A Genome-Wide Association Study and Rare Variant Analysis for Dupuytren Disease in a North American Population.

Purpose: Although European genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have aided in defining genetic associations in Dupuytren disease (DD), North American populations have been infrequently analyzed. Additionally, there are a paucity of rare variant analyses (RVA) for DD, which can help define both trait variability and risk for low-frequency variants. Our purpose was to perform a GWAS and RVA for DD using a North American database.

Early Rates of Revision Surgery in Endoscopic and Open Carpal Tunnel Release.

Purpose: To compare rates of revision surgery between primary endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR). In addition, we aimed to assess the influence of fellowship training on revision rates. We hypothesized that ECTR would not be associated with higher rates of revision surgery.

Artificial Intelligence in Orthopaedics: Performance of ChatGPT on Text and Image Questions on a Complete AAOS Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE).

Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of answering complex medical examination questions, offering the potential to revolutionize medical education and healthcare delivery. In this study we aimed to assess ChatGPT, a model that has demonstrated exceptional performance on standardized exams. Specifically, our focus was on evaluating ChatGPT's performance on the complete 2019 Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE), including questions with an image component.

Monkey Bar-Associated Pediatric Fractures: A National Epidemiologic Study of Emergency Department Visits.

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) visits because of pediatric fractures are not only burdensome for patients and their families but also result in an increased healthcare expenditure. Almost half of all children experience at least one fracture by the age of 15. Many fractures occur in playgrounds, with monkey bars and other climbing apparatuses noted as frequent mechanisms of injury.

Comparison of Artificial Intelligence to Resident Performance on Upper-Extremity Orthopaedic In-Training Examination Questions.

Purpose: Currently, there is a paucity of prior investigations and studies examining applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in upper-extremity (UE) surgical education. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the performance of a novel AI tool (ChatGPT) on UE questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE). We aimed to compare the performance of ChatGPT to the examination performance of hand surgery residents.

Unplanned Postoperative Phone Calls and Electronic Messages for Patients With and Without Opioid Prescriptions After Carpal Tunnel Release.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to compare unplanned postoperative patient communication in the form of phone calls and/or electronic patient portal messages (EPPM) after carpal tunnel release (CTR) for patients with and without a postoperative opioid prescription.

Methods: We identified all patients ≥18 years of age who underwent primary CTR between 2017 and 2022 without an opioid ordered within 90 days prior to surgery. The following two groups were created: cases with and without an opioid prescribed on the day of surgery.

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Reliability of the CTS-6 for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Administered by Medical Assistants.

Purpose: The CTS-6 can be used clinically to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and has demonstrated high levels of interrater reliability when administered by nonexpert clinicians. Our purpose was to assess sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), and interrater reliability of the CTS-6 when administered by medical assistants (MAs).

Methods: A series of patients presenting to an academic, upper-extremity surgery clinic were screened using CTS-6 between May and June of 2023.

A Comparison of Amyloid Deposition in Endoscopic and Open Carpal Tunnel Release.

Purpose: Previous investigations assessing the incidence of amyloidosis detected with biopsy during carpal tunnel release (CTR) have focused on open CTR (OCTR). Prior authors have suggested that biopsy may be more technically challenging during endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). Our purpose was to compare differences in the incidence of amyloid deposition detected during ECTR versus OCTR.

A Comparison of Early Complication Rates of Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release With and Without Resident Involvement.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the complication rates of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) relative to orthopedic resident trainee involvement in the procedure.

Methods: All patients undergoing isolated, elective ECTR by two attending surgeons within a 59-month period were analyzed. Cases were categorized as the following according to the degree of resident involvement: ECTR performed by attending with either no resident or a resident as an assistant (group 1), resident performing a portion of the procedure (group 2), and resident performing the entire procedure (group 3).

Adherence to Complication Reporting for Randomized Controlled Trials Contained in Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Purpose: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are frequently used in creating recommendations contained within clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). However, investigations outside of hand surgery have reported that RCTs within CPGs infrequently report complications and harms-related data. Our purpose was to assess adherence to complication reporting and harms-related outcomes contained in the Consolidated Standards for Reporting (CONSORT) Extension of Harms and Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) reporting checklists for RCTs within the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) CPGs for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Statistical Literacy in Hand and Upper-Extremity Patients.

