Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To assess whether an Artificial Intelligence (AI) translation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) report improved patient understanding of the information presented in the radiology report and to evaluate patient preferences for these translations over traditional radiology reports. METHODS:Patients presenting to an orthopedic surgery clinic were prospectively enrolled and randomized into two groups. The "standard MRI group" received a traditional MRI report written by a radiologist of a multi-ligament knee injury, while the "AI group" received an AI- translated version of the same report, generated using ChatGPT 4. All patients completed a standardized quiz to assess comprehension of their respective reports. Following the quiz, participants were provided with both reports and asked to rate their preferences between the two. Demographic information including age, sex, race, education level, area deprivation index, and previous orthopedic history was collected from all patients. RESULTS:A total of 64 patients (32 in each group) with an average age of 51.9 ± 15.5 years were enrolled and randomized. No significant differences in demographics were identified between the two groups. Patients in the AI group scored 20% higher than those in the standard MRI group on the comprehension quiz (74.7% vs 54.7%, p<.001). 87.5% of patients preferred the AI translation while 4.7% preferred the standard version. Patients rated the AI translation as significantly clearer than the standard (4.5/5 vs. 2.2/5, p<.001), although they had less trust in the AI translation compared to the standard report (4.1/5 vs 4.5/5, p=.003). A higher education level was predictive of comprehension. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:AI-translated MRI reports significantly improved patient comprehension and were preferred for their clarity, despite lower trust levels compared to standard radiology reports. CLINICAL RELEVANCE/CONCLUSIONS:AI-translated MRI reports have the potential to enhance patient understanding of radiologic findings in orthopedic care. However, given the low quality and low level of trust in AI-generated content observed in this study, physician oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy and sustain patient confidence.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is important for delivering high-quality, culturally competent care and ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities in healthcare. However, the implementation of DEI has been met with unique challenges and successes across the globe. The International Skeletal Society (ISS), a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal society, made a conscious effort to promote DEI. This article discusses advantages and controversies of DEI approaches, DEI initiatives implemented by the ISS, and experiences of the ISS DEI committee members from their respective continents. The ISS DEI committee implemented educational webinars with expert panel discussions, revising membership criteria and policies for enhancing inclusiveness, advising on programing and speakers for the annual meeting, and fostering mentorship. From a global perspective, in North America, DEI has improved health outcomes and patient care, but anti-DEI legislation has posed significant challenges. Europe relies on international recruitment but faces challenges in staff retention. South America's cultural diversity necessitates culturally sensitive approaches, but discussions about DEI are scarce, and gender inequalities persist in leadership. In Africa, DEI principles are underdeveloped, with limited engagement among stakeholders. In Asia, DEI is emerging, with more women being appointed to faculty positions and leadership roles in academic societies. The implementation of meaningful DEI initiatives requires long-term institutional buy-in and the global participation and commitment of employees and institutional leaders at all levels.

BACKGROUND:The goal of this study was to utilize preoperative computed-tomography(CT) scans to identify differences in the Hounsfield units(HU) of the acromion in patients who did and did not develop a postoperative acromial and scapular-spine fracture(ASF) after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed at a single institution. All patients undergoing a rTSA with either a 135° neck/shaft angle(NSA) humeral inlay design combined with a lateralized center-of-rotation(COR) glenosphere or a 145° NSA onlay combined with a medialized COR glenosphere design between 2011-2021 with a minimum follow-up of 24-months were included. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcome metric scores were recorded. Preoperative CT scans were analyzed to obtain acromion trabecular bone density measurements in HU in each zone of the scapula based on the Levy classification. Radiographic parameters were evaluated to determine their association with ASF. RESULTS:In total 263-patients were included, 140-patients with a 135° NSA humeral-inlay design;123-patients with a 145° NSA humeral-onlay design. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between cohorts. The rate of ASF was 6.4%(9/140) for the 135° NSA-inlay-design versus 2.4%(3/123) in the 145° NSA-onlay design. In the non-fracture cohort there was a linear increase in bone density from zone-1(173.9HU)→zone-3(396.5HU)(lateral→medial). In the fracture cohort there was a decrease in bone density from zone-1(282.6HU)→zone-3(154.5HU). Measuring preoperative bone density in all Levy specific fracture-zones resulted in an AUC of 0.96 correlating to excellent predictive value. A threshold cutoff of 99.9 resulted in a sensitivity of 91.6% and specificity of 75.3%. A HU of 99.9 in any of the three-zones resulted in OR 5.1(p<0.0001) for sustaining an ASF postoperatively. A threshold of<50HU was associated with an 8-times higher-likelihood of developing a fracture in that specific zone. Greater than 5° of superior tilt in combination with ≥24mm of distalization was associated with an OR 6.4(p=0.0004) of sustaining an ASF. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The current study demonstrates an accurate method of measuring HU at each of the described Levy fracture zones with excellent predictability of patients who are at risk of an ASF following rTSA. Additionally, we found that a HU threshold of <50 HU at any of the three Levy zones was associated with a nearly 8 times higher likelihood of developing a fracture in that specific zone. Lastly, we found that >5° of superior tilt in combination with ≥24mm of distalization was associated with 6.4 times higher likelihood of sustaining an ASF agnostic to prosthesis design.

