Anatomical Parameters for Occipital Condyle Screws: An Analysis of 500 Condyles Using CT Scans.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Objective: To establish occipital condyle dimensions (length, width, height), as well as the medialization angle necessary for safe occipital condyle screw placement in occipitocervical fixation.

Methods: Between 1/2014-6/2014, patients who presented to a single level 1 academic trauma center emergency room and received computed tomography (CT) imaging of the cervical spine as part of routine clinical care were identified.

Evaluation and Treatment of Posterior Tibialis Tendon Insufficiency in the Elderly Patients.

Introduction: Posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency is the most common cause of adult acquired flatfoot deformity in elderly patients. We performed a literature search of primary and secondary journal articles pertaining to posterior tibialis tendon insufficiency in the geriatric population. We examined relevant data from these articles regarding current evaluation in addition to both conservative and advanced treatment approaches that correspond to disease severity.

Interest in Orthopedic Surgery Residency: A Google Trends Analysis.

Google Trends, a powerful online search tool, was used to evaluate the association between the United States applicant pool for orthopedic surgery residency and Internet queries for orthopedic residency and orthopedic salary. From 2006 to 2015, searches for orthopedic salary and orthopedic residency were conducted by Google Trends. Data from the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) in the same time period was plotted and subsequently compared to the Google Trends results.

Validity of QuickDASH at day of surgery versus day of initial consultation: Does informed consent make a difference?

Introduction: The trend toward requiring explicit consent from patients participating in observational research increases time and resources required to perform such research. Informed consent introduces the potential for "consent bias"-either through selection bias or through the "Hawthorne effect," where patients may alter responses based upon the awareness of participation in a study, thus potentially limiting its applicability to a generalized orthopedic practice. We hypothesized that administering Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) to patients on the day of surgery with informed consent would alter responses in a statistically and clinically meaningful way compared to patients who complete QuickDASH as a quality control measure.

Geriatric Cyclists: Assessing Risks, Safety, and Benefits.

Nearly 1 in every 3 Americans ride bicycles each year, but only 20% of the reported 100 million cyclists ride on a weekly basis. Bicycling is a common form of transportation and recreation and has gained popularity among the elderly patients. In recent years, the number of elderly cyclists has increased steadily and studies have cited ease of use, need for exercise, and enjoyment as important contributing factors.

Spinal Cord Injury in the Geriatric Population: Risk Factors, Treatment Options, and Long-Term Management.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are sustained by more than 12 500 patients per year in the United States and more globally. The SCIs disproportionately affect the elderly, especially men. Approximately 60% of these injuries are sustained traumatically through falls, but nontraumatic causes including infections, tumors, and medication-related epidural bleeding have also been documented.

Initial Preoperative Management of Geriatric Hip Fractures.

Hip fractures are a common emergency among the geriatric population and often requires immediate hospitalization for proper assessment. More than 90% of the time, hip fractures are suffered by individuals older than 65 and are usually precipitated predominantly by falls. Current studies show that the average individual over 65 years falls at least once a year, and roughly 1 out of every 4 of these individuals succumb to their injuries just 12 months following surgical treatment.

Distal Radius Fracture Outcomes and Rehabilitation.

Distal radius fractures account for nearly 1 of every 5 fractures in individuals aged 65 or older. Moreover, increased susceptibility to vertebral and hip fractures has been documented in patients a year after suffering a distal radius fracture. Although women are more susceptible to hip fractures, men experience a higher mortality rate in the 7 years following a distal radius fracture.

The Geriatric Driver: Factors That Influence When to Stop Driving.

The increase in the growth of the elderly population in the past 2 decades has been paralleled by an increase in the number of active elderly drivers. Consequentially, this growth has been accompanied by a rise in fatal road-related accidents. Due to age-related fragility, elderly drivers are more susceptible to injuries and death following a road-related accident.

Evaluating Problems With Footwear in the Geriatric Population.

Foot pathologies are common in nearly 80% of all elderly patients, and studies have indicated inappropriate footwear as one of the major underlying cause. It has been postulated that ill-fitting shoe wear affects plantar pressure, thus exacerbating weak balance. Complications arising from foot pathologies, which include difficulty in maintaining balance, have increased the risk of falls that can result in fractures and other serious injuries.