Reduction in Diameter of Hamstring Autograft With Additional Circumferential Preconditioning During ACL Reconstruction in a Pediatric Population.

Background: Over 130,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions (ACLRs) are performed annually in the United States. Previous studies have shown that circumferential preconditioning reduces the diameter of fresh-frozen allografts, but no studies have described the effect in ACL autografts used during ACLR.

Purpose: To characterize the changes in the hamstring autograft diameter as a result of preparatory circumferential preconditioning.

The Heterogeneity of Pediatric Knee Infections: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Musculoskeletal infection is a major cause of morbidity in the pediatric population. Despite the canonical teaching that an irritable joint and signs of infection likely represent an infected joint space, recent evidence in the pediatric hip has demonstrated that alternative diagnoses are equally or more likely and that combinations of pathologies are common. The knee is the second most commonly infected joint in children, yet there remains a paucity of available data regarding the epidemiology and workup of the infected pediatric knee.

Defining the volume of consultations for musculoskeletal infection encountered by pediatric orthopaedic services in the United States.

Objective: Adequate resources are required to rapidly diagnose and treat pediatric musculoskeletal infection (MSKI). The workload MSKI consults contribute to pediatric orthopaedic services is unknown as prior epidemiologic studies are variable and negative work-ups are not included in national discharge databases. The hypothesis was tested that MSKI consults constitute a substantial volume of total consultations for pediatric orthopaedic services across the United States.

Surgeon Agreement on the Presence of Pathologic Anterior Instability on Shoulder Imaging Studies.

Background: In the setting of anterior shoulder instability, it is important to assess the reliability of orthopaedic surgeons to diagnose pathologic characteristics on the 2 most common imaging modalities used in clinical practice: standard plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Purpose: To assess the intra- and interrater reliability of diagnosing pathologic characteristics associated with anterior shoulder instability using standard plain radiographs and MRI.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Assessing Diagnostic Arthroscopy Performance in the Operating Room Using the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET).

Purpose: To determine the validity and reliability of using the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) to assess arthroscopic skill in the operating room.

Methods: Eight orthopaedic residents, 1 sports medicine fellow, and 3 sports medicine faculty members recorded the diagnostic portion of 3 shoulder and 3 knee procedures in the operating room. Two blinded raters used the ASSET to assess each recorded procedure video.

Using the arthroscopic surgery skill evaluation tool as a pass-fail examination.

Background: Examination of arthroscopic skill requires evaluation tools that are valid and reliable with clear criteria for passing. The Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool was developed as a video-based assessment of technical skill with criteria for passing established by a panel of experts. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool as a pass-fail examination of arthroscopic skill.

The Arthroscopic Surgical Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET).

Background: Surgeries employing arthroscopic techniques are among the most commonly performed in orthopaedic clinical practice; however, valid and reliable methods of assessing the arthroscopic skill of orthopaedic surgeons are lacking.

Hypothesis: The Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) will demonstrate content validity, concurrent criterion-oriented validity, and reliability when used to assess the technical ability of surgeons performing diagnostic knee arthroscopic surgery on cadaveric specimens.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.