The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2018
The Association of Patient Satisfaction with Pain, Anxiety, and Self-Reported Physical Function.
A complete understanding of the variables that influence patient satisfaction has yet to be reached. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient-reported physical function, pain, and/or anxiety are associated with patient satisfaction in a hand and upper-extremity outpatient setting. ⋯ In hand and upper-extremity (non-shoulder) clinic visits, pre-encounter levels of patient-reported physical function, anxiety, and pain were significantly associated with patient satisfaction with the care provided. As the U.S. health-care system increasingly utilizes satisfaction scores in payment models and in quality assessment, these associations may influence how such metrics are interpreted and are utilized.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2018
Trends in the Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialty Fellowship Match: Assessment of 2010 to 2017 Applicant and Program Data.
Orthopaedic surgery has become increasingly specialized, and most trainees currently complete subspecialty fellowship training. The purposes of this investigation were to evaluate recent trends in U.S. orthopaedic fellowship matches and to provide relevant analyses for future orthopaedic fellowship applicants and fellowship program directors. ⋯ This investigation provides data with regard to current trends in the orthopaedic fellowship match. Specifically, adult reconstruction fellowship training has recently gained popularity at a more rapid rate than the other subspecialty fellowship pathways, although hand surgery consistently maintains a very high rate of positions filled. Our results for orthopaedic subspecialty fellowship match trends may assist fellowship directors with program planning and career advising and may also assist current residents with fellowship application expectations and career planning.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Oct 2018
Multicenter StudyMultisite Evaluation of a Custom Energy-Storing Carbon Fiber Orthosis for Patients with Residual Disability After Lower-Limb Trauma.
The Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) is a custom energy-storing carbon fiber ankle-foot orthosis developed for lower-extremity trauma patients. Studies conducted at the military treatment facility where the IDEO was developed demonstrated benefits of the IDEO when used with the Return to Run Physical Therapy (RTR PT) program. The current study was designed to determine if results could be replicated at other military treatment facilities and to examine whether early performance gains in patient-reported functional outcomes remained at 12 months. ⋯ Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Oct 2018
Continuous Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Demonstrates Limitations in Monitoring the Development of Acute Compartment Syndrome in Patients with Leg Injuries.
We recorded measurements of muscle perfusion using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intramuscular pressure (IMP) in a study designed to develop a decision rule for predicting acute compartment syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study was to report our experience measuring NIRS data in the context of this broader investigation and to explore factors related to variations in data capture. ⋯ In this study, NIRS data were not collected reliably. In contrast, IMP measurements were collected during >85% of the expected monitoring period. These data raise questions about the utility of current NIRS data capture technology for monitoring oxygenation in patients at risk of ACS.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Oct 2018
Implementing a Postoperative Opioid-Prescribing Protocol Significantly Reduces the Total Morphine Milligram Equivalents Prescribed.
Opioid-prescribing patterns have been implicated as a contributing factor to the opioid epidemic, yet few evidence-based guidelines exist to assist health-care providers in assessing and possibly modifying their prescribing practices. ⋯ By utilizing a simple consensus protocol, we have demonstrated success diminishing the number of opioids prescribed without leading to an increase in the number of secondary prescriptions written by our providers. These findings are encouraging and suggest that fewer opioids were left in the possession of patients, leaving fewer pills vulnerable to misuse, abuse, and diversion.