Spine
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Retrospective cohort study. ⋯ In this large retrospective cohort study of adults undergoing lumbar interbody fusion, LLIF was associated with a significantly lower risk of SSI than P /TLIF. The small, but significantly, decreased risk of SSI associated with LLIF may inform decisions regarding the technical approach for lumbar interbody fusion.
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A retrospective cohort study of utilization patterns and variables of epidural injections in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population. ⋯ Declining utilization of epidural injections in all categories was exacerbated to a decrease of 19% from 2019 to 2020, related, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed declining patterns of epidural procedures of 3% overall annually from 2010 to 2019.
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A hospital-wide medication management program was implemented to ensure that high-risk patients would systematically pause antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications. We analyzed complications before and during the implementation of this program. ⋯ The use of this medication management support program appears effective for reducing the need for blood transfusions and thrombotic complications. While promising, the results should be interpreted with caution as we do not know whether this type of program will be effective for other hospital systems.
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Retrospective cohort study. ⋯ III.