bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methodological Approaches to Understanding Causes of Health Disparities
Authors: Jeffries Neal , Zaslavsky Alan M. , Diez Roux Ana V. , Creswell John W. , Palmer Richard C. , Gregorich Steven E. , Reschovsky James D. , Graubard Barry I. , Choi Kelvin , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Zhang Xinzhi , Breen Nancy 
Published: January 2019

Understanding health disparity causes is an important first step toward developing policies or interventions to eliminate disparities, but their nature makes identifying and addressing their causes challenging. Potential causal factors are often correlated, making it difficult to distinguish their effects. These factors may exist at different organizational levels (e.g., individual, family, neighborhood), each of which needs to be appropriately conceptualized and measured. The processes that generate health disparities may include complex relationships with feedback loops and dynamic properties that traditional statistical models represent poorly. Because of this complexity, identifying disparities’ causes and remedies requires integrating findings from multiple methodologies. We highlight analytic methods and designs, multilevel approaches, complex systems modeling techniques, and qualitative methods that should be more broadly employed and adapted to advance health disparities research and identify approaches to mitigate them.
Nomenclature Inconsistency and Selective Outcome Reporting Hinder Understanding of Stem Cell Therapy for the Knee
Authors: Jones Ian A. , Chen Xiao , Evseenko Denis , Vangsness C. Thomas 
Published: January 2019

Background:
The prospect of treating knee cartilage injury/pathology with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has garnered considerable attention in recent years, but study heterogeneity and a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) preclude quantitative analysis. The purpose of this review was to provide clinicians with an overview of RCTs that addresses 2 key areas that have been largely overlooked: nomenclature inconsistency and selective outcome reporting.

Methods:
RCTs that purported to use stem cells or MSCs to treat knee cartilage were identified with use of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses). Study variables were compiled, and methodological quality was assessed. The cell treatments and the methods used to characterize them were recorded and compared. Clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic outcomes were extracted and evaluated qualitatively.

Results:
There was extensive variation among the treatments, adjuvant therapies, and outcome measures. Treatments did not coincide with terminology. Significant differences in clinical outcomes were reported infrequently, and intra-group improvements or inter-group subscore differences were consistently highlighted, particularly when inter-group comparisons were left unreported.

Conclusions:
Overall, there are isolated cases in which positive efficacy results have been published, but our results suggest that the generally positive efficacy conclusions concerning stem cell therapy for knee cartilage pathology may be overstated. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that the efficacy of stem cell therapies should not be considered in aggregate. Cells that are procured or processed differently produce entirely different drugs. When evaluating the efficacy of “stem cell” therapies, clinicians must consider the methodological quality, nomenclature, and inherent distinctness of each treatment.
A Novel, Automated Text-Messaging System Is Effective in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty
Authors: Campbell Kevin J. , Louie Philip K. , Bohl Daniel D. , Edmiston Tori , Mikhail Christopher , Li Jefferson , Khorsand Derek A. , Levine Brett R. , Gerlinger Tad L. 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Digital patient engagement platforms are designed to improve the efficacy of the perioperative surgical home, but the currently available solutions have shown low patient and provider adoption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a text-messaging (Short Message Service [SMS]) bot with respect to patient engagement following joint replacement procedures in a randomized clinical trial.

Methods:
One hundred and fifty-nine patients (83 patients in the control group and 76 patients in the intervention group) were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of an SMS bot (intervention group) with the traditional perioperative education process (control group) in patients undergoing primary total knee or hip arthroplasty. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics between the 2 groups. The primary outcome of time participating in home-based exercises and the secondary outcomes of knee range of motion, the use of narcotics, visual analog scale (VAS) mood score, telephone calls to the office, patient satisfaction, and visits to the emergency department were measured and were compared between the 2 groups. Continuous outcomes were analyzed using linear regression, and categorical outcomes were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test.

Results:
Patients in the intervention group exercised for 8.6 minutes more per day: a mean time (and standard deviation) of 46.4 ± 17.4 minutes compared with 37.7 ± 16.3 minutes for the control group (p < 0.001). The intervention group had an improved mood (mean VAS, 7.5 ± 1.8 points compared with 6.5 ± 1.7 points for the control group; p < 0.001), stopped their narcotic medications 10 days sooner (mean time, 22.5 ± 13.4 days compared with 32.4 ± 11.8 days for the control group; p < 0.001), placed fewer telephone calls to the surgeon’s office (mean calls, 0.6 ± 0.8 compared with 2.6 ± 3.4 for the control group; p < 0.001), and had greater knee range of motion 3 weeks after the surgical procedure (mean flexion, 101.2° ± 11.2° compared with 93.8° ± 14.5° for the control group; p = 0.008), but had an equal range of motion at 6 weeks. There was a trend toward fewer visits to the emergency department in the intervention group, but this comparison lacked statistical power.