This review offers a comprehensive discussion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of rotator cuff tendon repair and joint-preserving surgical options for patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. Deciding to proceed with arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tendon tear is impacted both by clinical factors and morphological imaging features. Preoperative clinical and imaging features also predict the likelihood of success of a rotator cuff tendon repair and are important to recognize. In patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears and relatively preserved glenohumeral cartilage, various joint-preserving surgical options are available and seen increasingly in clinical practice.The acceptable range of postoperative imaging findings correlating with a functionally intact rotator cuff repaired tendon, and MRI findings that are either suggestive of or definitive for rotator cuff tendon repair failure are discussed in detail, with attention to the Sugaya classification. Ancillary features, such as progressive retraction of the myotendinous junction and the degree of muscle fatty atrophy, can be used as problem-solving tools in cases equivocal for rotator cuff retear. Finally, this review discusses in detail the most common joint-preserving treatment options for patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears, including an in-depth focus on superior capsular reconstruction.

In this review we discuss the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthroplasty, both the preoperative evaluation and particularly the postoperative MRI of different surgical options for patients with advanced degenerative disease of the basal joint of the thumb. The first CMC joint is one of the most frequently involved articulations in the hand and wrist in the setting of degenerative osteoarthrosis and certainly a pain generator and important cause of disability due to its significant impact on hand function. It is the most common joint for which surgery is sought in the wrist. Radiologists interpreting imaging studies of patients with first CMC joint arthroplasty must be familiar with the normal and abnormal preoperative appearance of the thumb basal joint. Moreover, knowledge of the normal postoperative MRI findings, as well as the appearance of patterns of failure and complications, is of paramount importance.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To evaluate long-term outcomes of patients treated with posterior medial meniscal root tear (PMMRT) repair through assessment of functional outcome scores and to identify patient surgical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics associated with improved outcomes. METHODS:This was a single-centre, retrospective study evaluating patients who had undergone a PMMR repair using a transtibial suture pullout technique with two locking cinch sutures. This was performed as a follow-up to previously published 2-year and 5-year outcome studies, using the same cohort. All patients from the prior short-term and midterm studies were invited to participate. Patient-reported outcome (PROs) scores, including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores, were collected. Previously collected demographic data were updated based on review of the electronic medical record. Patient outcomes were assessed preoperatively, as well as at 2-year, 5-year and 8-year postoperatively. MRI outcome measurements were assessed at 2-year and 5-year follow-ups. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS:Seventeen patients of the original 18 patients (94.4%) were included in the final analysis. Additionally, three patients who had additional ipsilateral surgery were excluded from the analysis of PROs. The IKDC score significantly increased from 44.7 ± 11.6 at preoperative baseline to 71.2 ± 21.3 at 8-year post-operation (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in IKDC score between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). The Lysholm score significantly increased from 49.6 ± 7.3 at preoperative baseline to 76.4 ± 17.2 at 8-year follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in Lysholm scores between 2-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.) or 5-year and 8-year follow-ups (p = n.s.). A linear regression analysis found that 5-year IKDC scores were significantly correlated with 8-year IKDC scores (β = 0.681, p = 0.038). At 8-year follow-up, four (23.5%) patients required additional procedures on their operative knee (one total knee arthroplasty conversion). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients treated with repair of PMMRT had maintenance of clinical outcome improvements at long-term follow-up despite worsening MRI outcomes at short-term and medium-term follow-ups. While a high proportion of patients required additional procedures on their operative knee at 8-year follow-up, few of these patient's additional procedures were related to failure of their primary surgery. Providers and patients may expect durable clinical outcomes following the repair of PMMRT, irrespective of radiographic appearance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level IV.