The Cost of Procuring Deceased Donor Livers: Evidence From US Organ Procurement Organization Cost Reports, 2013-2018.

Deceased donor organs for transplantation are costly. Expenses include donor assessment, pre-operative care of acceptable donors, surgical organ recovery, preservation and transport, and other costs. US Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) serve defined geographic areas in which each OPO has exclusive organ recovery responsibilities including detailed reporting of costs.

The Medical Costs of Determining Eligibility and Waiting for a Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Recent efforts to increase access to kidney transplant (KTx) in the United States include increasing referrals to transplant programs, leading to more pretransplant services. Transplant programs reconcile the costs of these services through the Organ Acquisition Cost Center (OACC).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the costs associated with pretransplant services by applying microeconomic methods to OACC costs reported by transplant hospitals.

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy With Fusion in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative differences in racial and socioeconomic factors in patients undergoing laminoplasty (LP) versus laminectomy and fusion (LF) for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Summary Of Background Data: DCM is prevalent in the United States, requiring surgical intervention to prevent neurological degeneration.

Impact of occupational characteristics on return to work for employed patients after elective cervical spine surgery.

Objective: In a cohort of employed patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery with an uncomplicated postoperative course, the authors sought to determine the demographic, functional, and occupational characteristics associated with return to work (RTW) following surgery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data was undertaken of patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for degenerative disease in the Quality Outcomes Database. Study inclusion criteria were: 1) employed prior to surgery and planned to RTW, 2) no unplanned readmissions, 3) achieved 30% improvement on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and 4) were satisfied with the surgical outcome at 3 or 12 months postoperatively.

Adult versus adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a meta-analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Introduction: While the natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and adult idiopathic scoliosis (AdIS) is well documented in the literature, the impact of age on postoperative outcomes remains an active area of research. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patients undergoing surgery for AIS and AdIS with respect to: (1) postoperative Cobb correction, (2) perioperative variables, and (3) postoperative complications.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Impact of Unplanned Readmission on Patient-Reported Outcomes After Cervical Spine Surgery: A National Study of 13 355 Patients.

Background And Objectives: Although risk factors for unplanned readmission after cervical spine surgery have been widely reported, less is known about how readmission itself affects patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Using the Quality Outcomes Database registry of patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery, we sought to (1) determine the impact of unplanned readmission on PROMs and (2) compare the effect of specific readmission reasons on PROMs.

Methods: An observational study was performed using a multi-institution, retrospective registry for patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.

Advancing patient-centered research practices in a pragmatic patient-level randomized clinical trial: A thematic analysis of stakeholder engagement in Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA).

Background: Involving patient and community stakeholders in clinical trials adds value by ensuring research prioritizes patient goals both in conduct of the study and application of the research. The use of stakeholder committees and their impact on the conduct of a multicenter clinical trial have been underreported clinically and academically. The aim of this study is to describe how Study Advisory Committee (SAC) recommendations were implemented throughout the Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA) trial.

What's in This For You? What's in This For Me?: A Win-Win Perspective of Involving Study Advisory Committee Members in Palliative Care Research.

Study advisory committees (SACs) provide critical value to clinical trials by providing unique perspectives that pull from personal and professional experiences related to the trial's healthcare topic. The Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA) study had the privilege of convening a 16-person SAC from the project's inception to completion. The study team wanted to understand the impact this project had on the SAC members.

Determining the Effect of Intraoperative TXA on Postoperative Blood Loss in ACDF.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intraoperative tranexamic acid (TXA) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on postoperative blood loss.

Summary Of Background Data: TXA has been proven to be a safe and effective agent in reducing blood loss after cervical surgery; however, its efficacy when used intraoperatively for ACDF surgeries had yet to be researched.

Which Bone Mineral Density Measure Offers a More Reliable Prediction of Mechanical Complications in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Hounsfield Units or DEXA Scan?

Objective: In patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, we sought to: (1) determine the relationship between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-measured bone mineral density (BMD), T-scores, and Hounsfield units (HU), and (2) compare the ability of DEXA-measured BMD, T-scores, and HU to predict mechanical complications and reoperations.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective cohort study was undertaken for cases from 2013 to 2017.

Inclusion Criteria: ≥5-level-fusion, sagittal/coronal deformity, and 2-year follow-up.

Comparing Patient-Reported Outcomes, Complications, Readmissions, and Revisions in Posterior Lumbar Fusion With, Versus Without, an Interbody Device.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis on prospectively collected data.

Objectives: To compare posterior lumbar fusions with versus without an interbody in: (1) Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at 1 year and (2) postoperative complications, readmission, and reoperations.

Summary Of Background Data: Elective lumbar fusion is commonly used to treat various lumbar pathologies.

Efficacy and Safety of the Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel in Lumbar Laminectomies.

