Orthopedics Commons^™

Improved Foraminal Expansion And Pain Scores Following Placement Of Novel Expandable Interlaminar Stabilization Device For Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Robert P. Norton, Ian Koch, Kendra Primavera, Roy Y. Miloh, Alex R. Vaccaro, Mitchell K. Ng

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate radiographic durability and clinical outcomes following placement of a novel expandable interlaminar stabilization device for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis. Specifically, we aimed to: 1) quantify immediate postoperative posterior column distraction; 2) determine whether foraminal expansion is improved postoperatively without radiographic subsidence; and (3) assess potential improvements in patient-reported pain/clinical outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of adult patients undergoing single-level decompression supplemented by an interlaminar device for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis by a single surgeon from 2024 to 2025. Radiographic parameters included anterior, middle, and posterior disc height, foraminal height, and …

Mri-Based Deep Learning Radiomics Model For Automated Classification Of Disc Degeneration In The Lumbar Spine, Shiv Patil, Om Gandhi, Mert Karabacak, Matthew Carr, Konstantinos Margetis

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Disc degeneration in the lumbar spine is a major cause of low back pain (LBP). The accurate grading of disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is critical for clinical management and patient selection for spine surgery. This study aims to develop and evaluate machine learning (ML) models that combine features from deep learning (DL) and radiomics for the automated prediction of Pfirrmann grade (PG), a measure of disc degeneration, using multi-parametric lumbar spine MRI. Sagittal T1, T2, and T2 SPACE MRIs of 218 patients with LBP were acquired from the SPIDER dataset. For each intervertebral disc and available sequence, …

Reliability Of Existing Measures And Classification Systems For Trochlear Dysplasia, Sean R. Waldron, Nihar S. Shah, Matthew W. Veerkamp, Brendan A. Williams, John A. Schlechter, Lauren H. Redler, Matthew D. Ellington, Shital N. Parikh

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral instability (PFI) is common in adolescent patients and can lead to a reduction in quality of life and function, as well as long-term arthritis. Treatment of PFI involves assessing and, at times, surgically correcting underlying anatomic abnormalities. Trochlear dysplasia is the most common anatomic risk factor present in PFI.

PURPOSE: To determine the interrater reliability of existing measures and classification systems for the assessment of trochlear dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: As part of the PRISM (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) patellar instability Research Interest Group (RIG) project, a …

Sexually Dimorphic Effects Of Gpnmb Modulation On Vertebral Bone Mass Regulation And Intravertebral Disc Health, Hakem Altawil, Fayez Safadi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Osteoporosis and vertebral degeneration are major contributors to musculoskeletal morbidity, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating vertebral bone and intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis remain incompletely understood. GPNMB (osteoactivin) has been identified as a regulator of bone remodeling, though its role in spine health is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of GPNMB deficiency on lumbar vertebral bone microarchitecture and IVD integrity in a sex-dependent context.

Six-month-old male and female wild-type (WT) and GPNMB knockout (KO) mice were analyzed using micro–computed tomography (µCT) of lumbar vertebrae (L4–L6) and histological assessment of the L5–L6 IVD. KO males exhibited increased bone volume fraction, bone …

Gluteal Compartment Syndrome Following Prolonged Immobilization In The Setting Of Polysubstance Use: A Two-Patient Case Series, Daulton Sauce, Mark Gamadia, Robert Garner, Molly Black

MidAmerica Division GME Healthcare Symposium 2026

No abstract provided.

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (Pvns) After A Distal Femur Non-Union: A Case Report, Troy Puga, Jenna Chrabolowski, Mckenna W. Box, Kisan Parikh

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign neoplastic process that involves extensive proliferation of the synovium of a joint. Development of PVNS has been potentially linked to traumatic etiologies, however, evidence for this remains limited. This case report aims to present a case of PVNS that developed after a traumatic etiology.

Case Presentation A 62 year old female presented with recurrent left knee effusion and non-union of the left distal femur roughly four years after an MVC and index open reduction and internal fixation with a lateral locking plate and screw construct. Left knee aspiration at initial visit …

Expert Consensus On Osteoporosis Risk Management In Patients With Sleep Disorders, Siqi Leng, Jinming Yang, Yuming Jin, Jie Shi, Ye Zhang, Junying Zhou, Lusi Tan, Taomei Li, Peiyan Ni, Kejia Hu, Yuan Shi, Jiamin Liao, Yun Li, Pei Xue, Christian Benedict, Alexandros N. Vgontzas, Michael Furian, Talant Sooronbaev, Naima Covassin, Virend K. Somers, Zhoulong Yu, Hongqiang Sun, Xiao Tan, Jihui Zhang, Yun Kwok Wing, Yue Leng, Larry D. Sanford, Michael V. Vitiello, Katie L. Stone, Rong Ren, Lin Lu, Xiangdong Tang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

