Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Patellar Tendon Rupture, Repair Failure, and Return to Activity in the Active-Duty Military Population.

Background: Patellar tendon ruptures have a reported incidence of 0.68 per 100,000 person-years in the general population. The epidemiology of surgically treated patellar tendon ruptures in the US military has yet to be reported, which would provide opportunity for identification of risk factors for these otherwise healthy and active patients.

Lumbar disc height and vertebral Hounsfield units: association with interbody cage subsidence.

Objective: Postoperative subsidence of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cages can result in loss of lordosis and foraminal height, and potential recurrence of nerve root impingement. The objectives of this study were to determine factors associated with TLIF cage subsidence. Specifically, the authors sought to determine if preoperative disc height compared to cage height could be used to predict TLIF interbody cage subsidence, and if decreased postoperative vertebral Hounsfield units (HUs) predisposed to cage subsidence.

The effect of lumbar corticosteroid injections on postoperative infection in lumbar arthrodesis surgery.

We sought to characterize the association between lumbar corticosteroid injections and postoperative infection rate for patients in the Military Health System undergoing lumbar arthrodesis. The Military Health System Data Repository was searched for all patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis from 2009 to 2014. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify the subset of patients who also received preoperative lumbar corticosteroid injections.

Fascia Iliaca Blockade With the Addition of Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Plain Bupivacaine for Perioperative Pain Management During Hip Arthroscopy: A Double-Blinded Prospective Randomized Control Trial.

Purpose: To determine in a prospective, randomized fashion whether liposomal bupivacaine extends the effectiveness of decreased pain scores and reduces narcotic requirements following hip arthroscopy when used in addition to a fascia iliaca blockade with plain bupivacaine alone.

Methods: Double-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial of participants undergoing hip arthroscopy. Randomized to receive a fascia iliaca blockade with 40 mL 0.

Population-based Risk Factors for the Development of Degenerative Disk Disease.

Study Design: This is a retrospective case control study.

Objective: Identify risk factors and assess their relative impact on the development of degenerative disk disease (DDD).

Summary Of Background Data: DDD is responsible for widespread disability in the civilian and military population.

Extra-Articular Retained Missiles; Is Surveillance of Lead Levels Needed?

Background: Although gunshot wounds are relatively common, lead toxicity associated with extra-articular retained missiles (EARMs) is an uncommon, yet potentially devastating, complication. Although the risk of lead toxicity with intra-articular retained missiles is well known, EARMs are routinely left in situ or only removed in selected circumstances secondary to the relatively rare occurrence of complications.

Methods: We first describe a patient with systemic lead poisoning associated with retained lead fragments after a gunshot-induced left femoral shaft fracture.

The effect of preoperative lumbar epidural corticosteroid injection on postoperative infection rate in patients undergoing single-level lumbar decompression.

Background Context: Lumbar epidural corticosteroid injections (LECIs) are frequently used in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with radiculopathy and lumbar spinal stenosis. Although widely used, their effect on the outcomes and complications of subsequent surgery is unclear. Postoperative infection can be a morbid complication following spine surgery, and recent literature has suggested that the risk may be increased in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery who had previously received LECIs.