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to use the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database to assess MRI utilization in patients 50 years and older with atraumatic hip or knee pain. METHODS:National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey weighted survey data (2007-2019) were obtained for ambulatory visits in patients 50 years and older with atraumatic hip or knee pain. The outcome variable was MRI ordering status, and analyzed characteristics included patient age, race/ethnicity, payer, physician specialty, metropolitan statistical area, and a coexistent radiography order. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to assess the association between MRI ordering status and the analyzed patient characteristics. All tests were two sided, and P values ≤.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS:In total, 88,978,804 knee pain and 28,675,725 hip pain patient visits (survey weighted) were analyzed, with 4,690,943 (5.3%) and 2,023,226 (7.1%) having knee or hip MRI orders, respectively. Overall, 2,454,433 knee pain visits (2.8%) and 575,155 hip pain visits (2.0%) had orders for both MRI and radiographs. Black patients (P = .03) and patients 80 years and older (P = .04) were less likely to have knee MRI ordered, whereas uninsured patients were less likely to have hip MRI ordered (P = .01). Patients with hip pain were more likely to have hip MRI ordered if seen by a surgical subspecialist (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS:A low proportion of MRI examinations were ordered for visits in patients 50 years and older with atraumatic hip or knee pain. Groups with lower health care access were less likely to have an MRI order, highlighting known disparities in health care equity.

Imaging plays an important role in the workup of musculoskeletal infection, in conjunction with clinical history and physical exam. There are multiple imaging modalities that can be of clinical utility in the setting of suspected infection, each with their own benefits and limitations. Radiography is a low-cost, accessible modality providing a broad osseous overview, but can be insensitive for early osteomyelitis. Ultrasound plays a more limited role in the workup of musculoskeletal infection, but can be useful in the pediatric population or for real-time guidance for joint and soft tissue aspirations. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the timely and accurate diagnosis of critically ill patients in the emergency setting. Its superior soft tissue characterization allows for diagnosis of abscesses, and it can help confirm the clinical diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis when soft tissue gas is present. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often the modality of choice in the diagnosis of infection, as its superior contrast resolution allows for clear delineation of the presence and extent of both soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis. Additionally, the use of intravenous contrast and advanced imaging sequences such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) further increases the diagnostic utility of MRI in the assessment for infection. Familiarity with the diagnostic utility of each imaging modality will allow the radiologist to appropriately guide imaging workup in the setting of clinically suspected infection.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study is to investigate the anatomic distribution of bone marrow edema on MRI among patients who sustained a Segond fracture compared to those with an isolated ACL tear. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients aged 18-40 years old who presented with an acute isolated ACL tear between January 2012 and May 2022. Two blinded readers reviewed all knee MRIs to assess bone marrow edema using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score and the area of each sub-compartment was scored. RESULTS:There were 522 patients in the final analysis, of which 28 patients (5.4%) were identified to have a Segond fracture. The Segond group demonstrated significantly greater rates of WORMS grades 2 and 3 in the central lateral femoral condyle, as well as the anterior, central, and posterior lateral tibial plateau. Furthermore, the Segond group demonstrated significantly greater rates of WORMS grades 2 and 3 in the central medial femoral condyle and the anterior medial tibial plateau. Bone edema at the central lateral femoral condyle (R = 0.034, p = 0.019) and central tibial plateau (R = 0.093, p = 0.033) were significantly correlated with lateral meniscus tears, while the edema in the posterior medial femoral condyle was correlated with medial meniscus tears (R = 0.127, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients who present with ACL tear and a concomitant Segond fracture demonstrate significantly more extensive bone marrow edema in both the medial and lateral compartments of the knee compared to patients with an isolated ACL tear.