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Comprehensive Guidance For The Prevention Of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Total Joint Arthroplasty And Pitfalls In The Prevention, Javad Parvizi, Yonghan Cha, Emanuele Chisari, Kangbaek Kim, Kyung-Hoi Koo

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is a surgical procedure, in which parts of damaged joints are removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The main indication of TJA is osteoarthritis, and the volume of TJA is rising annually along with the increase of aged population. Hip and knee are the most common joints, in which TJAs are performed. The TJA prosthesis is composed of metal, plastic, or ceramic device. Even though TJA is the most successful treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis, it is associated with various complications, and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication after TJA. With the increasing volume …

Early Management Of Adult Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury In Patients With Polytrauma: A Consensus And Clinical Recommendations Jointly Developed By The World Society Of Emergency Surgery (Wses) & The European Association Of Neurosurgical Societies (Eans), Edoardo Picetti, Andreas Demetriades, Fausto Catena, Bizhan Aarabi, Fikri Abu-Zidan, Oscar Alves, Luca Ansaloni, Rocco Armonda, Rafael Badenes, Miklosh Bala, Zsolt J Balogh, Andrea Barbanera, Alessandro Bertuccio, Walter Biffl, Pierre Bouzat, Andras Buki, Ana Maria Castano-Leon, Davide Cerasti, Giuseppe Citerio, Federico Coccolini, Raul Coimbra, Carlo Coniglio, Francesco Costa, Federico De Iure, Bart Depreitere, Enrico Fainardi, Michael Fehlings, Nikolay Gabrovsky, Daniel Agustin Godoy, Peter Gruen, Deepak Gupta, Gregory Hawryluk, Raimund Helbok, Iftakher Hossain, Peter Hutchinson, Corrado Iaccarino, Kenji Inaba, Marcel Ivanov, Stanislav Kaprovoy, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Sam Klein, Angelos Kolias, Nikolay Konovalov, Alfonso Lagares, Laura Lippa, Angelica Loza-Gomez, Teemu Luoto, Andrew Maas, Andrzej Maciejczak, Ronald Maier, Niklas Marklund, Matthew Martin, Ilaria Melloni, Sergio Mendoza-Lattes, Geert Meyfroidt, Marina Munari, Lena Napolitano, David Okonkwo, Yasuhiro Otomo, Marios Papadopoulos, Ondra Petr, Wilco Peul, Aichholz K Pudkrong, Zaffer Qasim, Frank Rasulo, Carla Reizinho, Florian Ringel, Sandro Rizoli, Elham Rostami, Andres Rubiano, Emanuele Russo, Aarti Sarwal, Jan Schwab, Franco Servadei, Deepak Sharma, Salman Sharif, Ehab Shiban, Lori Shutter, Philip Stahel, Fabio Taccone, Nicole Terpolilli, Claudius Thomé, Peter Toth, Parmenion Tsitsopoulos, Andrew Udy, Alex Vaccaro, Albert Varon, Monica Vavilala, Alexander Younsi, Monika Zackova, Tommaso Zoerle, Chiara Robba

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The early management of polytrauma patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) is a major challenge. Sparse data is available to provide optimal care in this scenario and worldwide variability in clinical practice has been documented in recent studies.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary consensus panel of physicians selected for their established clinical and scientific expertise in the acute management of tSCI polytrauma patients with different specializations was established. The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) endorsed the consensus, and a modified Delphi approach was adopted.

RESULTS: A total of 17 statements were …

Orthopass: Long-Term Outcomes Following Implementation Of An Orthopaedic Patient Handoff Template., Harry Lightsey, Caleb Yeung, Laura Rossi, Antonia Chen, Mitchel Harris, Derek Stenquist

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Standardized handoff tools improve communication and patient care; however, their widespread use in surgical fields is lacking. OrthoPass, an orthopaedic adaptation of I-PASS, was developed in 2019 to address handoff concerns and demonstrated sustained improvements across multiple handoff domains over an 18-month period. We sought to characterize the longitudinal effect and sustainability of OrthoPass within a single large residency program 3.5 years after its implementation. This mixed methods study involved electronic handoff review for quality domains in addition to survey distribution and evaluation. We conducted comparative analyses of handoff adherence and survey questions as well as a thematic analysis of …

