Long-term Results of Spine Stapling for AIS to Skeletal Maturity and Beyond.

Background: We looked at long-term follow-up of spine stapling with Nitinol Staples. This was a cohort of all adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with curves at high risk to progress based on curve magnitude, premenarchal status in all females, failure of brace treatment, and skeletal immaturity.

Methods: This is a single surgeon retrospective review of consecutive AIS patients treated with Nitinol staples for progressive scoliosis.

Does Spanning a Lateral Lumbar Interbody Cage Across the Vertebral Ring Apophysis Increase Loads Required for Failure and Mitigate Endplate Violation.

Study Design: Randomized Biomechanical Cadaveric Study-Level II.

Objective: We aimed to elucidate that placing lateral lumbar interbody cages that span the stronger ring apophysis will require increasing loads for failure, decreasing rates of subsidence, regardless of bone density or endplate integrity.

Summary Of Background Data: There are several reports regarding the rates and grades of cage subsidence when utilizing the lateral lumbar interbody fusion technique.

The Effects of a Hospitalist Comanagement Model for Joint Arthroplasty Patients in a Teaching Facility.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare postoperative medical comanagement of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty patients using a hospitalist (H) and nonhospitalist (NH) model at a single teaching institution to determine the clinical and economic impact of the hospitalist comanagement.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1656 patients who received hospitalist comanagement with 1319 patients who did not. The NH and H cohorts were compared at baseline via chi-square test for the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, the t test for age, and the Wilcoxon test for the unadjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score and the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score.

Financial Analysis of Treating Periprosthetic Joint Infections at a Tertiary Referral Center.

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a significant challenge to the orthopedic surgeon, patient, hospital, and insurance provider. Our study compares the financial information of self-originating and referral 2-stage revision hip and knee surgeries at our tertiary referral center for hip or knee PJI over the last 4 years.

Methods: We performed an in-house retrospective financial review of all patients who underwent 2-stage revision hip or knee arthroplasty for infection between January 2008 and August 2013, comparing self-originating and referral cases.

The Financial Impact of a Multidisciplinary Preoperative Risk Stratification Program for Joint Arthroplasty.

This study's purpose was to assess the impact of a preoperative risk stratification program on joint arthroplasty outcomes at a single institution. We hypothesized that by using a standardized preoperative risk stratification center we would see better outcomes and decreased costs. The triage cohort (T) included 1498 patients assessed at a standardized risk stratification center, and the non-triage cohort (NT) included 1100 patients who did not utilize the center.

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion for the correction of spondylolisthesis and adult degenerative scoliosis in high-risk patients: early radiographic results and complications.

Background: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is not associated with many of the complications seen in other interbody fusion techniques. This study used computed tomography (CT) scans, the radiographic gold standard, to assess interbody fusion rates achieved utilizing the LLIF technique in high-risk patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent LLIF between January 2008 and July 2013.

Using quality improvement principles to improve the care of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Background: Sepsis, an inflammatory response to an infection that may lead to severe organ dysfunction and death, is the leading cause of death in medical intensive care units. The Society of Critical Care Medicine has issued guidelines and promoted protocols to improve the management of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Generally, the medical community has been slow to adopt these guidelines because of the system challenges associated with protocol implementation.