The effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 injection at different time points on intervertebral disk degeneration in a rat tail model.

Study Design: Prospective in vivo rat tail model of disk degeneration comparing the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) injection over various time points and grades of degeneration.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of timing and disk grade on rhBMP-2 injection in a rat tail model of disk degeneration.

Summary Of Background Data: rhBMP-2 stimulates the proliferation of intervertebral disk cells and the secretion of extracellular matrix.

Incidence of acute postoperative infections requiring reoperation after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Background: An acute infection after arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a rare but serious complication. Previous studies estimating the incidence of infections after arthroscopic surgery have been conducted, but the majority of these had either relatively small study groups or were not specific to shoulder arthroscopic surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of acute infections after arthroscopic shoulder surgery and compare infection rates by age group, sex, geographic region, and specific procedures.

The costs associated with the evaluation of rotator cuff tears before surgical repair.

Background: Patients undergoing rotator cuff repair typically have a diagnostic evaluation and trial of nonoperative therapy before surgery. Recent studies have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of surgery, but none have attempted to estimate the costs associated with the preoperative evaluation. This study used available data to examine major expenditures during the preoperative period.

Hospital Charges and Practice Patterns for General and Regional Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair.

Background: Anesthetic use for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may display variability in hospital charges and utilization in the United States.

Purpose: To evaluate practice patterns and hospital charges for anesthesia in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Study Type: Cross-sectional study.

Incidence of postoperative infections requiring reoperation after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of infection requiring reoperation after arthroscopic knee surgery during a 6-year period and to compare infection rates across different age groups, genders, geographic regions of the United States, and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes through a retrospective review of a large insurance company database.

Methods: A retrospective review of an insurance company database was performed for all knee arthroscopies performed in the United States from 2004 to 2009. The database was first queried for all knee arthroscopies, and the number of those cases requiring additional surgery for infection within 30 days was determined to calculate the incidence of infection.

Trends in the surgical treatment of articular cartilage defects of the knee in the United States.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in surgical treatment of articular cartilage defects of the knee in the United States.

Methods: The current procedural terminology (CPT) billing codes of patients undergoing articular cartilage procedures of the knee were searched using the PearlDiver Patient Record Database, a national database of insurance billing records. The CPT codes for chondroplasty, microfracture, osteochondral autograft, osteochondral allograft, and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) were searched.

Comparison of practice patterns in total ankle replacement and ankle fusion in the United States.

Background: Although tibiotalar fusion has historically been considered the gold standard treatment for end-stage arthritis of the ankle, the performance of total ankle replacement appears to be gaining favor as improved outcomes have been observed with new implant designs and surgical techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare trends and demographics in the performance of ankle fusion and total ankle replacement in the United States.

Methods: The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes of patients undergoing ankle fusion and total ankle replacement were searched using the PearlDiver Patient Record Database, a national database of orthopaedic patients.

The effect of corticosteroid administration on soft-tissue inflammation associated with rhBMP-2 use in a rodent model of inflammation.

Study Design: In vivo rodent model.

Objective: Investigate the effect of systemic corticosteroid administration on soft-tissue inflammation after local delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2).

Summary Of Background Data: Corticosteroid use in cases of soft-tissue inflammation associated with the use of rhBMP-2 has been reported in clinical studies, but the effectiveness of its use and appropriate timing remain unclear.

Analysis of Relationship between Paraspinal Muscle Fatty Degeneration and Cervical Spine Motion Using Kinetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The alignment and mobility of the cervical spine is influenced by factors related to the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, ligaments, facet joints, and muscles. Few reports have described the role played by the paraspinal muscles in cervical spine mobility. In this study, we investigate the relationship between fatty degeneration of the paraspinal muscles and cervical motion as assessed with kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI).