Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an integral component of the treatment algorithm for proximal hamstring avulsion injuries. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to survey orthopedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists on the reporting and analysis of proximal hamstring avulsions on MRI. METHODS:Two online surveys were developed to evaluate musculoskeletal radiologists' and orthopedic surgeons' perceptions of MRI-reporting for proximal hamstring avulsion injuries. Each survey was designed to provide information on physicians' best practices with respect to four primary questions (1) ischial tuberosity landmark determination (2) difficulties associated with measuring tendon retraction, (3) important ancillary findings, and (4) perceived clinical impact of measured retraction. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all categorical variables, which were reported as frequencies with percentages. Chi-squared test was utilized to compare rates of responses between surgeons and radiologists. Statistically significant differences were analyzed with post-hoc Fisher's exact tests; p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS:218-Musculoskeletal radiologists and 33-orthopedic surgeons responded to their respective surveys. There were statistically significant differences with responses to two of the questions asked in both surveys; (1) in cases of complete hamstring avulsion (avulsion of both the semimembranosus and conjoint tendon), which arrow represents the tendon gap measurement used for planning surgery? p = 0.028; (2) in cases of avulsion of only the conjoint tendon, which arrow represents the tendon gap measurement used for planning surgery? p = 0.013. Post-hoc testing demonstrated that for either partial or complete hamstring avulsions, more surgeons use the conjoint tendon origin to measure tendon retraction than radiologists (p < 0.05 for both). Significantly more radiologists use the semimembranosus origin to measure hamstring retraction for partial or complete hamstring tears (p < 0.05 for both). However, for each of these questions, both radiologists and surgeons most frequently stated that the conjoint tendon landmark should be used for surgical planning. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Musculoskeletal radiologists and orthopedists frequently utilize the conjoint tendon origin as an anatomic landmark for measuring complete and partial proximal hamstring avulsion injuries; though, orthopedists are more likely to utilize this landmark. Additionally, the broad surface area of the ischial tuberosity may lead to variability in measurement. CLINICAL IMPACT/CONCLUSIONS:Standard landmarks at the ischial tuberosity and/or detailed descriptions of tendon retractions would improve communication between radiologists and surgeons for proximal hamstring avulsions.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective analysis of outcomes in cervical spine and shoulder arthroscopy patients. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study is to assess differential improvements in health-related quality of life for cervical spine surgery compared with shoulder surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA/BACKGROUND:An understanding of outcome differences between different types of orthopedic surgeries is helpful in counseling patients about expected postoperative recovery. This study compares outcomes in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery with arthroscopic shoulder surgery using computer-adaptive Patient-reported Outcome Information System scores. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Patients undergoing cervical spine surgery (1-level or 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc replacement) or arthroscopic shoulder surgery (rotator cuff repair±biceps tenodesis) were grouped. Patient-reported Outcome Information System scores of physical function, pain interference, and pain intensity at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months were compared using paired t tests. RESULTS:Cervical spine (n=127) and shoulder (n=91) groups were similar in sex (25.8% vs. 41.8% female, P=0.731) but differed in age (51.6±11.6 vs. 58.60±11.2, P<0.05), operative time (148.3±68.6 vs. 75.9±26.9 min, P<0.05), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASAs) (2.3±0.6 vs. 2.0±0.5, P=0.001), smoking status (15.7% vs. 4.4%, P=0.008), and length of stay (1.1±1.0 vs. 0.3±0.1, P=0.000). Spine patients had worse physical function (36.9 ±12.6 vs. 49.4±8.6, P<0.05) and greater pain interference (67.0±13.6 vs. 61.7±4.8, P=0.001) at baseline. Significant improvements were seen in all domains by 3 months for both groups, except for physical function after shoulder surgery. Spine patients had greater physical function improvements at all timepoints (3.33 vs. -0.43, P=0.003; 4.81 vs. 0.08, P=0.001; 6.5 vs. -5.24, P=<0.05). Conversely, shoulder surgery patients showed better 6-month improvement in pain intensity over spine patients (-8.86 vs. -4.46, P=0.001), but this difference resolved by 12 months. CONCLUSIONS:Cervical spine patients had greater relative early improvement in physical function compared with shoulder patients, whereas pain interference and intensity did not significantly differ between the 2 groups after surgery. This will help in counseling patients about relative difference in recovery and improvement between the 2 surgery types. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:III.

PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:To compare satisfaction and return to play (RTP) rates between patients undergoing primary biceps tenodesis for a symptomatic SLAP tear and patients undergoing secondary biceps tenodesis following a failed SLAP repair. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:value of <.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED: = .9529) between patient groups. Patients reported playing tennis, swimming, golf, rock climbing, and basketball. No patients required a further shoulder surgery after undergoing biceps tenodesis. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:In this study, patients undergoing primary biceps tenodesis had significantly better functional outcomes compared with secondary biceps tenodesis following a failed SLAP repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/UNASSIGNED:III, retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Given the wide variation that exists in the amount and duration of postoperative opioid medication prescribed by orthopedic surgeons, the purpose of the current study was to analyze the opioid prescribing patterns at our institution for adolescent patients undergoing outpatient sports medicine procedures Methods: A total of 468 adolescent patients (between the ages of 13 and 18 years old) who underwent outpatient shoulder, hip, or knee arthroscopy (including ACL reconstruction) between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively identified, and demographic data were collected. Opioid prescriptions following surgery were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for direct comparison. Prescribing patterns of the 44 surgeons included in our cohort were evaluated with respect to procedures performed and overall surgical volume. High-dose prescriptions were defined as ≥ 300 MME (equivalent to 40 tabs of oxycodone/ acetaminophen [Percocet] 5/325 mg) and low-dose prescriptions were defined as < 300 MME. RESULTS:The mean discharge prescription following outpatient arthroscopy in this patient population was 299.8 ± 271 MME. When each individual case-type was analyzed, there were significant positive correlations between surgeonvolume and MME prescribed following shoulder arthroscopy (r = 0.387, p < 0.001) and knee arthroscopy, (r = 0.350, p < 0.001). Results of logistic regression demonstrated that for every 10 additional cases performed, the odds that a given surgeon would prescribe ≥ 300 MME postoperatively increased by a factor of 1.14 (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations observed following hip arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, or meniscus repair. Over the course of the observation period, a significant reduction in opioid prescribing was seen among the participating surgeons. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Surgeons who perform a greater volume of outpatient shoulder and knee arthroscopy on adolescent patients were more likely to prescribe high opioid dosages postoperatively. Awareness of existing variation in narcotic prescribing patterns for patients in this age group is important for quality of care and safety improvement amidst the opioid epidemic.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to evaluate for changes in the incidence of arthroscopic meniscal procedures, especially meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) in New York State (NYS) between 2005 to 2014. METHODS:The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative Systems (SPARCS) database was queried from 2005 through 2014 to identify patients undergoing meniscetomies, meniscal repairs, and MAT. Patients were followed longitudinally to determine the incidence of subsequent ipsilateral knee procedures. The impact of patient demographics and surgeon volume on reoperation was explored. RESULTS:From 2005 through 2014, there were 524,737 arthroscopic meniscal procedures. Of these, there were 510,406 meniscectomies, 14,214 meniscal repairs, and 117 MATs. The number of MATs increased 15.5% per year, with the largest increase being between 2013 to 2014 (an increase of 86.5%). Average MAT patient age was 29.8 ± 11.1 years; 65.0% of patients were male; 66% were Caucasian; 84% were privately-insured; and 23% of surgeons met the criteria for high-volume (five or more MATs in a year). A total of 25.6% (30/117) patients underwent subsequent surgery; 26 patients underwent knee procedures at mean of 18.9 ± 18.3 months after initial MAT, the most common of which were ipsilateral meniscectomies (19/26). Four patients underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a mean of 21.0 ± 9.2 months after initial MAT. Patients undergoing TKA after MAT were significantly older (42.0 ± 15.0 years vs, 29.3 ± 10.7 years; p = 0.0242) than patients who did not. Neither demographics nor surgeon volume were statistically significant factors for undergoing subsequent surgery (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Meniscal allograft transplantation, though relatively uncommon, is being performed with greater frequency in NYS. Surgeons should counsel patients regarding the likelihood of requiring subsequent knee surgery after MAT, with repeat arthroscopic partial meniscectomy being the most commonly performed procedure.