Venous Thromboembolism In Orthopedic Surgery: Global Guidelines, Kadir Uzel, İbrahim Azboy, Javad Parvizi

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a severe complication that can occur after major orthopedic procedures. As VTE-related morbidity and mortality are a significant concern for both medical professionals and patients, and preventative measures are typically employed. Multiple organizations, including the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), have developed guidelines for VTE prophylaxis specifically in patients undergoing joint replacement procedures. However, recently, the International Consensus Meeting (ICM) was convened, which brought together over 600 experts from 68 countries and 135 international societies. These experts, spanning a range of medical disciplines including orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, …

The Diagnostic Process Of Spinal Post-Traumatic Deformity: An Expert Survey Of 7 Cases, Consensus On Clinical Relevance Does Exist, Erin E.A. De Gendt, Lori M. Benneker, Andrei F. Joaquim, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Gaurav R. Dhakal, Frank Kandziora, Jin Tee, Richard J. Bransford, Emiliano N. Vialle, Alexander R. Vaccaro, Eugen C. Popescu, Rishi M. Kanna, David W. Polly, Klaus J. Schnake, Pedro Berjano, Sergey Ryabykh, Marko Neva, Claudio Lamartina, Dominique A Rothenfluh, Stephan J. Lewis, Sander. P.J Muijs, F. Cumhur Oner

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Survey of cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the opinion of experts in the diagnostic process of clinically relevant Spinal Post-traumatic Deformity (SPTD).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: SPTD is a potential complication of spine trauma that can cause decreased function and quality of life impairment. The question of when SPTD becomes clinically relevant is yet to be resolved.

METHODS: The survey of 7 cases was sent to 31 experts. The case presentation was medical history, diagnostic assessment, evaluation of diagnostic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options. Means, ranges, percentages of participants, and descriptive statistics were calculated.

RESULTS: Seventeen spinal surgeons reviewed …

Anterior Shoulder Instability And Open Procedures: History, Indications, And Clinical Outcomes, Mohamad Y. Fares, Peter Boufadel, Mohammad Daher, Jonathan Koa, Akshay Khanna, Joseph A. Abboud

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

The shoulder, being the most mobile joint in the human body, is often susceptible to dislocations and subluxations more so than other joints. As such, shoulder instability constitutes a common complaint among patients worldwide, especially those who are young, participate in contact sports, and have increased innate flexibility in their joints. Management options in the setting of instability vary between conservative and surgical options that aim to mitigate symptoms and allow return of function. Surgical options can be arthroscopic and open, with a general shift among surgeons towards utilizing arthroscopic surgery in the past several decades. Nevertheless, open procedures still …

Validation Of The Hierarchical Nature Of The Ao Spine Sacral Classification And The Development Of The Sacral Ao Spine Injury Score, Brian A. Karamian, Gregory D. Schroeder, Mark J. Lambrechts, Jose A. Canseco, Emiliano N. Vialle, Frank Kandziora, Lorin M. Benneker, Rajasekaran Shanmuganathan, F. Cumhur Öner, Klaus J. Schnake, Christopher K. Kepler, Alexander R. Vaccaro

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Global cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the hierarchical nature of the AO Spine Sacral Classification System and develop an injury scoring system.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although substantial interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the AO Spine Sacral Classification System has been established, the hierarchical nature of the classification has yet to be validated.

METHODS: Respondents numerically graded each variable within the classification system for severity. Based on the results, a Sacral AO Spine Injury Score (AOSIS) was developed.

RESULTS: A total of 142 responses were received. The classification exhibited a hierarchical Injury …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Spinopelvic Alignment In Total Hip Arthroplasty, Samantha Harrer, Justin A. Magnuson, Gregory R. Toci, Andrew M. Star, Arjun Saxena

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative dislocation of unclear etiology remains a concern after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Interest is growing in the importance of spinopelvic alignment on stability in THA. The purpose of this study was to analyze publication trends, areas of interest, and future research direction of spinopelvic alignment in THA.

METHODS: Articles on the topic of spinopelvic alignment in THA published between 1990 and 2022 were obtained through Web of Science Core Collection of Clarivate Analytics (WSCCA). Results were screened by title, abstract, and full text. The inclusion criterion was English-language peer-reviewed journal publications on the clinical topic of spinopelvic alignment …

Treatment Of Angular Deformity And Limb Length Discrepancy With A Retrograde Femur Magnetic Intramedullary Nail: A Fixator-Assisted, Blocking Screw Technique, Erik J. Geiger, Adam D Geffner, S Robert Rozbruch, Austin T Fragomen

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Background: Fixator-assisted nailing techniques that incorporate magnetic internal lengthening nails (MILNs) permit acute deformity correction and then gradual limb lengthening without needing postoperative external fixators.

Purposes: We sought to investigate the safety and accuracy of a fixator-assisted, blocking screw technique using retrograde MILNs for the correction of LLD and limb malalignment.

Methods: Forty-one patients (13 patients with genu varum and 28 patients with genu valgum) with LLD treated with fixator-assisted, blocking screw retrograde MILN reconstruction were included. Preoperative LLD, mechanical axis deviation, and joint orientation angles were compared with values at the end of treatment, and bone healing indices were …

Direct Anterior Versus Direct Lateral Hip Approach In Total Hip Arthroplasty With The Same Perioperative Protocols One Year Post Fellowship Training, Asim M. Makhdom, William J. Hozack

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Variable results have been reported regarding the clinical outcomes in Total hip arthroplasty (THA) based on the surgical approach. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes between Direct anterior (DA) and direct lateral (DL) approaches in THA when performed immediately after fellowship training.

METHODS: During the 1st year of practice, all consecutive patients who underwent THA via DA and DL hip approaches were retrospectively investigated. Patients' demographics, diagnosis, American society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, route of anesthesia, length of hospital stay (LOS), leg length discrepancy (LLD), radiographic parameters, operative time, number of opioids refills postoperatively, …

Nationwide Results Of Microorganism Antigen Testing As A Component Of Preoperative Synovial Fluid Analysis., Krista O'Shaughnessey Toler, Pearl Ravindra Paranjape, Alex Mclaren, Brett Levine, Alvin Ong, Carl Deirmengian

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Antigen immunoassays to detect synovial fluid (SF) microorganisms have recently been made available for clinical use. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of an SF microorganism antigen immunoassay detection (MID) panel, evaluate the panel's capability to detect microorganisms in the setting of culture-negative periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), and determine diagnostic predictive values of the MID panel for PJI.

METHODS: This study included 67,441 SF samples obtained from a hip or knee arthroplasty, from 2,365 institutions across the United States, submitted to 1 laboratory for diagnostic testing. All data were prospectively compiled and then …

Surgeon Estimations Of Acetabular Cup Orientation Using Intraoperative Fluoroscopic Imagining Are Unreliable., Parker L Brush, Adrian Santana, Gregory R Toci, Eric Slotkin, Michael Solomon, Tristan Jones, Arjun Saxena

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Accurate acetabular cup orientation is associated with decreased revision rates and improved outcomes of primary total hip arthroplasty. This study assesses surgeon's ability to estimate both the acetabular component inclination and anteversion angles via intraoperative fluoroscopy (IF) images.

METHODS: We surveyed orthopedic surgeons to estimate acetabular component inclination and anteversion based on 20 IF images of total hip arthroplasty through a direct anterior approach. Postoperative computed-tomography scans were used to calculate the true inclination and anteversion component angles. The absolute difference between the true and estimated values was calculated to determine the mean and standard deviation of the survey …

Open Posterior Reduction And Stabilization Of Ao Spine C3 Sacral Fractures, Philipp Kobbe, Gregory D. Schroeder, Klaus J. Schnake, Lorin M. Benneker, Mark Lambrechts, Frank Hildebrand, Richard M. Sellei

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

AO Spine C3 sacral fractures are defined by separation of the spine including S1 from the pelvic ring and are usually result of a high-energy injury. Besides their high biomechanical instability and high rate of associated neurological impairment, these fractures are often extremely difficult to reduce due to severe bony impaction and dislocation. Additional difficulties in management of these fractures arise from only a thin-layer of soft-tissue coverage overlying the injured area.

Perceived Efficacy, Reduced Prescription Drug Use, And Minimal Side Effects Of Cannabis In Patients With Chronic Orthopedic Pain, Ari Greis, Eric Larsen, Conan Liu, Bryan Renslo, Anjithaa Radakrishnan, Adrianne R Wilson-Poe

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Introduction: Although cannabis is widely used for the treatment of chronic pain, most research relies on patient self-report and few studies have objectively quantified its efficacy and side effects. Extant inventories for measuring cannabis use were not designed to capture the medically relevant features of cannabis use, but rather were designed to detect problematic use or cannabis use disorder. Thus, we sought to capture the medically relevant features of cannabis use in a population of patients with orthopedic pain and pair these data with objective measures of pain and prescription drug use. Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, …

Strategies For Expanding Iohexol Supply During A Shortage, Anupam Sinha, Theodore Conliffe

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Membership And Feedback On The American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons And Other Subspecialty Societies: A Survey Study Of Orthopaedic Surgeons., Arjun Saxena, Gregory R Toci, Parker L Brush, Alexis Reinhardt, Pedro K Beredjiklian, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Daniel Fletcher

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Introduction: Orthopaedic surgeons face decreased reimbursement, lower income, and increased rates of burnout. As subspecializing through fellowship training in orthopaedics becomes more and more prevalent, the value of membership to a general orthopaedic society (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [AAOS]) warrants investigation.

Methods: One hundred thirty orthopaedic surgeons were surveyed by e-mail through a 14-item anonymous survey administered through SurveyMonkey. The survey inquired about surgeon experience, practice type, fellowship training, and details regarding AAOS and subspecialty society membership.

Results: The response rate was 67%, with 94% of respondents indicating that they were members of AAOS and a subspecialty society. The …

Larger Perioperative Opioid Prescriptions Lead To Prolonged Opioid Use After Hand And Upper Extremity Surgery: A Multicenter Analysis, Clay B Townsend, Justin A Ly, Ryan Judy, Matthew Sherman, Nick Elmer, Christine Conroy, Hesham M Abdelfattah, Mark K Solarz, Katharine Woozley, Asif M Ilyas

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Introduction: The opioid epidemic remains an ongoing public health crisis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether surgeons' prescribing patterns of the initial postoperative opioid prescription predispose patients to prolonged opioid use after upper extremity surgery.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study was done at three academic institutions. Patients who underwent carpal tunnel release, basal joint arthroplasty, and distal radius fracture open reduction and internal fixation over a 1.5-year period were included. Opioid prescription data were obtained from the Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program website.

Results: Postoperatively, 30.1% of the patients (191/634) filled ≥1 additional opioid prescription, and 14.0% …

Next-Generation Sequencing Supports Targeted Antibiotic Treatment For Culture Negative Orthopedic Infections, Ravina Kullar, Emanuele Chisari, James Snyder, Christopher Cooper, Javad Parvizi, Jason Sniffen

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

The isolation of an infective pathogen can be challenging in some patients with active, clinically apparent infectious diseases. Despite efforts in the microbiology lab to improve the sensitivity of culture in orthopedic implant-associated infections, the clinically relevant information often falls short of expectations. The management of peri-prosthetic joint infections (PJI) provides an excellent example of the use and benefits of newer diagnostic technologies to supplement the often-inadequate yield of traditional culture methods as a substantial percentage of orthopedic infections are culture-negative. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to improve upon this yield. Bringing molecular diagnostics into practice can provide critical …

Gut Permeability May Be Associated With Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Total Hip And Knee Arthroplasty, Emanuele Chisari, Jeongeun Cho, Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker, Javad Parvizi

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

A growing number of recent investigations on the human genome, gut microbiome, and proteomics suggests that the loss of mucosal barrier function, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, may substantially affect antigen trafficking, ultimately influencing the close bidirectional interaction between the gut microbiome and the immune system. This cross-talk is highly influential in shaping the host immune system function and ultimately affecting the outcome of interventions. We hypothesized that the loss of mucosal barrier in the gut may be associatedto acute and chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). Zonulin, soluble CD14 (sCD14), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were tested in plasma as part of …

Effect Of Surgical Experience And Spine Subspecialty On The Reliability Of The Ao Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System, Mark J. Lambrechts, Gregory D. Schroeder, Brian A Karamian, Jose A Canseco, F Cumhur Oner, Lorin M Benneker, Richard J Bransford, Frank Kandziora, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Rishi Kanna, Andrei Fernandes Joaquim, Klaus Schnake, Christopher K Kepler, Alex R. Vaccaro, Ao Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification International Members

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Objective: The objective of this paper was to determine the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System based on surgeon experience (< 5 years, 5-10 years, 10-20 years, and > 20 years) and surgical subspecialty (orthopedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, and "other" surgery).