Introduction: Despite recent advances in applied instruments and surgical techniques, the incidence of iatrogenic durotomies caused by traditional techniques remains significant. The ultrasonic bone scalpel (UBS) has been shown to improve speed and reduce complications in laminectomies in the cervical and thoracic spine when compared to traditional methods utilizing high-speed burr, punch forceps, or rongeurs. Thus, in this study, we aim to evaluate whether the use of the UBS in the lumbar spine would result in equivalent safety, efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) improvement when compared to traditional methods of laminectomy.

The synovial environment steers cartilage deterioration and regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) was recently defined as an epidemic, and the lack of effective treatment is highly correlated to the limited knowledge regarding the underlying pathophysiology. Failure to regenerate upon trauma is thought to be one of the underlying causes for degenerative diseases, including OA. To investigate why lesions within an OA environment fail to heal, a heterogeneous cell population was isolated from the synovial fluid (SF) of OA patients.

Endoscopic transforaminal treatment of a thoracic perineural cyst: a case report.

Background And Importance: To describe the first case of a thoracic perineural cyst successfully treated using a direct thoracic transforaminal endoscopic approach.

Methods: Case report.

Clinical Presentation: A 66-year-old male presented with right-sided radicular pain in a T4 distribution.

Ethanol exposure alters Alzheimer's-related pathology, behavior, and metabolism in APP/PS1 mice.

Epidemiological studies identified alcohol use disorder (AUD) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet there is conflicting evidence on how alcohol use promotes AD pathology. In this study, a 10-week moderate two-bottle choice drinking paradigm was used to identify how chronic ethanol exposure alters amyloid-β (Aβ)-related pathology, metabolism, and behavior. Ethanol-exposed APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice showed increased brain atrophy and an increased number of amyloid plaques.

Radiographic Parameters in Cervical Myelopathy: Review of Current Literature.

Study Design: This was a narrative review.

Objectives: Provide a comprehensive review of radiographic alignment parameters and their effect on procedure selection, surgical decision-making, and clinical outcomes for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Summary Of Background Data: The use of radiographic parameters to predict prognosis and surgical outcomes in patients with CSM is an evolving field given the complex presentation of patients with this condition.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Presentation of Patients With Spinal Metastases.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objective: The aim was to determine if preoperative spinal instability neoplastic scores (SINSs) and Tokuhashi prognostication scores differed in patients receiving surgical care before and during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Summary Of Background Data: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in scheduling nonemergent surgeries.

Assessing the Insurance Deductible Effect on Outcomes After Elective Spinal Surgery.

Background: Private insurers use the calendar deductible system, placing pressure on patients and medical personnel to perform medical services before the end of the year to maximize patient savings. The impact of the deductible calendar on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after spine surgery is poorly understood. The objective of our study was to investigate if patients undergoing surgery in December had different PROs and demographics compared with all other months.

Suture Anchor Repair of a Combined Tear of the Proximal Iliotibial Band and Tensor Fascia Lata.

A combined tear of the proximal iliotibial band and tensor fascia lata is an uncommon injury, and currently, the body of literature on the topic is limited. The suture anchor repair technique described in this article allows anatomic restoration of the proximal iliotibial band and tensor fascia lata.

Plain Language Summary: Tympanostomy (Ear) Tubes in Children.

This plain language summary explains tympanostomy tubes, also known as ear tubes, to patients and families. The summary applies to children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes. It is based on the "Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update)," published in 2022 as a major update to the original guideline from 2013.

Executive Summary of Clinical Practice Guideline on Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).

Objective: This executive summary of the guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for patient selection and surgical indications for managing tympanostomy tubes in children. The summary and guideline are intended for any clinician involved in managing children aged 6 months to 12 years with tympanostomy tubes or children being considered for tympanostomy tubes in any care setting as an intervention for otitis media of any type. The target audience includes specialists, primary care clinicians, and allied health professionals.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children (Update).

Objective: Insertion of tympanostomy tubes is the most common ambulatory surgery performed on children in the United States. Tympanostomy tubes are most often inserted because of persistent middle ear fluid, frequent ear infections, or ear infections that persist after antibiotic therapy. All these conditions are encompassed by the term (middle ear inflammation).

Pragmatic Considerations in Incorporating Stakeholder Engagement Into a Palliative Care Transitions Study.

Background: Stakeholder involvement in health care research has been shown to improve research development, processes, and dissemination. The literature is developing on stakeholder engagement methods and preliminarily validated tools for evaluating stakeholder level of engagement have been proposed for specific stakeholder groups and settings.

Objectives: This paper describes the methodology for engaging a Study Advisory Committee (SAC) in research and reports on the use of a stakeholder engagement survey for measuring level of engagement.

Cost Structures of US Organ Procurement Organizations.

Background: The goal is to provide a national analysis of organ procurement organization (OPO) costs.

Methods: Five years of data, for 51 of the 58 OPOs (2013-2017, a near census) were obtained under a FOIA. OPOs are not-for-profit federal contractors with a geographic monopoly.