Background The management of extra-articular distal radius fractures is highly variable, with no ... more Background The management of extra-articular distal radius fractures is highly variable, with no clear consensus regarding their optimal management. Purpose To assess comparatively the biomechanical stability of Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation, volar plating, and intramedullary nailing for unstable, extra-articular distal radius fractures with both (1) constant and (2) cyclical axial compression, simulating forces experienced during early postoperative rehabilitation. Methods Twenty-six volar locking plate, intramedullary nail, and K-wire bone-implant constructs were biomechanically assessed using an unstable extra-articular distal radius bone model. Bone implant models were created for each type of construct. Three samples from each construct underwent compressive axial loading until fixation failure. The remaining samples from each construct underwent fatigue testing with a 50-N force for 2,000 cycles followed by repeat compressive axial loading until fixation failure. Results Axial loading revealed the volar plate was significantly stiffer than the intramedullary nail and K-wire constructs. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail required greater than 300 N of force for fixation failure, while the K-wire construct failed at less than 150 N. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated less than 1 mm of displacement during cyclic loading, while the K-wire construct displaced greater than 3 mm. Postfatigue testing demonstrated the volar plate was stiffer than the intramedullary nail and K-wire constructs, and both the volar plate and intramedullary nail required greater than 300 N of force for fixation failure while the K-wire construct failed at less than 150 N. Conclusions Volar plating of unstable extra-articular distal radius fractures is biomechanically stiffer than K-wire and intramedullary fixation. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated the necessary stability and stiffness to maintain anatomic reduction during the postoperative rehabilitation period. Clinical Relevance Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated the necessary biomechanical stability to maintain postoperative reduction in extra-articular distal radius fractures, warranting further clinical comparison.
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 2014
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the demographic characteristics of patient... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the demographic characteristics of patients undergoing open and arthroscopic distal clavicle excision (DCE) in the United States while also describing changes in practice patterns over time. Patients who underwent DCE from 2004 to 2009 were identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in a national database of orthopaedic insurance records. The year of procedure, age, sex, geographic region, and concomitant rotator cuff repair or subacromial decompression (SAD) were recorded for each patient. Results were reported as the incidence of procedures identified per 10,000 patients searched in the database. Between 2004 and 2009, 73,231 DCEs were performed; 74% were arthroscopic and 26% were open. The incidence of arthroscopic DCE increased from 37.8 in 2004 to 58.5 in 2009 (P < .001), whereas the incidence of open DCE decreased from 21.1 in 2004 to 14.1 in 2009 (P < .001). Sixty-one percent of DCEs were performed in men (P < .001). Women were more likely to undergo an arthroscopic procedure (P < .001). Arthroscopic DCE was most common in patients aged 50 to 59 years (P < .001). Open DCE was most common in patients aged 60 to 69 years (P < .001). Open rotator cuff repair and SAD were concomitantly performed in 38% and 23% of open DCEs, respectively. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and SAD were concomitantly performed in 33% and 95% arthroscopic DCEs, respectively. This analysis of DCE using a private insurance database shows that arthroscopic DCEs progressively increased, whereas open DCEs concomitantly decreased between 2004 and 2009. The majority of DCEs were performed in men between the ages of 50 and 59 years. Both arthroscopic and open DCEs are frequently performed in conjunction with rotator cuff repair or SAD. Level IV, cross-sectional study.
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 2013
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends and report on the demographics of patients u... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends and report on the demographics of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy in the United States. Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy from 2004 to 2009 were identified by searching Current Procedural Terminology codes in the PearlDiver Patient Records Database (PearlDiver Technologies, Fort Wayne, IN), a national database of orthopaedic insurance records. The year of procedure, age, gender, and region of the United States were recorded for each patient. Results were reported for each variable as the incidence of procedures identified per 10,000 patients searched in the database. In total, 3,447 cases of hip arthroscopy were identified between 2004 and 2009. The incidence of procedures increased significantly over the study period, from 1.20 cases per 10,000 patients in 2004 to 5.58 in 2009 (P < .001). Hip arthroscopy was performed most commonly in patients aged 20 to 39 years (P < .05), with an incidence of 4.45 cases in each age group. In contrast to other common arthroscopic procedures searched, no gender differences were observed, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.89 (P = .18). The greatest incidence of hip arthroscopy was observed in the Western region with an incidence of 5.24 cases identified compared with 2.94, 2.70, and 2.56 in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, respectively (P < .001). A 365% increase in the rate of hip arthroscopy was observed in the examined cohort of patients between 2004 and 2009. The majority of cases were performed in patients aged 20 to 39 years, with no difference in gender. The Western region of the United States was found to have a higher incidence of hip arthroscopy compared with the Midwest, South, and Northeast. Level IV, cross-sectional study.
Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States due to ... more Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States due to expanding indications and an aging population. Most patients are discharged home, but a subset of patients is discharged to a postacute care (PAC) facility. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility after shoulder arthroplasty. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample discharge records from 2011 to 2012 were analyzed for patients who underwent a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Patient and hospital characteristics were identified. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the statistically significant risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility while controlling for covariates. In 2011 and 2012, 103,798 patients underwent shoulder arthroplasty procedures: 58,937 TSAs and 44,893 RTSAs were identified. RTSA patients were 1.3 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility as TSA patients (P = .001). Medicare patients were 2 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility than those with private insurance (P < .001). In addition, women and patients presenting with a fracture, older age, or an increasing number of medical comorbidities were more likely to be discharged to a PAC facility (P < .001). The risk factors identified in our study can be used to stratify patients at high risk for postoperative discharge to PAC, allowing for greater improvement in overall care and the facilitation of postoperative discharge planning.