A rate-limiting step in the prevention and early intervention of osteoporosis is identifying its asymptomatic onset. Accumulating evidence shows that sleep disorders are associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. Given their early detectable and modifiable nature, integrating sleep disorder management into osteoporosis prevention and care pathways offers a novel approach for enhancing skeletal health. This expert consensus represents a collaborative effort by specialists in sleep medicine and orthopedics from across the world, integrating epidemiological, mechanistic, and interventional evidence to provide general guidance for prevention and clinical practice, and to foster multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of sleep disorders and …

Assessing Access To Orthopaedic Care For Patients With Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Annemarie K. Leonard, Kara Ayers, Lauren Faokunla, Kaeli Samson, Erika Carter, Tracy Hart, Maegen Wallace

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare disorder caused by variations in collagen. Clinical manifestations include multiple fractures, short stature, scoliosis, blue sclera, hearing loss, and opalescent teeth. Patients often need many different medical providers frequently, which may place financial burdens on families. This study sought to identify and understand barriers to care for children with OI.

Methods. We utilized an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved survey for primary caregivers of children with OI. Questions included demographic data, type of health insurance, history of and reasons for insurance denials, access to multidisciplinary OI care, and travel to receive OI care. The …

The Associations Between Meniscus Tear Location And The Prevalence And Severity Of Cartilage Wear In Different Knee Compartments Using An Arthroscopic Grading System, Tara Korbal, Claudia Leonardi, Amy Bronstone, Vinod Dasa

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Meniscus tears are associated with progressive cartilage degeneration and worsening osteoarthritis. Although several previous studies have explored the relationship between meniscus tears and cartilage damage, few have examined the relationship between tear location and cartilage wear in all knee compartments using an arthroscopic grading system. Objectives: Evaluate the association between meniscus tear location and the prevalence and severity of high-grade cartilage wear in knee compartments. Methods: A total of 210 patients were categorized into groups based on meniscus tear location: medial meniscus tear (MMT, n = 106), lateral meniscus tear (LMT, n = 41), and medial-lateral meniscus tear (MLMT, …

Does Preoperative Arthritis Affect The Outcomes Of Superior Capsular Reconstruction? A Systematic Review, Tae-Hoon Park, Hyungsuk Kim, Sukil Kim, Jongin Lee, Gerald R. Williams, Hyun Seok Song

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: The optimal indications for superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) in cases of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) accompanied by degenerative arthritis remain controversial.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they documented Hamada grade and reported clinical and radiographic outcomes after SCR for irreparable RCTs. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale for pain (pVAS), active range of motion, and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were analyzed.

RESULTS: In all 7 studies, there was no consistent …

A Computer Vision And Machine Learning Approach To Classify Views In Distal Radius Radiographs, Rohan Vemu, Dion Birhiray, Bassem Darwish, Raven Hollis, Sai Unnam, Srikhar Chilukuri, Lorenzo Deveza

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Advances in computer vision and machine learning have augmented the ability to analyze orthopedic radiographs. A critical but underexplored component of this process is the accurate classification of radiographic views and localization of relevant anatomical regions, both of which can impact the performance of downstream diagnostic models. This study presents a deep learning object detection model and mobile application designed to classify distal radius radiographs into standard views-anterior-posterior (AP), lateral (LAT), and oblique (OB)- while localizing the anatomical region most relevant to distal radius fractures. A total of 1593 deidentified radiographs were collected from a single institution between 2021 and …

Cmc Arthroplasty For Treatment Of The Painful And Arthritic Thumb: A Review Of Surgical Treatment Options With Preferred Technique, Jon E. Hammarstedt, Yehuda A. Masturov, Sebastian D. Arango, Jacob Zeitlin, Samuel H. Payne, Mark S. Rekant

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Arthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint is a prevalent and often disabling condition for many older adults. The diagnosis is typically established through a comprehensive patient history, physical examination, and confirmatory radiographs. Nonsurgical management with splinting and anti-inflammatory medication has demonstrated effectiveness. Several surgical options have proven effectiveness for those who fail nonsurgical management. Surgical options include silicone implantation, resection arthroplasty, tendon interposition, ligament reconstruction, denervation, and joint implant arthroplasty. In the following review, we will elaborate upon the array of therapeutic approaches, culminating in the delineation of our preferred method.

