Predicting 90-day return to the emergency department in orthopaedic trauma patients in the Southeastern USA: a machine-learning approach.

Introduction: Return-to-acute-care metrics, such as early emergency department (ED) visits, are key indicators of healthcare quality, with ED returns following surgery often considered avoidable and costly events. Proactively identifying patients at high risk of ED return can support quality improvement efforts, allowing interventions to target vulnerable patients. With its predictive capabilities, machine learning (ML) has shown potential in forecasting various clinical outcomes but remains underutilised in orthopaedic trauma.

Cerebral Hemodynamic Responses to Disease-Modifying and Curative Sickle Cell Disease Therapies.

Background And Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy resulting in hemoglobin-S production, hemolytic anemia, and elevated stroke risk. Treatments include oral hydroxyurea, blood transfusions, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Our objective was to evaluate the neurologic relevance of these therapies by characterizing how treatment-induced changes in hemoglobin (Hb) affect brain health biomarkers.

Mobile device-based 3D scanning is superior to scoliometer in assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) currently relies on clinical evaluations by trained practitioners, most commonly using a scoliometer. Modern structured light 3D scanning can generate high-quality 3D representations of surface anatomy using a mobile device. We hypothesized that a mobile-based 3D scanning system would provide accurate deformity assessments compared to a scoliometer.

Synovial Fluid Immune Cell Composition Following Intraarticular Fracture May Contribute to Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis.

Intra-articular ankle fracture (IAF) often leads to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), resulting in significant long-term morbidity. While previous research has focused on the inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases within the synovial fluid fracture hematoma (SFFH), the immune cell populations within SFFH that contribute to PTOA development remain underexplored. This study aimed to characterize the immune cell populations in SFFH to better understand their role in the inflammatory response and potential for inducing lasting cartilage damage.

The use of abstract animations and a graphical body image for assessing pain outcomes among adults with sickle cell disease.

Painimation, a novel digital pain assessment tool, allows patients to communicate their pain quality, intensity, and location using abstract animations (painimations) and a paintable body image. This study determined the construct validity of painimations and body image measures by testing correlations with validated pain outcomes in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Analyses used baseline data from a multisite randomized trial of 359 adults with SCD and chronic pain.

Exploring versatile applications of a vacuum-assisted bone harvester in orthopedic surgery.

Background: Orthopedic procedures often require removing bone or pathological tissue, with traditional methods involving instruments like curettes and rongeurs. However, these methods can be time-consuming and lead to increased blood loss. To mitigate these side effects, vacuum-assisted tools have been developed to aid in tissue removal.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Providing Guideline-Concordant Care After Hip Fracture Surgery.

Importance: Institutions have adopted protocol-driven standardized hip fracture programs (SHFPs). However, concerns persist regarding bias in adherence to guideline-concordant care leading to disparities in implementing high-quality care for patients recovering from surgery for hip fracture.

Objective: To assess disparities in the implementation of guideline-concordant care for patients after hip fracture surgery in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Targeted Hip Fracture (THF) Database.

Persistent racial disparities in postoperative management after tibia fracture fixation: A matched analysis of US medicaid beneficiaries.

Introduction: Racial and ethnic disparities in orthopaedic surgery are well documented. However, the extent to which these persist in fracture care is unknown. This study sought to assess racial disparities in the postoperative surgical and medical management of patients after diaphyseal tibia fracture fixation.

Multisite Study of the Management of Musculoskeletal Infection After Trauma: The MMUSKIT Study.

Background: The optimal duration and choice of antibiotic for fracture-related infection (FRI) is not well defined. This study aimed to determine whether antibiotic duration (≤6 vs >6 weeks) is associated with infection- and surgery-free survival. The secondary aim was to ascertain risk factors associated with surgery- and infection-free survival.

Incidence and Risk Factors for New and Recurrent Infarcts in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Most adults with sickle cell disease will experience a silent cerebral infarction (SCI) or overt stroke. Identifying patient subgroups with increased stroke incidence is important for future clinical trials focused on stroke prevention. Our 3-center prospective cohort study tested the primary hypothesis that adults with sickle cell disease and SCIs have a greater incidence of new stroke or SCI compared with those without SCI.

Distribution of Silent Cerebral Infarcts in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background And Objectives: Previously we demonstrated that 90% of infarcts in children with sickle cell anemia occur in the border zone regions of cerebral blood flow (CBF). We tested the hypothesis that adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) have silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs) in the border zone regions, with a secondary hypothesis that older age and traditional stroke risk factors would be associated with infarct occurrence in regions outside the border zones.

Methods: Adults with SCD 18-50 years of age were enrolled in a cross-sectional study at 2 centers and completed a 3T brain MRI.

Successful coil embolization of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the superior gluteal artery after a percutaneous awake robot-assisted sacroiliac joint fusion: illustrative case.

Background: Robot-assisted sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion has gained popularity, but it carries the risk of complications such as injury to the superior gluteal artery (SGA). The authors present the case of an awake percutaneous robot-assisted SIJ fusion leading to an SGA pseudoaneurysm.

Observations: An 80-year-old male, who had undergone an awake percutaneous robot-assisted SIJ fusion, experienced postoperative left hip pain and bruising.