Background The management of extra-articular distal radius fractures is highly variable, with no ... more Background The management of extra-articular distal radius fractures is highly variable, with no clear consensus regarding their optimal management. Purpose To assess comparatively the biomechanical stability of Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation, volar plating, and intramedullary nailing for unstable, extra-articular distal radius fractures with both (1) constant and (2) cyclical axial compression, simulating forces experienced during early postoperative rehabilitation. Methods Twenty-six volar locking plate, intramedullary nail, and K-wire bone-implant constructs were biomechanically assessed using an unstable extra-articular distal radius bone model. Bone implant models were created for each type of construct. Three samples from each construct underwent compressive axial loading until fixation failure. The remaining samples from each construct underwent fatigue testing with a 50-N force for 2,000 cycles followed by repeat compressive axial loading until fixation failure. Results Axial loading revealed the volar plate was significantly stiffer than the intramedullary nail and K-wire constructs. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail required greater than 300 N of force for fixation failure, while the K-wire construct failed at less than 150 N. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated less than 1 mm of displacement during cyclic loading, while the K-wire construct displaced greater than 3 mm. Postfatigue testing demonstrated the volar plate was stiffer than the intramedullary nail and K-wire constructs, and both the volar plate and intramedullary nail required greater than 300 N of force for fixation failure while the K-wire construct failed at less than 150 N. Conclusions Volar plating of unstable extra-articular distal radius fractures is biomechanically stiffer than K-wire and intramedullary fixation. Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated the necessary stability and stiffness to maintain anatomic reduction during the postoperative rehabilitation period. Clinical Relevance Both the volar plate and intramedullary nail demonstrated the necessary biomechanical stability to maintain postoperative reduction in extra-articular distal radius fractures, warranting further clinical comparison.
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 2014
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the demographic characteristics of patient... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the demographic characteristics of patients undergoing open and arthroscopic distal clavicle excision (DCE) in the United States while also describing changes in practice patterns over time. Patients who underwent DCE from 2004 to 2009 were identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in a national database of orthopaedic insurance records. The year of procedure, age, sex, geographic region, and concomitant rotator cuff repair or subacromial decompression (SAD) were recorded for each patient. Results were reported as the incidence of procedures identified per 10,000 patients searched in the database. Between 2004 and 2009, 73,231 DCEs were performed; 74% were arthroscopic and 26% were open. The incidence of arthroscopic DCE increased from 37.8 in 2004 to 58.5 in 2009 (P < .001), whereas the incidence of open DCE decreased from 21.1 in 2004 to 14.1 in 2009 (P < .001). Sixty-one percent of DCEs were performed in men (P < .001). Women were more likely to undergo an arthroscopic procedure (P < .001). Arthroscopic DCE was most common in patients aged 50 to 59 years (P < .001). Open DCE was most common in patients aged 60 to 69 years (P < .001). Open rotator cuff repair and SAD were concomitantly performed in 38% and 23% of open DCEs, respectively. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and SAD were concomitantly performed in 33% and 95% arthroscopic DCEs, respectively. This analysis of DCE using a private insurance database shows that arthroscopic DCEs progressively increased, whereas open DCEs concomitantly decreased between 2004 and 2009. The majority of DCEs were performed in men between the ages of 50 and 59 years. Both arthroscopic and open DCEs are frequently performed in conjunction with rotator cuff repair or SAD. Level IV, cross-sectional study.
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 2013
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends and report on the demographics of patients u... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends and report on the demographics of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy in the United States. Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy from 2004 to 2009 were identified by searching Current Procedural Terminology codes in the PearlDiver Patient Records Database (PearlDiver Technologies, Fort Wayne, IN), a national database of orthopaedic insurance records. The year of procedure, age, gender, and region of the United States were recorded for each patient. Results were reported for each variable as the incidence of procedures identified per 10,000 patients searched in the database. In total, 3,447 cases of hip arthroscopy were identified between 2004 and 2009. The incidence of procedures increased significantly over the study period, from 1.20 cases per 10,000 patients in 2004 to 5.58 in 2009 (P < .001). Hip arthroscopy was performed most commonly in patients aged 20 to 39 years (P < .05), with an incidence of 4.45 cases in each age group. In contrast to other common arthroscopic procedures searched, no gender differences were observed, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.89 (P = .18). The greatest incidence of hip arthroscopy was observed in the Western region with an incidence of 5.24 cases identified compared with 2.94, 2.70, and 2.56 in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, respectively (P < .001). A 365% increase in the rate of hip arthroscopy was observed in the examined cohort of patients between 2004 and 2009. The majority of cases were performed in patients aged 20 to 39 years, with no difference in gender. The Western region of the United States was found to have a higher incidence of hip arthroscopy compared with the Midwest, South, and Northeast. Level IV, cross-sectional study.
Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States due to ... more Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States due to expanding indications and an aging population. Most patients are discharged home, but a subset of patients is discharged to a postacute care (PAC) facility. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility after shoulder arthroplasty. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample discharge records from 2011 to 2012 were analyzed for patients who underwent a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Patient and hospital characteristics were identified. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the statistically significant risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility while controlling for covariates. In 2011 and 2012, 103,798 patients underwent shoulder arthroplasty procedures: 58,937 TSAs and 44,893 RTSAs were identified. RTSA patients were 1.3 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility as TSA patients (P = .001). Medicare patients were 2 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility than those with private insurance (P < .001). In addition, women and patients presenting with a fracture, older age, or an increasing number of medical comorbidities were more likely to be discharged to a PAC facility (P < .001). The risk factors identified in our study can be used to stratify patients at high risk for postoperative discharge to PAC, allowing for greater improvement in overall care and the facilitation of postoperative discharge planning.
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