Methods: A total of 11,601 assessments of upper cervical spine injuries were evaluated based on the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System. Reliability and reproducibility scores were obtained twice, with a 3-week time interval. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the percentage of accurately classified injuries, and Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to screen for …

Evaluating The Impact Of Modic Changes On Operative Treatment In The Cervical And Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mark J Lambrechts, Parker Brush, Tariq Z Issa, Gregory R Toci, Jeremy C Heard, Amit Syal, Meghan M Schilken, Jose A Canseco, Christopher K Kepler, Alexander R Vaccaro

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Modic changes (MCs) are believed to be potential pain generators in the lumbar and cervical spine, but it is currently unclear if their presence affects postsurgical outcomes. We performed a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All studies evaluating cervical or lumbar spine postsurgical outcomes in patients with documented preoperative MCs were included. A total of 29 studies and 6013 patients with 2688 of those patients having preoperative MCs were included. Eight included studies evaluated cervical spine surgery, eleven evaluated lumbar discectomies, nine studied lumbar fusion surgery, and three assessed …

Evolution Of The Ao Spine Sacral And Pelvic Classification System: A Systematic Review, Barry Ting Sheen Kweh, Jin W. Tee, F. Cumhur Oner, Klaus J. Schnake, Emiliano N. Vialle, Frank Kanziora, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Marcel Dvorak, Jens R. Chapman, Lorin M. Benneker, Gregory Schroeder, Alexander R. Vaccaro

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the genesis of the AO Spine Sacral and Pelvic Classification System in the context of historical sacral and pelvic grading systems.

METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases was performed consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify all existing sacral and pelvic fracture classification systems.

RESULTS: A total of 49 articles were included in this review, comprising 23 pelvic classification systems and 17 sacral grading schemes. The AO Spine Sacral and Pelvic Classification System represents both the evolutionary …

Comprehensive Analysis Of Opioid Use After Common Elective Outpatient Orthopaedic Surgeries, Michael U Okoli, Alexander J. Rondon, Clay B Townsend, Matthew Sherman, Asif M. Ilyas, Rothman Opioid Foundation

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Background: Prescription opioid abuse remains an ongoing public health crisis, especially in orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of the present study is to analyze opioid-prescribing patterns and investigate risk factors for prolonged opioid use after common outpatient orthopaedic surgical procedures.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, a review of 1,384 patients undergoing common elective outpatient orthopaedic procedures from January 2018 to June 2019 was conducted. Data on controlled substance prescriptions were obtained from the prescription drug monitoring program website. Statistical analysis was done to identify predictors for a second opioid prescription and prolonged opioid use (>6 months).

Results: Over 10% …

Meloxicam Versus Celecoxib For Postoperative Analgesia After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Safety, Efficacy And Cost, Amer Haffar, Yale A Fillingham, Leigham Breckenridge, D'Andrew Gursay, Jess H Lonner

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used as part of multimodal analgesia in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors (e.g., celecoxib) are believed to have fewer gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects than nonselective NSAIDS. Meloxicam is less selective for COX-2 than celecoxib is and partially inhibits COX-1 at higher doses. Nonetheless, some surgeons prefer using nonselective NSAIDs because of their lower expense.

METHODS: Four thousand nine hundred ninety-four patients who underwent TKA between January 2015 and February 2020 and took either celecoxib (n = 3,174), meloxicam 15 mg/d (n = 1,819), or meloxicam 7.5 mg/d (n = 451) …

The Role Of Electrical Stimulation For Rehabilitation And Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury, Brian A Karamian, Nicholas Siegel, Blake Nourie, Mijail Serruya, Robert F Heary, James Harrop, Alex R. Vaccaro

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Electrical stimulation is used to elicit muscle contraction and can be utilized for neurorehabilitation following spinal cord injury when paired with voluntary motor training. This technology is now an important therapeutic intervention that results in improvement in motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries. The purpose of this review is to summarize the various forms of electrical stimulation technology that exist and their applications. Furthermore, this paper addresses the potential future of the technology.

