Referral, enrollment, and health care use in a comprehensive patient-centered management program for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Objective: Osteoarthritis management programs (OAMPs) have become a more common way to deliver patient-centered care. However, there is limited information on real-world use of these programs to guide implementation, payment policy, accessibility, and scaling in the United States. This paper describes 5-year use metrics for the Duke Joint Health Program, an OAMP embedded within a US academic health system.

Late follow-up for a randomized trial of surgical treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: We previously reported that concurrent tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) was not associated with a lower incidence of early right heart failure (RHF) in patients undergoing durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This follow-up analysis aimed to further define the clinical impact of concurrent TVS after 2 months of follow-up.

Methods: Patients with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on preoperative echocardiography (n = 71) were randomized to LVAD implantation either alone (no TVS group; n = 34) or with concurrent TVS (TVS group; n = 37).

Association of RBC Transfusion Thresholds and Outcomes in Medical Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The hemoglobin value to trigger RBC transfusion for patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is controversial. Previous guidelines recommended transfusing to a normal hemoglobin level, but recent studies suggest that more RBC transfusions are associated with increased adverse outcomes.

Research Question: Is implementation of different institutional RBC transfusion thresholds for patients receiving venovenous ECMO associated with changes in RBC use and patient outcomes?

Study Design And Methods: This single-center retrospective study of patients receiving venovenous ECMO used segmented regression to test associations between implementation of institutional transfusion thresholds and trends in RBC use.

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.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase II Trial of Intravenous Allogeneic Non-HLA Matched, Unrelated Donor, Cord Blood Infusion for Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the US, and time-limited reperfusion strategies remain the only approved treatment options. To address this unmet clinical need, we conducted a phase II randomized clinical trial to determine whether intravenous infusion of banked, non-HLA matched unrelated donor umbilical cord blood (UCB) improved functional outcome after stroke. Participants were randomized 2:1 to UCB or placebo within strata of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSS) and study center.

A Framework for Studying Healthcare Equity in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis of Existing Literature.

Introduction: Health inequities remain a notable barrier for pediatric patients, especially in conditions such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), where the efficacy of nonsurgical treatment is dependent on early diagnosis and referral to a specialist. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are nonmedical factors that affect health outcomes, such as economic stability, neighborhood environment, and discrimination. Although these factors have been studied throughout the AIS literature, considerable inconsistencies remain across studies regarding the investigation of SDOH for this population.

Outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty with an average follow-up of 10 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The literature demonstrating positive outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is mounting. However, the long-term outcomes of TAA (≥ 10 years) remain minimally reported. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate outcome metrics over multiple TAA studies with greater than 10 years of average follow-up.

Statistical Evaluation of Responder Analysis in Stem Cell Clinical Trials.

Background: In evaluating treatment efficacy, there is an ongoing discussion about which endpoint is more efficient to represent the treatment effect. Absolute change (AC) is the difference between before and after treatment, while relative change (RC) is the AC relative to the baseline value. Principal investigators sometimes support the credibility of relative change, but the FDA is more likely to support absolute change.

Relevance of cleft palatal width in short-term otologic outcomes.

Objective: Children with cleft palate are at increased risk for Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and conductive hearing loss from chronic otitis media. While it has been proposed that the severity of ETD is related to the severity of cleft palate, data are lacking to support this hypothesis. An improved understanding of the relevance of cleft width may have prognostic value that could inform decisions on the timing of tympanostomy tube placement and choice of tympanostomy tube design.

Effect of Risk-Stratified Care on Disability Among Adults With Low Back Pain Treated in the Military Health System: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Tailored treatments for low back pain (LBP) based on stratifying risk for poor prognosis have emerged as a promising approach to improve quality of care, but they have not been validated in trials at the level of individual randomization in US health systems.

Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness of risk-stratified vs usual care on disability at 1 year among patients with LBP.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This parallel-group randomized clinical trial enrolled adults (ages 18-50 years) seeking care for LBP with any duration in primary care clinics within the Military Health System from April 2017 to February 2020.

Sociodemographic Trends in Telemedicine Visit Completion in Spine Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study identifies potential disparities in telemedicine utilization in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath in patients receiving spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: COVID-19 led to the rapid uptake of telemedicine in the spine surgery patient population.