Conclusions:
An SMS bot can improve clinical outcomes and increase patient engagement in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty.

Level of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Surgeon Scorecard Is Associated with Improved Value in Elective Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Winegar Angela L. , Jackson Lauren W. , Sambare Tanmaya D. , Liu Tiffany C. , Banks Sean R. , Erlinger Thomas P. , Schultz W. Randall , Bozic Kevin J. 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Despite increasing interest in total joint arthroplasty registries, evidence of the impact of physician-level performance on the value of care provided to patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty is lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an unblinded orthopaedic surgeon-specific value scorecard in improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital costs.

Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed patient outcomes and hospital costs associated with total joint arthroplasties before and 9 months after the introduction of a Surgeon Value Scorecard at an urban tertiary care center. From August 2016 to May 2017, orthopaedic surgeons received an unblinded monthly Surgeon Value Scorecard summarizing a rolling 6-month view of results by surgeon for patients attributed to Diagnosis Related Group 470 (major lower-extremity arthroplasty without comorbidity or complication). Prior to implementation, surgeons were educated on the scorecard and participated in the development of a document outlining the definition and calculation of included metrics. Scorecard metrics were grouped into 5 categories: patient demographic characteristics, patient outcomes (for example, length of stay, discharge disposition, readmissions), patient experience, financial, and operational (for example, operative times). Financial (cost) measures and patient outcomes were selected as the key performance indicators analyzed in this study. Continuous variables were analyzed using the t test when a normal distribution was assumed and using Mann-Whitney tests when a non-normal distribution was assumed. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests. Significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results:
After 9 months of unblinded Surgeon Value Scorecard distribution, the mean total costs for total joint arthroplasties decreased by 8.7%, from $17,996 to $16,426 (p < 0.001). The mean total direct variable costs decreased by 17.1% from $10,945 to $9,070 (p < 0.001), and implant costs decreased by 5.3% (p < 0.001). Length of stay also decreased by 0.2 day to 1.7 days (p < 0.001), and, although there was improvement in the home-discharge rate, 30-day readmission rate, and 90-day readmission rate, the differences were not significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:
The implementation of a surgeon-specific value scorecard for lower-extremity joint arthroplasties was associated with reduced total and direct variable hospital costs, reduced implant costs, decreased variation in costs, and reduced postoperative length of stay, without compromising clinical outcomes.

Clinical Relevance:
Sharing unblinded clinical and financial outcomes with surgeons may promote a culture of shared accountability and may empower surgeons to improve value-based decision-making in care delivery.
Surgeon Type and Outcomes After Inpatient Ankle Arthrodesis and Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Chan Jimmy J. , Chan Jesse C. , Poeran Jashvant , Zubizarreta Nicole , Mazumdar Madhu , Vulcano Ettore 
Published: January 2019

Background:Two main treatments for end-stage ankle arthritis are ankle arthrodesis and total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). While both procedures can be performed either by a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon or a podiatrist (when within a particular state’s scope of practice), studies comparing the surgical outcomes of the 2 surgeon types are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we compared outcomes by surgeon type for TAA and for ankle arthrodesis.Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the nationwide Premier Healthcare claims database (2011 to 2016) regarding TAA (n = 3,674) and ankle arthrodesis (n = 4,980) procedures. Multivariable models estimated associations between surgeon type (podiatrist versus orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon) and opioid utilization (in oral morphine equivalents [OMEs]), length of stay, and cost of hospitalization. We report percent change (compared with reference) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results:Overall, 76.5% (n = 2,812) and 18.8% (n = 690) of TAA procedures were performed by orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons and podiatrists, respectively; surgeon type was unknown for 4.7% (n = 172). For ankle arthrodesis, 75.3% (n = 3,752) and 18.3% (n = 912) of the procedures were performed by orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons and podiatrists, respectively; surgeon type was unknown for 6.3% (n = 316). The proportion of TAA and ankle arthrodesis procedures performed by podiatrists increased over time, from 12.8% and 13.6% in 2011 to 24.6% and 26.0% in 2016, respectively. When adjusting for relevant covariates, procedures performed by podiatrists (compared with orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons) were associated with increased length of stay: for TAA, +16.7% (95% CI, 7.6% to 26.5%; median, 2 days in both groups) and for ankle arthrodesis, +14.2% (95% CI, 7.9% to 20.9%; median, 3 compared with 2 days) (p < 0.05 for both). In addition, ankle arthrodesis performed by podiatrists was associated with increased cost of hospitalization: +28.5% (95% CI, 22.1% to 35.2%; median, $19,236 compared with $13,433) (p < 0.05). Differences in opioid utilization were nonsignificant in the main analysis: +10.9% (95% CI, −3.1% to 26.8%; median, 345 compared with 250 OMEs) and +2.8% (95% CI, −5.9% to 12.4%; median, 351 compared with 315 OMEs) for TAA and ankle arthrodesis, respectively.Conclusions:An increasing trend in the proportion of procedures performed by podiatrists was coupled with apparent increases in length of stay and cost compared with procedures performed by orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. Given the increasing demand for these procedures, factors associated with resource utilization, such as type of surgeon, may be increasingly important on the population level.Level of Evidence:TherapeuticLevel IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prevalence and Clinical Features of Mazabraud Syndrome
Authors: Majoor Bas C.J. , van de Sande Michiel A.J. , Appelman-Dijkstra Natasha M. , Leithner Andreas , Jutte Paul C. , Vélez Roberto , Perlaky Tamás , Staals Eric L. , Bovée Judith V.M.G. , Hamdy Neveen A.T. , Dijkstra Sander P.D. 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Mazabraud syndrome is a rare disorder, characterized by the presence of fibrous dysplasia (FD) with associated intramuscular myxomas. Data are scarce on the prevalence, clinical features, and natural history of this disorder and outcomes. In this multicenter study, we evaluated a series of patients from 6 European centers.

