Publications by authors named "Rathjen K"

Background: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is increasingly recognized as an essential aspect of clinical research, particularly for ensuring relevancy and impact of research to those most affected. This study addresses the gap in involving older patients, particularly nursing home residents, in the research process by exploring motivations, expectations, and experiences of nursing home residents in Bremen, Germany, involved in PPI for developing a clinical trial on polypharmacy.

Methods: Two Patient Advisory Boards (PABs) were established in nursing homes as part of the INVOLVE-Clin project.

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Background: Socioeconomic disparities in musculoskeletal care are increasingly recognized, however, no studies to date have investigated the role of the insurance carrier on outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with segmental spinal instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: A US insurance dataset was queried using the PearlDiver Mariner software for all patients aged 10 to 18 undergoing PSF for a primary diagnosis of AIS between 2010 and 2020. Age, sex, geographic region, number of levels fused, and baseline medical comorbidities were queried.

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Article Synopsis
  • Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and idiopathic scoliosis (IS) were evaluated in a study to compare their radiographic and clinical outcomes post-surgery.
  • A total of 30 patients with ASD showed a higher percent curve correction and improved curve magnitude at a 2-year follow-up compared to IS patients, despite initial differences in lumbar lordosis.
  • The findings indicate that while ASD patients had lower lumbar lordosis preoperatively, their surgical outcomes were at least as good as those of IS patients, with no significant difference in complication rates.
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Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a group of conditions characterized by joint contractures affecting 2 or more joints. This study describes results of spinal fusion in patients with classic amyoplasia and general arthrogryposis.

Methods: IRB approved retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of classic amyoplasia and general arthrogryposis who had a primary definitive posterior spinal fusion between 1990 and 2017 at a single pediatric institution.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes (20-30 years) of patients who underwent surgery for Blount disease by reviewing medical records and contacting former patients.
  • Out of 105 eligible patients, only 16 agreed to participate, revealing a high prevalence of obesity (average BMI of 45.8) and some concerning health outcomes, such as knee osteoarthritis.
  • The findings suggest that retrospective studies have limitations in evaluating the long-term effects for pediatric orthopedic conditions, highlighting the need for more prospective research focused on obesity and socioeconomic factors in treatment.
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Background: Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often report chronic back pain; however, there is inadequate research on psychological factors associated with pain in this patient population. Pain catastrophizing, a psychological factor that describes a pattern of negative thoughts and feelings about pain, has been associated with poorer responses to medical treatment for pain. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in the AIS population and assess its relationship with preoperative and postoperative self-reported outcomes.

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Purpose: While intra-articular steroid injection has been used anecdotally in patients with symptomatic talocalcaneal coalitions recalcitrant to traditional conservative modalities, the ability of this treatment to provide symptomatic relief and obviate or delay surgical intervention remains unknown. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to assess the treatment efficacy of intra-articular subtalar steroid injection in children with symptomatic talocalcaneal coalitions.

Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with isolated subtalar coalitions was performed at a single pediatric orthopaedic institution over a 30-year period.

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Aim: To identify all patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita presenting to a specialized pediatric orthopedic institution over a 28-year period; classify them into three groups (general arthrogryposis not otherwise specified [NOS], amyoplasia, or distal arthrogryposis); report the frequency of various musculoskeletal features; and determine the rate of operative treatment.

Method: Patients with arthrogryposis under the age of 18 years who presented between 1990 and 2017 were included. Patients were placed into one of three groups based on clinical features and family history when available.

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Background: Active involvement of patients in clinical research is increasingly demanded in Germany. It has great potential to increase the quality and relevance of research and to contribute to patient empowerment. However, patients, researchers and research funders have experienced that the implementation of patient involvement is accompanied by cultural, practical and personal challenges.

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Purpose: We sought to identify correlations between working diagnosis, surgeon indication for obtaining spinal MRI and positive MRI findings in paediatric patients presenting with spinal disorders or complaints.

Methods: Surgeons recorded their primary indication for ordering a spinal MRI in 385 consecutive patients. We compared radiologist-reported positive MRI findings with surgeon response, indication, working diagnosis and patient demographics.

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This study aims to identify characteristics associated with poor appointment adherence after surgical stabilization of supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHFX) in children. A retrospective review of 560 consecutive, surgically managed patients with SCHFX from 2010 to 2015 was performed. One missed follow-up appointment was classified as 'low adherence', whereas missing two or more appointments was classified as 'very low adherence'.

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Introduction: Patient involvement in health research is an integral part of health care in many countries. It promotes the relevance and quality of research and increases the meaningfulness of research results. Meanwhile, the value of patient involvement has also been recognised in Germany.

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Usually, patients participating in clinical trials have a passive role as test persons. This creates a risk that patients' needs and interests are not reflected in clinical research. The aim of the present paper is to give an introduction to patient involvement in clinical research.

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Study Design: Retrospective case-controlled study.

Objectives: To analyze the overall performance and outcome of two-a-day surgery days for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). As a method to improve efficiency and operating room utilization, some surgeons are now performing two surgeries for AIS in a single day.

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Background: Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) can be managed operatively or nonoperatively. Few studies compare the effect of operative versus nonoperative treatment on patient health-related quality of life. We compare 2-year radiographic and the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22) results of patients who self-selected either conservative or surgical treatment.

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Background: Adjacent segment pathology is a known complication after spinal fusion, but little has been reported on junctional failure. A series of adolescent patients presented with acute distal junctional failure (DJF). We sought to determine any common features of these patients to develop a prevention strategy.

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Background: Cervical kyphosis may occur with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) and is often associated with vertebral dysplasia. Outcomes of cervical spinal fusion in patients with NF1 are not well described because of the rarity of the condition. We aimed to (1) characterize the clinical presentation of cervical kyphosis and (2) report the outcomes of posterior and anteroposterior cervical fusion for the condition in these children.

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Background: Epiphysiodesis is well-established surgical treatment for the management of leg length discrepancy (LLD) in children; however, a variety of complications may occur. This study evaluates the nature, rate, and potential risk factors of complications associated with epiphysiodesis in a large patient population treated in 1 institution.

Methods: We evaluated the medical and radiographic records of 863 children who had lower extremity epiphysiodesis to manage LLD between 1980 and 2011.

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The periosteum contributes to bone repair and maintenance of cortical bone mass. In contrast to the understanding of bone development within the epiphyseal growth plate, factors that regulate periosteal osteogenesis have not been studied as intensively. Osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD) is a congenital disorder of osteogenesis and is typically sporadic and characterized by radiolucent lesions affecting the cortical bone immediately under the periosteum of the tibia and fibula.

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Purpose: Type III B and C open tibia fractures in children pose a challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. Limb salvage is the initial goal for the majority of patients, but managing soft-tissue defects and bone loss can be a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of circular external fixation in the management of these injuries.

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Study Design: To test for rare genetic mutations, a cohort of patients with unexplained early-onset scoliosis (EOS) was screened using high-density microarray genotyping. A cohort of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was similarly screened and the results were compared.

Summary Of Background Data: Patients with scoliosis in infancy or early childhood (EOS) are at high risk for progressive deformity and associated problems including respiratory compromise.

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