Purpose: Statistical literacy is the ability of a patient to apply basic statistical concepts to their health care. Understanding statistics is a critical component of shared decision making. The purpose of this investigation was to define levels of statistical literacy in an upper-extremity (UE) patient population.

Trends in the Utilization of Computed Tomography in Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures.

Purpose: To identify patient, surgeon, and injury characteristics associated with preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan utilization for operative distal radius fractures (DRF). In addition, we aimed to determine if preoperative CT was associated with treatment methods other than isolated volar-locked plating (VLP).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all operatively treated adult DRFs within our health care system from 2016 to 2020.

Analysis of Terminated Hand and Wrist-Related Clinical Trials.

Purpose: While clinical trials provide high-quality evidence guiding medical decision-making, early trial termination can result in both lost time and resources. Our purpose was to investigate the rate of and reasons for clinical trial termination for hand and wrist-related conditions and identify study characteristics associated with early trial termination.

Methods: The ClinicalTrials.

Fifty Most-Cited Research Articles in Elbow Surgery: A Modern Reading List.

Purpose: Bibliometric analysis is a common method for evaluating current trends within a scientific field. The primary aim of this study was to define and analyze the 50 most frequently cited articles in the field of elbow surgery, both of all time and those published during the 21st century.

Methods: We searched the Journal Citation Report to identify articles related to elbow surgery within academic journals.

The Effect of an Intraoperative Real-Time Counter on Radiation Exposure Events During Operative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures.

Purpose: Occupational radiation exposure can have adverse health consequences for surgeons. The purpose of this study was to determine if utilization of an intraoperative, real-time radiograph counter results in decreased radiation exposure events (REEs) during open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of distal radius fractures (DRFs).

Methods: We reviewed all cases of isolated ORIF DRFs performed at a single center from January 2021 to February 2023.

Online Information Related to Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Google Search Analysis.

Introduction While Google is frequently used to access internet-based health resources, the quality of online health information remains variable. Our purpose was to assess suggested resources identified through Google search features for common symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods Two searches were performed.

Race and Ethnicity Reporting in Randomized Controlled Trials Published in Upper-Extremity Journals.

Purpose: Hand surgery remains one of the least racially and ethnically diverse subspecialties in all of medicine, and minority patients demonstrate overall worse health care outcomes compared with White patients. Our purpose was to determine the frequency of race and ethnicity reporting in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in journals with an upper-extremity (UE) focus.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines by searching EMBASE and MEDLINE for RCTs contained in peer-reviewed journals with an UE focus.

An Analysis of Formal Patient Complaints, Risk, and Malpractice Events Involving Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons During a 10-Year Period.

Formal patient complaints and malpractice events involving orthopedic trauma surgeons (OTSs) can have substantial career implications. Our purpose was to analyze formal patient complaints, risk events, and malpractice events against OTSs during a 10-year period. We reviewed all formal patient complaints within our institution's patient advocacy database involving 9 fellowship-trained OTSs throughout a decade.

Trends in the Management of Fifth Metacarpal Neck Fractures.

Purpose: To describe management trends of fifth metacarpal neck (5MCN) fractures within a large health care system. We aimed to define patient and surgeon factors associated with nonsurgical versus surgical treatment, as well as to identify factors associated with receiving care only in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: We identified all 5MCN fractures within our system for the years 2012-2020 and recorded baseline demographics for cases.

Intraoperative Conversion From Endoscopic to Open Carpal Tunnel Release: A Systematic Review and Case Series.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence, outcomes, and complications associated with conversion from endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) to open carpal tunnel release (OCTR).

Methods: A retrospective case review of all patients who underwent ECTR over 4 years by 2 fellowship-trained hand surgeons at a single academic center was performed. We recorded outcomes and the reason for conversion in patients who underwent conversion to an OCTR.