Association Between Preoperative Multidimensional Psychological Distress and Physical Function After Surgery for Sports-Related Injury.

Background: Psychological distress after orthopaedic surgery can lead to worse outcomes, including higher levels of disability and pain and lower quality of life. The 10-item Optimal Screening for Prediction for Referral and Outcome-Yellow Flag (OSPRO-YF) survey screens for multiple psychological constructs relevant to recovery from orthopaedic injury and may be useful to preoperatively identify patients who may require further psychological assessment and possible intervention after surgery.

Purpose/hypothesis: To determine the association between the OSPRO-YF and physiological patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

The Association Between Sociodemographic Factors, Social Determinants of Health, and Spine Surgical Patient Portal Utilization.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine patient portal use among the surgical spine patient population across different sociodemographic groups and assess the impact of patient portal use on clinical outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: Patient portals (PP) have been shown to improve outcomes and quality of care.

Nonoperative Management, Repair, or Reconstruction of the Medial Collateral Ligament in Combined Anterior Cruciate and Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries-Which Is Best? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Combined injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a common injury pattern and accounts for 20% of all ligamentous knee injuries. Despite advancements in surgical technique, there is no up-to-date consensus regarding the superiority of nonoperative versus operative management in higher-grade MCL tears of combined ACL-MCL injuries.

Purpose: To interpret recent literature on treatment options and to provide an updated evidence-based approach for management of combined ACL-MCL knee injuries.

Feasibility Study of Cord Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in COVID-19-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Treatment options for patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are desperately needed. Allogeneic human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hCT-MSCs) have potential therapeutic benefits in these critically ill patients, but feasibility and safety data are lacking.

Materials And Methods: In this phase I multisite study, 10 patients with COVID-19-related ARDS were treated with 3 daily intravenous infusions of hCT-MSCs (1 million cells/kg, maximum dose 100 million cells).

Surgical Treatment of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Interim analysis of the TVVAD trial.

Objectives: Right heart failure remains a serious complication of left ventricular assist device therapy. Many patients presenting for left ventricular assist device implantation have significant tricuspid regurgitation. It remains unknown whether concurrent tricuspid valve surgery reduces postoperative right heart failure.

Evaluation of alpelisib-induced hyperglycemia prophylaxis and associated risk factors in PIK3CA-mutated hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor-2 negative advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: SOLAR-1 investigated alpelisib-fulvestrant (ALP + FLV) in patients with HR + /HER2-, PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer and demonstrated a clinically significant increase in all-grade and grade (G) 3-4 hyperglycemia (HG) compared to placebo-fulvestrant. Given high rates of HG, a preventative protocol and identification of associated risk factors was implemented.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included patients receiving ALP + FLV.

Impact of maternal cytomegalovirus seroconversion on newborn and childhood hearing loss.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective of this study is to describe long-term hearing outcomes in infants born to mothers with a known cytomegalovirus (CMV) positivity who were not tested for congenital CMV

Study Type: Clinical research study.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed for mothers seropositive to CMV.

Primary Targeted Muscle Reinnervation after Below-Knee Amputation Is Not Associated with an Increased Risk of Major or Minor Surgical Complications: A Multi-Institutional, Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background: Targeted muscle reinnervation has emerged as a technique to reduce neuroma and phantom limb pain after below-knee amputation; however, the incidence of postoperative complications remains unknown. This multi-institutional study assessed the risk of postoperative complications among patients who underwent targeted muscle reinnervation at the time of below-knee amputation.

Methods: Patients who underwent below-knee amputation with targeted muscle reinnervation were propensity score-matched 1:3 to patients who underwent below-knee amputation alone.

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies following COVID-19 diagnosis: a longitudinal study of patients at a major urgent care provider in New York.

The duration of antibody persistence following natural infection is unclear. We examined routine SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and serological testing data on 6522 persons diagnosed between March 2020 and March 2021 who had at least 1 antibody test ≥30 days after diagnosis at CityMD, an urgent care provider. Using survival analysis, we estimated the median duration of detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and hazard of seroreversion by demographic and clinical characteristics.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in New York metropolitan area: the view from a major urgent care provider.

Purpose: Tracking severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing and positivity trends is crucial for understanding the trajectory of the pandemic. We describe demographic and clinical characteristics, testing, and positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 among 2.8 million patients evaluated at an urgent care provider.