Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The objective of this study was to survey a cross-section of US female orthopaedic surgeons evaluating their education and attitudes on radiation safety and adherence to safety recommendations. METHODS:An online survey was distributed to female orthopaedic surgery faculty through the Forum, a society for women in orthopaedic surgery, and through internal institutional education networks (residency and fellowship programs). The first component of the survey gathered demographic information including practice setting, US state, and years in practice. The second component was a 10-question knowledge assessment. The third component captured personal experiences among respondents including satisfaction with radiation safety training, radiation safety practices, and level of concern regarding exposure risk. Responses from 66 participants from differing geographic locations were collected using Research Electronic Data Capture. RESULTS:Sixty-six female orthopaedic surgeons from 21 states completed the survey. Regular dosimeter usage was reported by 24.2% of respondents, and 36.4% of respondents reported always having well-fitted radiation protective equipment provided. The majority (56.1%) stated that they worry about the risks of radiation to their health. Regarding their radiation safety training, 60.6% of respondents rated their training as unsatisfactory or extremely unsatisfactory, and 90.9% of respondents stated that they think training efforts for radiation safety can improve. CONCLUSIONS:Female orthopaedic surgeons demonstrated an inadequate knowledge of adherence to radiation safety protocols and the majority expressed concern with long-term radiation exposure, particularly regarding health and pregnancy risk. To enhance radiation safety awareness and adherence among female orthopaedic surgeons, strategies should be tailored to this demographic, fostering confidence in their knowledge of radiation exposure and bolstering safety measures.

The knee is a complex joint composed of a combination of osseous, musculotendinous, ligamentous, neurovascular, and intra-articular structures, which must be taken into consideration when performing surgical approaches, whether it be for trauma, replacement, or joint preservation surgery. A wide variety of surgical approaches exist for exposure of the lateral side of the knee, including approaches to the distal femur, knee joint, and proximal tibia. Care must be taken to choose the appropriate approach depending on the procedure being performed to best preserve and protect important neurovascular structures. This review thoroughly describes the most frequently used surgical approaches to the lateral knee. The common themes and anatomical considerations presented in this review, in combination with continued experience, can provide surgeons with familiarity with various ways of accessing the knee joint.

A fundamental pillar of science is the estimation of the effect size of associations. However, this task is sometimes difficult and error-prone. To facilitate this process, the R package metaConvert automatically calculates and flexibly converts multiple effect size measures. It applies more than 120 formulas to convert any relevant input data into Cohen's d, Hedges' g, mean difference, odds ratio, risk ratio, incidence rate ratio, correlation coefficient, Fisher's r-to-z transformed correlation coefficient, variability ratio, coefficient of variation ratio, or number needed to treat. Researchers unfamiliar with R can use this software through a browser-based graphical interface (https://metaconvert.org/). We hope this suite will help researchers in the life sciences and other disciplines estimate and convert effect sizes more easily and accurately.

Despite bone's robust regenerative capacity, complications such as delayed union and nonunion affect 5-10% of fractures, with significant clinical and economic burdens. The rising incidence of fractures, particularly in an aging population, highlights the importance of optimizing fracture healing strategies. This review explores current therapies aimed at enhancing bone regeneration, focusing on 2 main categories: local biologic therapies and mechanical therapies. Local biologic treatments, including concentrated bone marrow aspirate, platelet-rich plasma, bone morphogenetic proteins, and platelet-derived growth factor, aim to stimulate osteogenesis at the fracture site. Therapies, such as electrical stimulation, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy, are theorized to modify the mechanical environment to promote healing. Although these therapies show promise, variability in clinical outcomes emphasizes the need for further research to standardize protocols and refine treatment strategies. Overall, advancing our understanding of bone healing mechanisms will continue to drive innovation in fracture management, improving patient outcomes and reducing health care costs.

Limb reconstruction has been an evolving process beginning in the 20th Century with the introduction of modern surgical equipment and materials, to permit the repair of small vessels and nerves. Surgical techniques have also evolved and include vascularized composite allografts that have an important place in current limb reconstruction. The concept was actually conceived centuries ago and has been referred to as the "Miracle of the black leg," an important event in Christian iconography.

Since the beginning of documented medical history, amputation procedures, limb loss, and the myriad creative solutions attempted to care for these individuals have been reported. With the coalescence of multiple World Wars resulting in an ever-increasing number of individuals with limb loss and advancing medical technology, a need to innovate in this field has always been present. The complexity of the hand and upper extremity in self-care, communication, vocation, and exercise results in more demands of prostheses to mimic or replace these functions as opposed to the lower extremity, which is focused mostly on weight bearing and ambulation. As such, this need has pushed technological advances past the simpler passive or body-powered prostheses alone, now with externally powered and hybrid devices revolutionizing the way these appliances were implemented in everyday life. Despite the ever-advancing field of prosthetic technology, upper and lower extremity amputees alike still battle common challenges of pain, phantom limb sensation, and lack of prosthetic control and sensation. Targeted muscle reinnervation and regenerative peripheral nerve interface offer new surgical solutions to some of these challenges and are proving invaluable. As technology and surgical options continue to advance at an ever-rapid pace, a more thoughtful and individualized approach to the care of upper extremity limb loss is available. In this study, we review the history and evolution of upper extremity prostheses and discuss considerations in making optimal surgical and prosthetic decisions for upper extremity amputees.

BACKGROUND:Children and adolescents are vulnerable to the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic in the United States. To minimize pediatric patients' exposure to opioids, efforts are underway to reduce opioid prescriptions after closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) for supracondylar humerus fractures. Standardized pain management protocols preferentially using opioid-free analgesics are reported to be effective in managing postoperative pain and limiting the utilization of opioids. This study compares retrospective data collected before and after the implementation of a standardized postoperative pain management protocol at a large academic children's hospital. The primary aim of this study was to compare opioid prescription patterns during the 2 periods. The secondary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the protocol on minimizing prescription errors. METHODS:This Institutional Review Board-approved study was a retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent CRPP for supracondylar humerus fractures between January 2019 and December 2021. A control cohort of patients treated before the implementation of a department-approved pain management protocol was compared with a cohort of patients treated after the implementation of a standardized postoperative pain management protocol. We compared the number of opioid prescriptions provided to patients before and after the implementation of the protocol. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate prescribing patterns. RESULTS:After the implementation of the standardized pain medication control protocol, we observed a successful decrease in pediatric patients receiving postoperative opioids from 49.6% to 13.6% and in opioid prescribing errors from 38.6% to 12.5%. In addition, there was reduced variability in the type of narcotics prescribed. After the protocol's implementation, the most common combination of medication prescribed for postoperative pain control was acetaminophen and ibuprofen (69.5%). The chi-square test demonstrated no significant association between postoperative opioid prescription and fracture classification or length of stay. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Opioid prescription patterns for postoperative pain management after CRPP for supracondylar humerus fractures were highly variable before the introduction of a standardized pain management protocol. The introduction of the standardized guideline effectively decreased the number of opioids prescribed at discharge, resulted in fewer opioid prescribing errors, and reduced variability in prescribing patterns among providers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level IV-retrospective case series.

In January 2024, New York University Langone Orthopedic Surgery achieved a significant milestone with the first all-women team, from chief residents to interns, at Bellevue Hospital. In a field still dominated by men, only 16% of orthopaedic resident physicians and 6% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons are female, this was no small feat. Although there are many factors that made this historic team possible, it is clear that the earliest female pioneers of orthopaedic surgery were absolutely critical. This paper aims to discuss 5 pioneering women who not only created a path for the now thousands of female orthopaedic surgeons but also left a legacy of significant contributions to the practice of orthopaedics. These trailblazers are as follows: Dr. Marian Frauenthal Sloane, Dr. Ruth Jackson, Dr. Jacquelin Perry, Dr. Claudia Thomas, and Dr. Ericka Lawler.

Needle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique available for the management of common foot and ankle pathologies. Owing to the limitations associated with first-generation needle arthroscopic models, specifically visualization and fluid management, needle arthroscopy has undergone revitalization over the past decade. Newer systems are now using chip on tip visualization capability as well as improved fluid pumps allowing for direct intervention under improved visualization. The smaller diameter of the needle arthroscope permits procedures to be conducted in both the operating room and office setting under wide-awake conditions. We present this review to detail the history of needle arthroscopy and highlight how needle arthroscopy has improved care for patients with foot and ankle disorders.

The landscape of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift toward outpatient procedures. This transition has been supported by enhanced recovery protocols and shorter hospital stays. Key factors for successful outpatient TSA include careful patient selection, focusing on individuals with minimal comorbidities, and preoperative optimization, such as patient education and mental health assessments. Intraoperative considerations like blood loss management, pain control, and surgical efficiency play a crucial role in ensuring positive outcomes. Although challenges remain, including patient selection bias and the need for standardized protocols, ongoing research, innovation in surgical practices, and integration of technology can further enhance the safety and effectiveness of outpatient TSA. Ultimately, with appropriate patient selection and optimization strategies, outpatient TSA can provide comparable outcomes to inpatient procedures, benefiting both patients and health care systems.