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Background: Significant associations have been established among individual maximum joint and segment velocities with throwing arm kinetics and ball velocity in baseball., Purpose: Investigate how pitches with the fastest maximum joint and segment velocities, in both ideal and non-ideal sequence order, may impact ball velocity and throwing arm kinetics in professional baseball pitchers., Methods: Professional(n=338) pitchers threw 8-12 fastball pitches while evaluated with 3D-motion capture (480 Hz). Pitches (ideal and non-ideal sequence order) were classified as 'High Velocity' for each segment/joint velocity subcategory or 'Population' with any pitch eligible for inclusion in multiple subcategories. Kinematic and kinetic parameters were compared among subgroups with post-hoc regression analysis., Results: Population pitches in ideal sequence order (pitches: 71, pitchers:19) had significantly faster ball velocity than Population pitches in non-ideal order (pitches: 3685, pitchers: 338) (39.0±1.5 vs. 38.2±2.2m/s respectively, p<0.001). Irrespective of sequence, the Lead knee extension velocity subgroup had faster ball velocity (38.9±1.8ms), compared to Population (38.2±2.2m/s) (p<0.001, d=0.4). For non-ideal sequence pitches, for every 1091°/s increase in maximum shoulder internal rotation velocity, shoulder superior force increased by 3.67%Body Weight (BW). Pitches in ideal order, for every 1414°/s in maximum shoulder internal rotation velocity, there was an increase in shoulder superior force by 4.29%BW, elbow medial force by 5.33%BW, and elbow distractive force by 9.33%BW., Conclusion: Proper sequence order plays an important role in maximizing ball velocity with minimal implications for throwing arm kinetics. When throwing non-ideal sequence, increasing maximum lead knee extension velocity positively impacts ball velocity, while increasing other velocities has negative implications on throwing arm kinetics., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Individual maximum joint and segment angular velocities have shown positive associations with throwing arm kinetics and ball velocity in baseball pitchers., Purpose: To observe how cumulative maximum joint and segment angular velocities, irrespective of sequence, affect ball velocity and throwing arm kinetics in high school pitchers., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study., Methods: High school (n = 55) pitchers threw 8 to 12 fastball pitches while being evaluated with 3-dimensional motion capture (480 Hz). Maximum joint and segment angular velocities (lead knee extension, pelvis rotation, trunk rotation, shoulder internal rotation, and forearm pronation) were calculated for each pitcher. Pitchers were classified as overall fast, overall slow, or high velocity for each joint or segment velocity subcategory, or as population, with any pitcher eligible to be included in multiple subcategories. Kinematic and kinetic parameters were compared among the various subgroups using t tests with post hoc regressions and multivariable regression models created to predict throwing arm kinetics and ball velocity, respectively., Results: The lead knee extension and pelvis rotation velocity subgroups achieved significantly higher normalized elbow varus torque ( P = .016) and elbow flexion torque ( P = .018) compared with population, with equivalent ball velocity ( P = .118). For every 1-SD increase in maximum pelvis rotation velocity (87 deg/s), the normalized elbow distractive force increased by 4.7% body weight (BW) ( B = 0.054; β = 0.290; P = .013). The overall fast group was older (mean ± standard deviation, 16.9 ± 1.4 vs 15.4 ± 0.9 years; P = .007), had 8.9-mph faster ball velocity (32.7 ± 3.1 vs 28.7 ± 2.3 m/s; P = .002), and had significantly higher shoulder internal rotation torque (63.1 ± 17.4 vs 43.6 ± 12.0 Nm; P = .005), elbow varus torque (61.8 ± 16.4 vs 41.6 ± 11.4 Nm; P = .002), and elbow flexion torque (46.4 ± 12.0 vs 29.5 ± 6.8 Nm; P < .001) compared with the overall slow group. A multiregression model for ball velocity based on maximum joint and segment angular velocities and anthropometrics predicted 53.0% of variance., Conclusion: High school pitchers with higher maximum joint and segment velocities, irrespective of sequence, demonstrated older age and faster ball velocity at the cost of increased throwing shoulder and elbow kinetics., Clinical Relevance: Pitchers and coaching staff should consider this trade-off between faster ball velocity and increasing throwing arm kinetics, an established risk factor for elbow injury., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: B.D. is a previous paid employee of Motus Global. J.J.R. has received hospitality payments from Smith + Nephew and grants from Arthrex. B.J.E. has received support for education from Arthrex, Smith + Nephew, Pinnacle, and Gotham Surgical; and consulting fees from DePuy Synthes. M.C.C. has received support for education from Paladin Technology Solutions and Liberty Surgical. M.G.C. has received grants from Arthrex and DJO. J.S.D. has received consulting fees from Arthrex, Linvatec Corp, Trice Medical, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Wright Medical; royalties from Zimmer Biomet and Linvatec Corp; research support from Arthrex; and a gift from Trice Medical; he was previously an unpaid consultant for Motus Global. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Background: Knee instability in midflexion may contribute to patient dissatisfaction following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Midflexion instability involves abnormal motions and tissue loading in multiple planes. Therefore, we quantified and compared the tensions carried by the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) following posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA through knee flexion, and then compared these tensions with those carried by the native knee. Finally, we examined the relationships between collateral ligament tensions and anterior tibial translation (ATT)., Methods: Eight cadaveric knees (from 5 male and 3 female donors with a mean age of 62.6 years and standard deviation of 10.9 years) underwent PS TKA. Each specimen was mounted to a robotic manipulator and flexed to 90°. ATT was quantified by applying 30 N of anterior force to the tibia. Tensions carried by the collateral ligaments were determined via serial sectioning. Robotic testing was also conducted on a cohort of 15 healthy native cadaveric knees (from 9 male and 6 female donors with a mean age of 36 years and standard deviation of 11 years). Relationships between collateral ligament tensions during passive flexion and ATT were assessed via linear and nonlinear regressions., Results: MCL tensions were greater following PS TKA than in the native knee at 15° and 30° of passive flexion, by a median of ≥27 N (p = 0.002), while the LCL tensions did not differ. Median tensions following PS TKA were greater in the MCL than in the LCL at 15°, 30°, and 90° of flexion, by ≥4 N (p ≤ 0.02). Median tensions in the MCL of the native knee were small (≤11 N) and did not exceed those in the LCL (p ≥ 0.25). A logarithmic relationship was identified between MCL tension and ATT following TKA., Conclusions: MCL tensions were greater following PS TKA with this typical nonconforming PS implant than in the native knee. Anterior laxity at 30° of flexion was highly sensitive to MCL tension during passive flexion following PS TKA but not in the native knee., Clinical Relevance: Surgeons face competing objectives when performing PS TKA: they can either impart supraphysiological MCL tension to reduce anterior-posterior laxity or maintain native MCL tensions that lead to heightened anterior-posterior laxity, as shown in this study., Competing Interests: Disclosure: This study was funded by the Clark Foundation and Kirby Foundation. Zimmer Biomet donated the implants used in this study. The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article ( http://links.lww.com/JBJS/I61 )., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Background: Kinematic parameters predictive of pitch velocity have been evaluated in adolescent and collegiate baseball pitchers; however, they have not been established for high school or professional pitchers., Purpose: To create multiregression models using anthropometric and kinematics features most predictive for pitch velocity in high school and professional pitchers and compare them with prior multiregression models evaluating other playing levels., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study., Methods: High school (n = 59) and professional (n = 337) baseball pitchers threw 8 to 12 fastballs while being evaluated with 3-dimensional motion capture (480 Hz). Using anthropometric and kinematic variables, multiregression models for pitch velocity were created for each group. A systematic review was conducted to determine previous studies that established kinematic models for ball velocity in youth, high school, and collegiate pitchers., Results: Leg length was predictive of pitch velocity for high school and professional pitchers ( P < .001 for both). When compared with previously established models for pitch velocity, almost all groups were distinct from one another when assessing age ( P