Variations In Management Of A3 And A4 Cervical Spine Fractures As Designated By The Ao Spine Subaxial Injury Classification System, Barry Ting Sheen Kweh, Jin Wee Tee, Sander Muijs, F Cumhur Oner, Klaus John Schnake, Lorin Michael Benneker, Emiliano Neves Vialle, Frank Kanziora, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Gregory D. Schroeder, Alex R. Vaccaro, Ao Spine Subaxial Injury Classification System Validation Group

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Objective: Optimal management of A3 and A4 cervical spine fractures, as defined by the AO Spine Subaxial Injury Classification System, remains controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine whether significant management variations exist with respect to 1) fracture location across the upper, middle, and lower subaxial cervical spine and 2) geographic region, experience, or specialty.

Methods: A survey was internationally distributed to 272 AO Spine members across six geographic regions (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East). Participants' management of A3 and A4 subaxial cervical fractures across cervical regions was assessed in four clinical …

Serum D-Dimer Test Is Promising For The Diagnosis Of Periprosthetic Joint Infection And Timing Of Reimplantation., Alisina Shahi, Michael M. Kheir, Majd Tarabichi, Hamid R.S. Hosseinzadeh, Timothy L. Tan, Javad Parvizi

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of a battery of tests, the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) continues to be challenging. Serum D-dimer assessment is a widely available test that detects fibrinolytic activities that occur during infection. We hypothesized that patients with PJI may have a high level of circulating D-dimer and that the presence of a high level of serum D-dimer may be a sign of persistent infection in patients awaiting reimplantation.

METHODS: This prospective study was initiated to enroll patients undergoing primary and revision arthroplasty. Our cohort consisted of 245 patients undergoing primary arthroplasty (n = 23), revision for …

Thromboembolism After Intramedullary Nailing For Metastatic Bone Lesions., Brandon Shallop, Alexandria Starks, Simon Greenbaum, David S Geller, Alan Lee, John Ready, Geno J Merli, Mitchell Maltenfort, Phd, John A Abraham

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing intramedullary nailing for skeletal metastatic disease is currently undefined. The purpose of our study was to determine the risk of thromboembolic events, to define the risk factors for VTE, and to define the rate of wound complications in this population.

METHODS: A retrospective review of surgical databases at three National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers identified 287 patients with a total of 336 impending or pathologic long-bone fractures that were stabilized with intramedullary nailing between February 2001 and April 2013. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing multivariable logistic regression and Fisher …

The Fate Of Spacers In The Treatment Of Periprosthetic Joint Infection., Miguel M Gomez, Timothy L Tan, Jorge Manrique, Gregory K Deirmengian, Javad Parvizi Md

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Two-stage exchange arthroplasty remains the preferred method to treat periprosthetic joint infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of periprosthetic joint infection following resection arthroplasty and insertion of a spacer.

METHODS: Our institutional database was used to identify 504 cases of periprosthetic joint infection (326 knees and 178 hips) treated with resection arthroplasty and spacer insertion as part of a two-stage exchange arthroplasty. A review of the patient charts was performed to extract information relevant to the objectives of this study that included the details of the clinical course following resection arthroplasty.

RESULTS: The …

Evaluation And Nonsurgical Management Of Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinopathy., Ari C. Greis, Stephen M. Derrington, Matthew Mcauliffe

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy is a common finding that accounts for about 7% of patients with shoulder pain. There are numerous theories on the pathogenesis of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy. The diagnosis is confirmed with radiography, MRI or ultrasound. There are numerous conservative treatment options available and most patients can be managed successfully without surgical intervention. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and multiple modalities are often used to manage pain and inflammation; physical therapy can help improve scapular mechanics and decrease dynamic impingement; ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and lavage techniques can provide long-term improvement in pain and function in these patients.