Short and Medium-Term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Partial Wrist Arthrodeses - A Systematic Review.

Partial wrist arthrodesis (PWA) is a salvage procedure used in advanced wrist arthritis and has traditionally been performed via an open dorsal approach. In recent years, surgeons have moved towards arthroscopic fusions to minimise soft tissue damage and preserve vascular supply, increase union rates and hasten recovery. The purpose of this study is to synthesise the current literature on the outcomes of arthroscopic PWA.

Antipsychotics and Risk of Acute Respiratory Failure in U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Importance: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) associated with antipsychotic use has been documented through case reports and population-based studies.

Objective: To assess whether the recent use of antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of ARF in U.S.

The Effect of Denosumab on Risk for Emergently Treated Hypocalcemia by Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease : A Target Trial Emulation.

Background: There is a paucity of data on treatment of osteoporosis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To assess the risk for emergently treated hypocalcemia with denosumab by stage of CKD and presence of CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD).

Design: Target trial emulation.

Trends in Medical Encounters Involving Cannabis-Related Disorders Among US Medicare Beneficiaries, 2017-2022.

To characterize cannabis-related disorder medical encounter trends in the US Medicare population during 2017 to 2022. We conducted a descriptive study, which included 56 624 432 beneficiaries aged 65 years or older and 10 247 953 aged 18 to 64 years with disability. All were continuously enrolled in Medicare (Fee-for-Service or Advantage) for 183 or more days before the first day of the calendar year.

Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of severe COVID-19: A case-control study in United States Medicare beneficiaries.

Background: Concerns have been raised regarding proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Observational studies have yielded heterogeneous results and were subject to important methodological limitations.

Aims: To examine the association between the receipt of PPIs and risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and severe in-hospital outcomes or death.

Outcomes of Arthroscopic Debridement of the First Carpometacarpal Joint: A Systematic Review.

Arthroscopic debridement is increasingly being utilised in patients with early-stage first carpometacarpal joint (FCMCJ) arthritis but has limited supportive evidence. This systematic review evaluates the literature, and reports on outcomes and adverse events following this procedure. An electronic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane Central, looking for studies describing outcomes following arthroscopic debridement in FCMCJ arthritis, was performed in November 2022.

Examining the role of ChatGPT in the management of distal radius fractures: insights into its accuracy and consistency.

Background: The optimal management of distal radius fractures remains a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs), especially ChatGPT, affords significant potential in improving healthcare and research. This study aims to assess the accuracy and consistency of ChatGPT's knowledge in managing distal radius fractures, with a focus on its capability to provide information for patients and assist in the decision-making processes of orthopaedic clinicians.

Metacarpal Fracture Fixation with Intramedullary Screws.

Intramedullary screws (IMS) have become a viable option for metacarpal fracture fixation. To further appraise their utility, this study assessed clinical and patient-reported short- and medium-term outcomes of IMS fixation for extra-articular metacarpal fractures. A retrospective cohort study was performed in a series of 32 patients (with a total of 37 fractures) who underwent metacarpal fracture fixation over a 42-month period between January 2020 and July 2023.

Comparing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) enrollment data death dates to the National Death Index (NDI).

Purpose: In the United States, the National Death Index (NDI) is the most complete source of death information, while epidemiologic studies with mortality outcomes often rely on U.S. Medicare data for outcome ascertainment.

Dispensing pharmacy chains and direct anticoagulants: Potential associations with patient outcomes.

Purpose: Pharmacy chains can differ with respect to the characteristics of their patient populations as well as their nonprescription products, services, and practices, and thus may serve as a surrogate for potential unmeasured confounding in observational studies of prescription drugs. This study evaluates whether a single-source drug can have different patient outcomes based on the dispensing pharmacy chain.

Methods: Separate analyses for two anticoagulant drugs, rivaroxaban and apixaban, were conducted using Medicare Fee-for-Service claims evaluating the association between dispensing pharmacy chain and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, all-cause mortality, and major GI bleeding.

Severe Hypocalcemia With Denosumab Among Older Female Dialysis-Dependent Patients.

Importance: Dialysis-dependent patients experience high rates of morbidity from fractures, yet little evidence is available on optimal treatment strategies. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder is nearly universal in dialysis-dependent patients, complicating diagnosis and treatment of skeletal fragility.

Objective: To examine the incidence and comparative risk of severe hypocalcemia with denosumab compared with oral bisphosphonates among dialysis-dependent patients treated for osteoporosis.

Dorsal Plating, Lateral Plating, and Intramedullary Screw Fixation of Extra-Articular Proximal Phalangeal Fractures: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Comparison.

Purpose: To provide a biomechanical comparison of dorsal plating, lateral plating and intramedullary screw [IMS] fixation for extra-articular proximal phalangeal fractures.

Methods: Midshaft osteotomies were performed on 36 cadaveric proximal phalanges. The phalanges were fixed by dorsal plating, lateral plating or IMS fixation, and subjected to a four-point bending force.

Comparison of Arterial and Venous Interposition Grafting for Arterial Defects in a Rat Model.

Background:  Interposition microvascular grafting may be required to bridge arterial defects during digital replantation or revascularization and has traditionally been performed utilizing a venous autograft. Arterial interposition grafting has been shown to be superior in maintaining patency in large vessel surgery; there are case reports of its use in microsurgery.

Methods:  Six fellowship-trained hand and microsurgeons performed arterial and venous interposition grafts on the femoral arteries of 40 Wistar rats.

Trends in new and persistent opioid use in older adults with and without cancer.

Background: The impact of ongoing efforts to decrease opioid use on patients with cancer remains undefined. Our objective was to determine trends in new and additional opioid use in patients with and without cancer.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program-Medicare for opioid-naive patients with solid tumor malignancies diagnosed from 2012 through 2017 and a random sample of patients without cancer.

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Excision for Trigger Finger - A Systematic Literature Review.

Division of one or more slips of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon has been posited as an effective surgical modality for advanced or recurrent trigger finger. This may be an effective approach among patients with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, or in those with fixed flexion deformities who have poor outcomes from A1 pulley release alone. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of this procedure.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 in Prevalent Users of Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists: A National Case-Control Study of Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists prevent cytokine storm in mouse sepsis models. This led to the hypothesis that alpha-1 blockers may prevent severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is characterized by hypercytokinemia and progressive respiratory failure.

Methods: We performed an observational case-control study in male Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older, with or without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and treated with alpha-1 receptor blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.