Comparison Of Anterior And Posterior Surgical Approaches For Cervical Ossification Of The Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Stratified By Spinal Levels: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Seyed Danial Alizadeh, Sepehr Khosravi, Farzin Farahbakhsh, Vali Baigi, Moein Khormali, Mohsen Hajiqasemi, Zahra Eskandari, Mahgol Sadat Hassan Zadeh Tabatabaei, Amirmahdi Khayyamfar, Mohammad-Rasoul Jalalifar, Sepehr Armaghan, Masoud Pourghahramani Koltapeh, Zahra Ghodsi, Michael G. Fehlings, Alex R. Vaccaro, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar

Rothman Institute Papers

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of anterior and posterior surgical approaches for treating cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament across multiple spinal levels, including 1-2 spinal levels, ≥ 3 levels, or studies that operated on both spinal levels, called mixed spinal levels.

METHODS: A search strategy using pertinent keywords was employed in the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Data on Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores, radiographic outcomes, and complications were extracted. A random-effects meta-analysis, subgroup meta-analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed.

RESULTS: Among 13 included studies, the anterior approach was statistically associated with improved C2-C7 …

A Supplement, Not A Substitute: Accuracy And Completeness Of Chatgpt Responses For Common Elbow Pathology, Benjamin Fiedler, Umar Ghilzai, Abdullah Ghali, Phillip Goldman, Pablo Coello, Michael B Gottschalk, Eric R Wagner, Adil Shahzad Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hypothesis: Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have increasingly been used as online resources for patients with orthopedic conditions. Yet there is a paucity of information assessing the ability of LLMs to accurately and completely answer patient questions. The present study comparatively assessed both ChatGPT 3.5 and GPT-4 responses to frequently asked questions on common elbow pathologies, scoring for accuracy and completeness. It was hypothesized that ChatGPT 3.5 and GPT-4 would demonstrate high levels of accuracy for the specific query asked, but some responses would lack completeness, and GPT-4 would yield more accurate and complete responses than ChatGPT 3.5.

Methods: …

Modeling Musculoskeletal Combat Casualty Care: Nato Trauma System Performance In Large Scale Combat Operations, Mark P. Cote, Kaitlyn E. Holly, Roman J. Schoenfeld, Matthew R. Bryan, Malina O. Hatton, Mitchel B. Harris, Tracey P. Koehlmoos, Andrew J. Schoenfeld

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the current North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) trauma system will be effective in the setting of Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). We sought to model the efficacy of the NATO trauma system in the setting of LSCO. We also intended to model novel scenarios that could better adapt the current system to LSCO.

METHODS: We developed a discrete-event simulation model for patients with combat musculoskeletal injuries treated within the standard NATO system. The primary outcome of the model was survival. The model's health states were characterized as stable, hypovolemia, sepsis, shock, or death. The model simulated …

Determining Risk Factors And Rate Of Surgery After Collagenase Injections For Dupuytren Contracture, Ryan C. Cha, Juliet S. Chung, Sina Ramtin, Asif M. Ilyas

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Purpose: Collagenase injections are a nonsurgical treatment for Dupuytren contracture, but their long-term effectiveness in preventing surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of surgical intervention following collagenase treatment and identify whether specific risk factors increase the likelihood of future surgical correction. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized the TriNetX US Collaborative network to identify patients diagnosed with Dupuytren contracture between January 2007 and September 2024. Patients initially treated with collagenase injections were identified using relevant current procedural terminology codes. Procedure-specific current procedural terminology codes were then used to determine which patients underwent a subsequent fasciectomy or …

Common Cast Complications, Jessica A Mcgraw-Heinrich, Jon C Wall, Scott B Rosenfeld

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Complications can arise from the application, wear, and removal of casts and splints. This text reviews common complications, risk factors, and prevention strategies while exploring the medical-legal implications of these complications. Being aware of common pitfalls can help reduce risk and promote optimal patient outcomes.

Key concepts: (1)Proper and judicious casting and splinting techniques are critical to prevent complications.(2)Thermal injuries can occur due to excessive curing heat and cast saw burns.(3)Poor cast molding can lead to skin sores and loss of fracture reduction.(4)Patients should be comfortable in their cast, and uncontrolled pain warrants investigation.