Methods:
All centers affiliated with the European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) were invited to include data on all patients with Mazabraud syndrome who were seen between 1980 and 2015. The study investigated the prevalence of Mazabraud syndrome, the type, severity, and localization of FD lesions in relation to myxomas, the histopathology of myxomas, and results of GNAS-mutation analysis, when available.

Results:
Thirty-two patients (22 female) from 6 centers were included. The prevalence of Mazabraud syndrome was 2.2% in the combined cohort of 1,446 patients with FD, and the syndrome was diagnosed at a mean of 10.1 years after diagnosis of FD. The myxomas were predominantly localized in the upper leg. Excision was performed in 20 patients, recurrence occurred in 6 of these patients (30%) at a median of 8.5 years (range, 1.9 to 16.0 years), and revision surgery was necessary in 5 (25%). High cellularity of myxomas was associated with recurrence (p < 0.05). A GNAS mutation was identified in the myxoma tissue of 5 (83%) of 6 patients with GNAS-mutation analysis.

Conclusions:
This study is the first, to our knowledge, to provide data on the prevalence of Mazabraud syndrome in a relatively large cohort. Although the outcomes of surgical resection were good, a quarter of the patients required revision surgery despite clear resection margins. High cellularity of myxomas was associated with recurrence. GNAS mutations were identified in 83% (5 of 6), emphasizing the shared origin of FD and myxomas. Our data show that patients with FD who have disproportionate complaints, irrespective of FD type, extent, or severity, should be investigated for the possible presence of myxomas.

Level of Evidence:
Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Cognitive Skills Assessment for the Aging Orthopaedic Surgeon
Authors: Hickson Gerald B. , Peabody Terrance , Hopkinson William J. , Reiter Charles E. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract:
Physician leaders are increasingly confronted with the challenge of evaluating the performance of surgical colleagues during the last phase of their careers. Identification of physicians with declining cognitive and clinical skills must be balanced against awareness of laws protecting colleagues from discrimination. Responding successfully to this challenge requires appropriate policies, reliable data, standardized evaluation tools, consistent documentation, and the development of compassionate and effective solutions that avoid discriminatory practices. Surgical champions are essential for promoting self-regulation. Performance evaluations should comply with medical staff bylaws and institutional wellness policies.
The Gluteus Medius Tendon and Its Insertion Sites
Authors: Tsutsumi Masahiro , Nimura Akimoto , Akita Keiichi 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Gluteus medius tears are a common hip disorder. Despite this, the etiology of these tears and the anatomical background of the gluteus medius tendon remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the gluteus medius tendon. We hypothesized that the tendinous portions of the gluteus medius have a nonuniform structure contributing to the tear etiology.

Methods:
Twenty-five hips from 15 Japanese cadavers were analyzed. Twenty-one of the hips were analyzed macroscopically, and the other 4 were analyzed histologically. In all of the specimens, the 3-dimensional (3D) morphology of the greater trochanter was examined using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). In 10 of the 21 hips analyzed macroscopically, the local thickness of the gluteus medius tendon, detached from the greater trochanter, was measured.

