Trends in lumbar interbody fusion: A study of American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) candidate data.

Background: There has been an increase in posterior-based interbody fusions over the past two decades. Our objective was to evaluate trends in interbody fusion use among the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) Part II candidates.

Methods: The ABOS database from 2003 to 2012 was queried for common procedural terminology (CPT) codes indicating lumbar interbody fusion (22,558 anterior lumbar interbody fusion [ALIF] and 22,630 and 22,633 posterior lumbar interbody fusion [PLIF] or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion [TLIF]).

Rotator Cuff Anterior Cable Reconstruction With Long Head of Biceps Tendon Autograft.

Rotator cuff tears with anterior cable disruption show a more detrimental natural history than tears with an intact cable. Anterior cable reconstruction in the setting of such tears provides a potential avenue to improve tissue quality of the repaired construct and enhance repair longevity. Cadaveric studies investigating anterior cable reconstruction have shown biomechanical advantages.

Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Computed Tomography-Based Epidemiological Study of 2917 Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To identify prevalence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine in a large sample, to characterize spinal involvement, and to identify associations with patient characteristics.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of all patients receiving cervical spine CT imaging in a level-1 emergency department from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 were reviewed.

Natural Language Processing for the Identification of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopaedics.

Background: The identification of surgical site infections for infection surveillance in hospitals depends on the manual abstraction of medical records and, for research purposes, depends mainly on the use of administrative or claims data. The objective of this study was to determine whether automating the abstraction process with natural language processing (NLP)-based models that analyze the free-text notes of the medical record can identify surgical site infections with predictive abilities that match the manual abstraction process and that surpass surgical site infection identification from administrative data.

Methods: We used surgical site infection surveillance data compiled by the infection prevention team to identify surgical site infections among patients undergoing orthopaedic surgical procedures at a tertiary care academic medical center from 2011 to 2017.

Evaluating Patients for Elective Outpatient Foot and Ankle Surgery: Insurance as a Predictor of Patient Outcomes.

Elective surgical procedures necessitate careful patient selection. Insurance level has been associated with postoperative outcomes in trauma patients. This study evaluates the relationship insurance level has with outcomes from elective foot and ankle surgery.

An Evaluation of PROMIS in Patients With Primary or Metastatic Spine Tumors.

Study Design: Retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data.

Objective: In spine tumor patients: i) to assess the correlation of Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function (PF), pain interference (PI), and Depression scores with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores; and ii) to assess ceiling and floor effects of PROMIS PF, PI, and Depression domains and the ODI/NDI.

Summary Of Background Data: There remains no widely used patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument for spine tumor patients.

Iliopsoas snapping hip: improving the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging with a novel parameter.

Objective: To illustrate an advanced imaging parameter that describes the course of the iliopsoas tendon, and evaluate its correlations with iliopsoas internal hip snapping syndrome.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed hip MRI images of all patients seen by a single surgeon between January 2015 and March 2016. The comparison group included all patients with clinical internal hip snapping, versus the control group that did not.

Anatomy and Physical Examination of the Shoulder.

The shoulder is a complex joint, with a wide range of motion and functional demands. An understanding of the intricate network of bony, ligamentous, muscular, and neurovascular anatomy is required in order to properly identify and diagnose shoulder pathology. There exist many articulations, unique structural features, and anatomic relationships that play a role in shoulder function, and therefore, dysfunction and injury.

The Prevalence of Klippel-Feil Syndrome: A Computed Tomography-Based Analysis of 2,917 Patients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of KFS in asymptomatic patients in New York State.

Summary Of Background Data: Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is characterized by congenitally fused cervical vertebrae and may not be diagnosed clinically because most patients do not have the classic triad of short neck, low posterior hairline, and decreased neck range of motion.

Lumbar Spine Infection by Granulicatella and Abiotrophia Species.

Background: The Granulicatella and Abiotrophia species are streptococci and natural inhabitants of the oral and urogenital flora. They are uncommonly associated with human pathology, although they can cause septicemia, endocarditis, or bacteremia. These microorganisms are difficult to culture and identify due to particular microenvironment requirements.

How Common Is the Ponticulus Posticus?: A Computed Tomography Based Analysis of 2917 Patients.

Study Design: A computed tomography (CT) study of the morphology of the C1 vertebra.

Objective: Is to determine the prevalence of ponticulus posticus (PP) by analyzing CT scans performed on a large, diverse population in the northeast United States. This study also proposes a CT-based classification system both to aid in unifying the description of PP, and to aid in future research.

The Effect of Intra-articular Cocktail Versus Femoral Nerve Block for Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy.

Purpose: To compare clinical efficacy and complication rate as measured by postoperative falls and development of peripheral neuritis between intra-articular blockade and femoral nerve block in patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery.

Methods: An institutional review board approved retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive series of patients who underwent elective arthroscopic hip surgery by a single surgeon, between November 2013 and April 2015. Subjects were stratified into 2 groups: patients who received a preoperative femoral nerve block for perioperative pain control, and patients who received an intra-articular "cocktail" injection postoperatively.

Cervical Scoliosis: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes.

Study Design Retrospective study. Objective Cervical scoliosis is a rare condition that can arise from various etiologies. Few reports on the surgical management of cervical scoliosis exist.

Mycobacterium kansasii infection of the spine in a patient with sarcoidosis: a case report and literature review.

Mycobacterium kansasii is an acid-fast bacillus most commonly associated with pulmonary pathology. Infection of the spine is exceedingly rare, with just three reported cases, two of which were in human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. This case report presents a case of vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to M.

Online ratings of orthopedic surgeons: analysis of 2185 reviews.

Online ratings of orthopedic surgeons have not been studied. We conducted a study to evaluate the online ratings of orthopedic surgeons in a major metropolitan region, to identify trends in ratings of orthopedic surgeons, and to analyze ratings to identify variables of significance in determining overall rating. Website traffic was used to identify the 8 busiest physician rating websites: AngiesList.

High-dose rhBMP-2 for adults: major and minor complications: a study of 502 spine cases.

Background: Use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has increased considerably since its introduction in 2002. The complications associated with high-dose rhBMP-2 (≥ 40 mg) are unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine outcomes and medical and surgical complications associated with high-dose rhBMP-2 at short-term and long-term follow-up evaluations.

Arachnoiditis ossificans after revision adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a 22-year follow-up and review.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To report the clinical and imaging findings of a patient with arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) 22 years after revision surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary Of Background Data: To our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature that describe AO developing after primary or revision surgery for AIS.