmetric Attention Score to identify the 50 highest scoring articles. Several data elements were extracted, including article topic, article type, journal name, and the number of online mentions on Facebook, Twitter, news, and other platforms.

Effect of glenosphere lateralization with and without coracoacromial ligament transection on acromial and scapular spine strain in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Small changes in deltoid tension and moment arm due to glenosphere lateralization may be associated with an increase in acromion or scapular spine strain in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), which can lead to stress fracture. The coracoacromial ligament (CAL) may be protective and lower the strain seen on the acromion or scapular spine. This biomechanical study investigated the impact of glenosphere lateralization and CAL integrity on acromion and scapular spine strain after RSA.

The 100 most impactful articles on the rotator cuff: an altmetric analysis of online media.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to use the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) to evaluate the 100 most impactful articles in online media pertaining to the rotator cuff and compare their characteristics to the most-cited rotator cuff articles in the scientific literature.

Methods: We performed an article extraction using Altmetric Explorer to identify all published articles pertaining to the rotator cuff. The top 100 articles with the highest AAS were included for analysis.

The relationship between academic influence, NIH funding, and industry payments among academic shoulder and elbow surgeons.

Background: The effect of academic influence, or the volume and quality of a surgeon's publications, on industry payments and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding has recently been studied in some academic orthopedic subspecialities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between academic influence, industry payments, and NIH funding among American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons accredited shoulder and elbow fellowship faculty.

Methods: Shoulder and elbow fellowships and affiliated faculty members were identified from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons website.

The top 100 most impactful articles on the anterior cruciate ligament: An altmetric analysis of online media.

Objectives: To identify the top 100 most impactful anterior cruciate ligament articles in online media as measured by the Altmetric Attention Score and compare their characteristics to the most-cited anterior cruciate ligament articles in the scientific literature.

Methods: The Altmetric database was queried to identify all published articles pertaining to the anterior cruciate ligament. The search yielded 9445 articles, which were stratified by highest to lowest Altmetric Attention Score.

Biomimetic proteoglycans diffuse throughout articular cartilage and localize within the pericellular matrix.

Biomimetic proteoglycan (BPG) diffusion into articular cartilage has the potential to restore the lost proteoglycan content in osteoarthritic cartilage given these molecules mimic the structure and properties of natural proteoglycans. We examined the diffusion characteristics of BPGs through cartilage with the use of a custom-made in vitro cartilage diffusion model in both normal bovine and human osteoarthritic cartilage explants. BPGs were introduced into the cartilage through essentially one-dimensional diffusion using osteochondral plugs.

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Interviews: Structure and Organization of the Interview Day.

Background: Over the past few decades, there has been a trend toward an increasing subspecialization in orthopaedic surgery, with orthopaedic sports medicine being one of the most competitive subspecialties. Information regarding the application and interview process for sports medicine fellowships is currently lacking.

Purpose: To survey orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship program directors (PDs) to better define the structure of the sports medicine fellowship interview and to highlight important factors that PDs consider in selecting fellows.