Outcomes Of Suprapatellar Intramedullary Nail Fixation Of Tibial Shaft Fractures In Skeletally Immature Patients, Carlos D Pargas-Colina, Tori J Coble, Sara E Davis, David D Spence, Jonathan K Rowland, Derek M Kelly, Benjamin W Sheffer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Tibial shaft fractures in children require individualized treatment approaches, including elastic nails, plates and screws, intramedullary rigid nails (IMN), and external fixators, with selection based on fracture characteristics and patient factors. IMN risks damaging the physis, but can provide enhanced stability and immediate weight bearing. While both infrapatellar and suprapatellar approaches exist for IMN placement, studies in adults have demonstrated that the suprapatellar approach offers higher patient satisfaction, less anterior knee pain, and lower radiation exposure. However, there is a lack of data on IMN for pediatric tibial fractures.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study analyzed patients aged 11-16 …

Injury And Illness: An Analysis Of Team Usa Athletes At The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Ashley N Triplett, Eric G Post, Travis Anderson, Olivia Samson, Alexis D Gidley, Francisco Silva, Lea Thomann, Amber T Donaldson, Jonathan T Finnoff, Eric L Dugan, Jeffrey S Shilt, William M Adams

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Injury and illness surveillance is essential for understanding the relative risks of sports participation to develop effective strategies to optimize athlete health, wellness, and performance. Epidemiological studies examining injuries and illnesses among Team USA youth athletes are limited, particularly among athletes competing in Winter sports. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injury and illness incidence rate among Team USA athletes participating in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Methods: Injuries and illnesses among 101 Team USA youth athletes (40.6% female; age, 17 ± 1 years) were prospectively documented. Injury and illness prevalence, and incidence rate …

The Articularis Genu As A Surrogate For Structural Determinants Of Peri-Articular Myopenia In Osteoarthritis, Davis Martin, José A.Cruz Ayala, Mary C. Gatterer, Tara Soria, Ryan Schroeder, Vinod Dasa, Luis Marrero

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The functional limitations associated with the painful stiffness of knee osteoarthritis (kOA) can affect the muscles of the knee, such as the quadriceps femoris (QF) and articularis genu (AG). The vastus medialis oblique (VMO) of the QF complex is particularly sensitive to kOA. The AG, which can be sampled during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for kOA, can provide information about the condition of the QF when affected by patient-reported disuse, helping to identify indicators of muscle weakness in the synovial fluid. This study compares the structural and gene expression changes between the VMO and the AG collected from patients with …

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Adjunct For Acetabular Labral Tear Repair: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Seth Spicer, Hanna Brancaccio, Ashley Sundin, Jamie Bono, John Desrochers, Brandon Goodwin, Nicholas Averell, Seungkyu Park, Alexandra Goodwin, William Diciurcio, Richard Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) on long-term patient outcomes when used as an adjuvant to acetabular repair of the labrum.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were completed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Included in the analysis were controlled studies which assessed functional outcomes via the International Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33) 12 or 24 months after acetabular repair with BMAC adjunct. Four studies totaling 315 participants were analysed.

RESULTS: Pooled effect sizes for iHOT-33 scores were not significantly different between control and treatment groups at 12 (p = …

Detecting Early Changes In Cartilage Collagen And Proteoglycans Distribution Gradients In Mice Harboring The R992c Collagen Ii Mutant Using 2d Correlation Infrared Spectroscopy, Jolanta Fertala, Andrzej Steplewski, Andrzej Fertala

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Collagen II is a vital structural component in developing bones and mature cartilage. Muta- tions in this protein cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a disease characterized primarily by altered skeletal growth and manifesting with a range of phenotypes, from lethal to mild. This study examined transgenic mice harboring the R992C (p.R1124C) substitution in colla- gen II. Previous research demonstrated significant growth abnormalities and disorganized growth plate structure in these mice, and histological signs of osteoarthritic changes in the knee joints of 9-month-old mice with the R992C mutation. Our study focuses on detecting early structural changes in the articular cartilage that occur before …

Sirt6 Deficiency Promotes Senescence And Age-Associated Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In Mice, Pranay Ramteke, Bahiyah Watson, Mallory Toci, Victoria Tran, Shira N Johnston, Maria Tsingas, Ruteja Barve, Ramkrishna Mitra, Richard Loeser, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major risk factor contributing to chronic low back and neck pain. While the etiological factors for disc degeneration vary, age is still one of the most important risk factors. Recent studies have shown the promising role of SIRT6 in mammalian aging and skeletal tissue health, however its role in the intervertebral disc health remains unexplored. We investigated the contribution of SIRT6 to disc health by studying the age-dependent spinal phenotype of mice with conditional deletion of Sirt6 in the disc (Acan^CreERT2; Sirt6^fl/fl). Histological studies showed a degenerative phenotype in knockout mice …

Efficacy Of Platelet Rich Plasma On Thumb Basal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review, Vrushank Shah, Alexander King

