Job Satisfaction Among Graduate Medical Education Trainees.

Burnout among medical residents and fellows (postgraduate trainees) has been receiving significant attention in the scientific literature with far less focus on the factors that correlate with job satisfaction and well-being. A better understanding of the characteristics that increase job satisfaction (rather than just those that lead to burnout) may allow programs to develop and enhance those positive features, conceivably leading to improved mental health, retention, and recruitment. We hypothesize that job satisfaction among postgraduate trainees is positively impacted by feeling that their work is meaningful, that their work schedules are equitable, and that they are appreciated by their faculty.

Assessment of Inter- and Intraobserver Reliability and Accuracy to Evaluate Apical Vertebral Rotation Using Four Methods: An Experimental Study Using a Saw Bone Model.

Study Design: After placing a thoracic three-vertebra segment saw bones model on a standardized turntable, a series of anteroposterior (AP) radiographs were obtained and then set in increments to 90° rotation. Then the specimen was instrumented with 35-mm pedicle screws bilaterally and the rotation process and image acquisition were repeated.

Objective: Assess reliability and accuracy of spine surgeons evaluating apical vertebral rotation (AVR) through surgeon's visual x-ray estimation, Nash-Moe system, Upasani trigonometric method, and Upasani grading system.

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes: Semi-Automated Data Collection in the Interventional Radiology Clinic.

Introduction: Patient-reported outcomes are important for clinical research and will likely be used in the near future as a metric for physician reimbursement. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of an electronic data collection system for deep vein thrombosis and lymphedema quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaires in a tertiary care interventional radiology practice.

Methods: A single provider's clinic patients were automatically e-mailed validated questionnaires 1 week before their appointments.

Giant cell tumor of a lumbar vertebra in a 7-year-old child: a case report.

Study Design: This case provides a rare occurrence of a giant cell tumor (GCT) in posterior elements of a lumbar vertebra in a 7-year-old child with successful outcome after surgical excision and regular follow-ups.

Objective: To present a unique case report of a pediatric GCT in the vertebral column and results.

Summary Of Background Data: GCT is a rare bone tumor seen in 3% to 5% of primary bone neoplasm.

Incidence, prevalence, and characteristics of fractures in children, adolescents, and adults with spina bifida.

Objective: To determine the age-specific incidence, prevalence, and characteristics of fractures in persons with spina bifida.

Design: Year-long historical cross-sectional study.

Subjects: Two hundred twenty-one consecutive patients aged 2-58 years evaluated in 2003 at a regional referral center.

Cervical kyphosis associated with anteroposterior dissociation and quadriparesis in Larsen's syndrome.

Neither the natural history nor the optimal treatment of cervical spine anomalies in Larsen's syndrome has been clearly defined. The authors describe two patients with Larsen's syndrome with cervical kyphosis, anteroposterior dissociation, and quadriparesis to show the variable clinical progression and offer a description of the authors' treatment. One patient has had continued neurologic and radiographic improvement with nonoperative treatment consisting of early traction.

Bone density accumulation is not affected by brace treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in adolescent girls.

Bracing for adolescent scoliosis has been postulated to cause permanent loss of bone mass and to predispose to adult osteoporosis. To determine whether brace use affects the rate of bone accretion with growth, the authors conducted a prospective study of 52 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) showed a significant increase in spinal bone mineral density (BMD) over a 1-year period of brace wear.

Visual field defect after posterior spine fusion.

Study Design: Case report and literature review.

Objectives: Review cases and literature regarding visual loss following posterior spine fusion for scoliosis and emphasize right-to-left atrial shunt as a risk factor for paradoxical embolus resulting in a postoperative visual field defect.

Summary Of Background Data: The existing literature discusses various possible etiologies of postoperative visual loss including direct pressure, hypotension, blood loss, and anemia.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in down syndrome.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and Down syndrome are both uncommon in the population at large, and rarely are both conditions present in a single individual. Institutional records were searched for both Down syndrome and SCFE. At least 2 years of follow-up was required.

Capsuloligamentous restraints to dorsal and palmar carpal translation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine biomechanically the relative contributions of the dorsal and palmar capsuloligamentous structures to dorsal and palmar carpal stability.

Methods: Seven fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were tested using a testing machine (MTS, Eden Prairie, MN) with low loads applied perpendicular to the axis of the radial diaphysis. We determined the loads required to achieve dorsal and palmar translation of the carpus on the radius as palmar and dorsal ligaments and capsule were sectioned sequentially.

Pulsed color-flow Doppler analysis of arterial deficiency in idiopathic clubfoot.

This prospective study used pulsed color-flow Doppler sonography to determine differences in the presence and direction of flow through the dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries in a group of children with clubfoot and a comparison group of controls. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of deficient (absent or retrograde flow) dorsalis pedis arteries in children with clubfoot (45%) compared with controls (8%). This indicates that there is an association between some clubfeet and deficiency of the dorsalis pedis artery.