Assessing the utility of an IoS application in the perioperative care of spine surgery patients: the NeuroPath Pilot study.

Background: In an attempt to improve care while decreasing costs and postoperative pain, we developed a novel IoS mobile health application, NeuroPath. The objective of this innovative app is to integrate enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles, patient education, and real-time pain and activity monitoring in a home setting with unencumbered two-way communication.

Methods: The NeuroPath application was built over 18 months, with support from Apple, Medable, the Department of Information-Technology and the Department of Neurosurgery.

Enhanced recovery after elective spinal and peripheral nerve surgery: pilot study from a single institution.

Objective: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols address pre-, peri-, and postoperative factors of a patient's surgical journey. The authors sought to assess the effects of a novel ERAS protocol on clinical outcomes for patients undergoing elective spine or peripheral nerve surgery.

Methods: The authors conducted a prospective cohort analysis comparing clinical outcomes of patients undergoing elective spine or peripheral nerve surgery after implementation of the ERAS protocol compared to a historical control cohort in a tertiary care academic medical center.

Initial Assessment of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool in a Heterogeneous Neurosurgical Patient Population.

Background: Bundled care payments are increasingly being explored for neurosurgical interventions. In this setting, skilled nursing facility (SNF) is less desirable from a cost perspective than discharge to home, underscoring the need for better preoperative prediction of postoperative disposition.

Objective: To assess the capability of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) and other preoperative variables to determine expected disposition prior to surgery in a heterogeneous neurosurgical cohort, through observational study.

Psychosocial behavioral patterns for adolescents.

Among the many formative issues in adolescents, determinants for health behaviors are being shaped. The development of positive oral health behavior in adolescents is a complex process. Areas specifically related to oral health include self-concept and its relation-ship to oral health and compliance with orthodontic care; tobacco use; special considerations including anorexia, bulimia, and troubled youths; and health promotions.

The congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisor. Part 2: assessing dentists' preferences for treatment.

Aim: To (1) determine if there are different preferences among general dentists, a combined group of dental specialists, and orthodontists concerning whether a patient with congenitally missing lateral incisors should have the teeth restored or if the canines should be orthodontically moved into the position of the missing teeth; (2) determine the role that esthetics and function of the final result has on the respondents' treatment preferences; and (3) compare the respondents' opinions about treatment preferences to their rankings of esthetics reported in part 1.

Methods: The questionnaire accompanied the photographic evaluation in part 1. Percentages were computed and chi-squares were used to compare response patterns.

The congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisor. Part 1: esthetic judgment of treatment options.

Aim: To determine how general dentists, orthodontists, combined dental specialists, and laypeople judged the relative attractiveness of a series of photographs of teeth that included cases with congenitally missing incisors to compare the esthetic appeal of various treatment options.

Methods: The photographs included cases with Maryland bridges, dental implants, and orthodontic substitution of the lateral incisors with the canines. Cases with no missing teeth were included as controls.

The effect of irrigation with doxycycline or citric acid on leakage and osseous wound healing.

This study investigated the effect of doxycycline irrigation on wound healing and the apical seal of three filling materials. Part 1: 220 extracted teeth received root canal therapy followed by root resection (2 mm) and ultrasonic root end preparations (3 mm). Groups of 20 were irrigated with saline, citric acid, or doxycycline and filled with amalgam, Super EBA, or MTA.

Prospective evaluation of implants connected to teeth.

Purpose: This prospective clinical trial examined the effect on teeth and implants when rigidly or non-rigidly connected in a cross-arch model.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients received 2 implants, 1 on each side of the mandible, and were restored with 3-unit fixed partial dentures connected either rigidly or non-rigidly to an abutment tooth. Patients were followed for at least 5 years post-restoration.

Evaluation of compressed air used in the dental operatory.

Background: The authors report the findings obtained when they quantitatively examined compressed air samples from air-water syringes located in different dental operatories at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry fo r the presence of microbial contaminants.

Methods: Streams of air of 30 seconds' duration from air-water syringes were forced through sterile modified stainless steel membrane filter holders (Millipore, Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass.

Determination of subepithelial connective tissue graft thickness in the dog.

Purpose: In this study, we determined the tissue thickness of healed subepithelial connective tissue grafts, the type of tissue present after healing, and the percentage of shrinkage of subepithelial connective tissue grafts over time in the facial aspect of the canine maxilla.

Materials And Methods: Four dogs each received 2 single-thickness subepithelial connective tissue grafts, 2 double-thickness grafts, and 2 sham-operated sites in the facial aspect of the maxilla bilaterally. The subepithelial connective tissue graft was harvested from the palate and included the periosteum.