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a potential treatment for carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis, with studies suggesting it may offer more durable symptom relief compared to corticosteroids. A comprehensive review of four studies, including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a retrospective study, and a pilot study, revealed that both PRP and corticosteroid injections led to short-term improvements in pain and function. However, PRP demonstrated significantly better long-term outcomes, with VAS scores decreasing from 75 to 20 in the PRP group at 12 months, compared to a modest reduction from 70 to 65 in the corticosteroid group. Additionally, PRP showed a …

The Use Of Intramedullary Screw For Fixation Of Distal Ulnar Fractures, Adam Lencer, John Pignataro, Justin Le, Joyce Daniel Suarez, Michael Rivlin

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Distal ulna fractures frequently accompany distal radius fractures but are often underappreciated in both clinical and research contexts. While conservative management is frequently employed, particularly following volar locking plate (VLP) fixation of the radius, certain indications, such as distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability, comminution, or high-energy trauma, may necessitate surgical fixation. This study evaluates patient-reported outcomes among patients with distal radius fractures treated operatively, comparing those with and without concomitant distal ulna fractures, and further stratifying based on the method of ulna fixation.

Methods

This retrospective review included 477 patients treated operatively for distal radius fractures by a single …

Does Sports-Specialization Increase The Risk Of Injury In Youth Athletes?, Kinjal Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sports specialization, defined as intensive, year-round training in a single sport for more than eight months per year, has become increasingly prevalent among youth athletes. While it is often pursued with the goal of elite performance, early specialization may increase the risk of both physical injuries and psychological strain. This risk is especially pronounced in individual sports such as swimming and tennis, where early and focused training is frequently encouraged. This study explores the association between early sports specialization and injury risk in young athletes, with the goal of identifying contributing factors and informing prevention strategies. Evidence suggests that while …

A Twist Of Fate: A Case Of Spiral Humerus Fracture After Arm Wrestling, Alec Mirchandani, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Fractures of the humerus are relatively uncommon, with spiral fractures typically resulting from rotational forces. This case report describes a 25-year-old male who sustained a right-sided spiral humerus fracture during an arm-wrestling match. The diagnosis was confirmed through radiographic imaging, and the fracture was successfully managed with closed reduction and posterior long arm splinting. This case highlights the importance of recognizing less common mechanisms of injury, like arm wrestling, in the context of humeral fractures. It also emphasizes the effective non-operative treatment of such fractures in young, healthy individuals.

The Gut Microbiome And Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review Of Emerging Pathophysiologic Links, Krisha S. Patel, Maduka Gunasinghe, Umer Shah, Kushkumar K. Patel, Zarif Ladak

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), a multifactorial degenerative joint disease with growing prevalence in aging and obese populations, leads to disabling pain. Traditionally viewed as mechanically driven, increasing research implicates systemic inflammation and metabolic and neuroimmune modulation. The gut microbiome—an ecosystem of commensal organisms regulating host immune, metabolic, and inflammatory regulation—has emerged as a potential contributor to OA pathogenesis and symptom severity. This review aims to synthesize literature evaluating associations between gut microbiota composition and knee OA, focusing on inflammatory pathways, pain modulation, and emerging therapies.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion …

Efficacy Of Platelet-Rich Plasma In The Management And Treatment Of Achilles Tendon Ruptures: A Literature Review, Justin Le, Savana Coraggio, Emir Shahin, Valentin Nicholas Kotlyar, Joshua Sassaman, Christopher Cherfane, Gilbert Siu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

In the world of regenerative medicine, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained much attention as a potential enhancer of musculoskeletal healing. However, despite promising results in many applications, the use of PRP in Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) remains a topic of debate. While some studies suggest potential benefits in terms of pain reduction and early-phase healing, others report no significant difference in clinical or functional outcomes compared to standard treatment. This inconsistency underscores the need for further investigation into PRP’s role in tendon repair, particularly in high-stress, load-bearing structures such as the Achilles tendon.

Objective

This review aims to evaluate …

Ultrasound-Guided Vs. Fluoroscopy Guided Steroid Injection For Lumbar Spine Pain On Functional And Pain Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Yashas Sattur, Akash Patel, Alec Birnbaum, Athena Nomula

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Fluoroscopy-guided steroid injections are standard for lumbar spine pain but involve radiation. Ultrasound offers a safer, radiation-free alternative. Ultrasound-guided injections are non-inferior in improving pain and function. A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Studies in adults comparing ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided injections reporting VAS, NRS, or ODI were included. Fifteen studies showed both techniques significantly improved pain and function, with no consistent superiority. Ultrasound-guided injections are effective and safe, providing comparable outcomes to fluoroscopy while eliminating radiation exposure.