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Over 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions are performed in the US each year. The recovery process following surgery can be slow and difficult with patients suffering persistent strength and endurance deficits. Testosterone is an important anabolic hormone responsible for maintenance and development of muscle mass. While the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) to surgery has been investigated, no studies exist tracking the HPA response, specifically that involved in testosterone homeostasis, to ACL reconstructions. The purpose of this study was to explore the response of endogenous testosterone production after ACL reconstruction and determine a possible correlation between perioperative testosterone levels in males and postoperative strength and clinical outcomes. METHODS:This was a single-center, prospective observational study measuring preoperative and postoperative testosterone levels. Plasma testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH) were measured before 10:30 am on the day of surgery. These were then checked at the same time of day at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Patients were also evaluated with the visual analog scale for pain (VAS), Tegner, and Lysholm scales preoperatively and at postoperative visits. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and were considered significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS:Twenty male patients with a mean age of 34.0 ± 9.2 years undergoing ACL reconstruction were enrolled between October 2017 and April 2018. Results showed a decrease in testosterone (3.7 ng/mL vs. 2.9 ng/mL, p = 0.05), free testosterone (8.2 pg/mL vs. 6.8 pg/mL, p = 0.05), and follicle stimulated hormone (1.8 mIU/mL vs. 1.7 mIU/ mL, p = 0.83) between the preoperative plasma draw and 1-week postoperative follow-up visit. Luteinizing hormone (1.1 mIU/mL vs. 1.5 mIU/mL, p = 0.11) increased postoperatively. By week 6, testosterone returned to baseline (3.7 ng/mL vs. 3.9 ng/mL), while free testosterone continued to increase through week 12. Lutenizing hormone peaked at the 1-week postoperative visit and trended downward until week 6 (1.5 mIU/mL vs. 1.4 mIU/mL, p = 0.79). Follicle stimulating hormone continued to increase after the week-1 visit through week 12. Patient reported outcomes exhibited a trend similar to hormone levels, with the lowest patient reported outcome (PRO) scores reported at week 1 and a constant trend upward. Although there were similar trends, there were no significant correlations between change in hormone levels and change in PRO scores. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our study emphasizes the crucial period of hormonal decrease and their return to baseline. This knowledge will contribute to the understanding and timing of hormone therapy supplementation. Short-term testosterone replacement may be beneficial to return patients to work and physical activity at a faster rate.

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and rates of return to play in patients who underwent an osteochondral allograft (OCA) procedure for a symptomatic osteochondral defect in the knee.
Method(s): A retrospective review of patients who underwent an OCA for an osteochondral defect of the knee, between June 2011 and March 2019 was performed. Return to play, the level of return and the timing of return were assessed. Additionally, the reasons for being unable to return were evaluated. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Result(s): Overall, there were 103 patients who underwent OCA at our institution and met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 31.8 +/- 11 years, and 63.9% were male, with a mean of 44.2 +/- 23.3 month follow-up. The overall rate of return to play was found to be 63.1% (N=65), while the rate of RTP at the same or higher level was 32.0% (N = 33). With respect to the patients who were unable to return to their desired sport, reasons cited included pain in the operative knee (N = 18, 47.3%), physical inability to perform in the desired sport (N = 8, 21.1%), and fear of re-injury (N = 6, 15.8%).
Conclusion(s): Overall, there was a poor rate of return to play following OCA. Additionally, the majority of patients were unable to return to play at their pre-injury level

Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to investigate clinical outcomes in overhead athletes undergoing biceps tenodesis for the treatment of symptomatic, isolated SLAP tears involving the biceps-labral complex.
Method(s): A retrospective review of overhead athletes who underwent biceps tenodesis for a SLAP tear was performed. The American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), patient satisfaction, willingness to undergo surgery again, revisions, and return to play (RTP) were evaluated. Psychological readiness to return to sport was evaluated using the SLAP-Return to Sport after Injury (SLAP-RSI) score. A p value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Result(s): The current study included 44 overhead athletes. The mean age was 34.9 (16-46), 79.5% were males, and the mean follow-up was 49 months (18-107). Overall, we found that 81.8% of patients returned to play their overhead sport following biceps tenodesis, and 59.1% of patients returned to the same or higher level of play. It took patients on average 8.7 months to return to play following biceps tenodesis. The mean SLAP-RSI score was 69.3, and 70.5 % of patients passed the SLAP-RSI threshold of 56. The mean scores for ASES, VAS, SSV, and satisfaction were 92, 0.8, 80.5, and 87.9%, respectively. No patients in our cohort required a revision surgery.
Conclusion(s): This study found that athletes undergoing biceps tenodesis as the treatment for a symptomatic, isolated SLAP tear had a high rate of return to play, good functional outcomes, and a low rate of revision surgery