Results:
The posterior and anterolateral parts of the gluteus medius tendons were roughly distinguished on the basis of the aspects of the iliac origins. The posterior part of the gluteus medius tendon ran in a fan-like shape and converged onto the superoposterior facet of the greater trochanter. The anterolateral part ran posteroinferiorly toward the lateral facet of the greater trochanter. The thickness was greater in the posterior part than in the anterolateral part, and the border between these 2 parts was relatively thin compared with the other parts. The histological study showed that both the posterior and anterolateral parts inserted onto the greater trochanter via fibrocartilage.

Conclusions:
The gluteus medius tendon consists of thick posterior and thin anterolateral parts, which were identified by the facet or aspect of the bone structures and thinness of their border region.

Clinical Relevance:
Our findings indicate that, given the nonuniform structure of the gluteus medius tendon, the thin anterolateral part may be more prone to tears than the thick posterior part is and tears may generally be limited to the anterolateral part.
Hip-Spine Syndrome: Acetabular Anteversion Angle Is Associated with Anterior Pelvic Tilt and Lumbar Hyperlordosis in Patients with Acetabular Dysplasia
Authors: Okuzu Yaichiro , Goto Koji , Okutani Yuki , Kuroda Yutaka , Kawai Toshiyuki , Matsuda Shuichi 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Hip-spine syndrome was originally described by Offierski and MacNab, who argued that the flexion deformity of the hip rotated the pelvis forward, causing the spine symptoms. We additionally hypothesized that in patients who have osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, the pelvis is tilted anteriorly to compensate for the anterior acetabular coverage defect. We investigated the hip factors associated with anterior pelvic tilt (PT) in patients who had OA of the hip due to acetabular dysplasia.

Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty between January 2009 and December 2017 to identify those who had unilateral secondary OA due to acetabular dysplasia. Patients who had spinal imbalance, a history of spinal or lower limb fracture or surgery, bilateral OA of the hip, or a severely subluxated hip were excluded, leaving 100 eligible patients. We defined the indicators of an anterior acetabular coverage defect, flexion deformity of the hip, and anterior PT as the acetabular anteversion angle (AAA), extension range of motion (ROM), and anterior tilt of the pelvis, respectively. We measured hip factors and spinal parameters on radiographs and the standardized axial and coronal planes on 3-dimensional computed tomography with reference to the anterior pelvic plane. Hip factors associated with PT were investigated.

Results:
Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between PT and both AAA (r = –0.389, p < 0.001) and combined anteversion angle (r = –0.272, p = 0.03). Multivariate regression analysis identified AAA (β = –0.385, p < 0.001) and extension ROM (β = 0.212, p = 0.0496) as independent factors associated with PT. Lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis were significantly correlated with AAA, but sagittal vertical axis was not.

Conclusions:
When treating patients who have acetabular dysplasia, surgeons should recognize the relationship between the anterior acetabular coverage and anterior PT. Correcting hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine can induce progression of hip OA because it may decrease the acetabular anterior coverage.
Continuous intravenous infusion of remifentanil improves the experience of parturient undergoing repeat cesarean section under epidural anesthesia
Authors: Yan Wei , Xiong Yun , Yao Yu , Zhang Feng-jiang , Yu Li-an , Yan Min 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Background: To observe the effects of intravenous remifentanil on maternal comfort, maternal and neonatal safety during repeat cesarean section under epidural anesthesia.
Methods: A total of 80 parturient undergoing repeat cesarean section were involved in the study. The patients were randomly divided into the intravenous remifentanil-assisted epidural group (group R) and epidural group (group E), respectively (n=40). In group R, the remifentanil was continuously intravenously infused as an adjuvant to epidural anesthesia. In group E, 0.75% ropivacaine epidural or intravenous ketamine was administered as needed. Parturient baseline characteristics, vital signs, VAS scores, and comfort scores during surgery were recorded. Adverse effects were also recorded.
Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in the current study and the final analyses included 39 patients in group R and 38 patients in group E. No differences in patients’ baseline characteristics were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Compared with group E, the comfort score was significantly higher in group R (9.1±1.0 vs. 7.5±1.3, p<0.001), whereas the maximum VAS score was significantly lower in group R (1.8±1.2 vs. 4.0±0.9, p<0.001). Maternal and neonatal adverse effects did not differ between the two groups during surgery (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Continuous intravenous infusion of low-dose remifentanil can significantly improve the experience of parturients undergoing repeat cesarean section under epidural anesthesia, without obvious maternal or neonatal adverse effects.
Keywords: Remifentanil; Epidural anesthesia; Repeat cesarean delivery