maximum < .001), weight ( P max = .0095), and pitch velocity ( P max < .001). Stride length was a significant predictor for the youth/high school pitchers, as well as the current study's high school and professional pitchers ( P < .001 for all). Maximal shoulder external rotation (collegiate: P = .001; professional: P < .001) and maximal elbow extension velocity (high school/collegiate: P = .024; collegiate: P < .001; professional: P = .006) were shared predictors for the collegiate and current study's professional group multiregression models. Trunk flexion at ball release was a commonly shared predictor in the youth/high school ( P = .04), high school/collegiate ( P = .003), collegiate ( P < .001), and the current study's professional group ( P < .001)., Conclusion: Youth, high school, collegiate, and professional pitchers had unique, predictive kinematic and anthropometric features predictive of pitch velocity. Leg length, stride length, trunk flexion at ball release, and maximal shoulder external rotation were predictive features that were shared between playing levels., Clinical Relevance: Coaches, clinicians, scouts, and pitchers can consider both the unique and the shared predictive features at each playing level when attempting to maximize pitch velocity., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: A.N. has received grant support from Arthrex, education payments from Arthrex and SeaPearl, and hospitality payments from Zimmer Biomet and Stryker. M.C.C. has received grant support from Arthrex and DJO. J.J.R. has received grant support from Arthrex and hospitality payments from Smith+Nephew. J.S.D. has received education payments from Gotham Surgical; consulting fees from Arthrex, KCI, and Trice Medical; nonconsulting fees from Arthrex; and royalties from Arthrex and Linvatec. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Indications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty(rTSA) continue to expand making it challenging to predict whether patients will benefit more from anatomic TSA(aTSA) or rTSA. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors differ between aTSA and rTSA patients that achieve meaningful outcomes and may influence surgical indication., Methods: Random Forest dimensionality reduction was applied to reduce 23 features into a model optimizing substantial clinical benefit (SCB) prediction of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score using 1117 consecutive patients with 2-year follow up. Features were compared between aTSA patients stratified by SCB achievement and subsequently with rTSA SCB achievers., Results: Eight combined features optimized prediction (accuracy = 87.1%, kappa = 0.73): (1) age, (2) body mass index (BMI), (3) sex, (4) history of rheumatic disease, (5) humeral head subluxation (HH) on computed tomography (CT), (6) HH-acromion distance on X-ray, (7) glenoid retroversion on CT, and (8) Walch classification on CT. A higher proportion of males (65.6% vs. 54.9%, p  = 0.022), Walch B-C glenoid morphologies (49.5% vs. 37.9%, p  < 0.001), and greater BMI (30.1 vs. 26.5 kg/m 2 , p  = 0.038) were observed in aTSA nonachievers compared with aTSA achievers, while aTSA nonachievers were statistically similar to rTSA achievers., Discussion: Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis and intact rotator cuffs that have a BMI > 30 kg/m 2 and exhibit Walch B-C glenoids may be less likely to achieve the SCB following aTSA and should be considered for rTSA., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Background: Improper sequencing order of maximal joint and segment velocities has been identified as an important predictor for both throwing arm kinetics and ball velocity., Purpose: To investigate the intrapitcher variation of maximal segment velocities and the relationship to throwing arm kinetics and ball velocity in high school (HS) and professional (PRO) pitchers., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study., Methods: HS (n = 59) and PRO (n = 338) pitchers, instructed to throw 8 to 12 fastball pitches, were evaluated with 3-dimensional motion capture (480 Hz). Maximal joint and segment velocities were calculated for each pitch, and the standard deviation of the maxima was calculated per pitcher. These standard deviations were used to classify pitchers as "low variance" or "high variance" for each segmental velocity subgroup, "overall low variance" or "overall high variance" based on cumulative segment velocity variation, or "population," with any pitcher eligible to be included in multiple subcategories. Maximal velocities and throwing arm kinetics were compared among the various subgroups., Results: The HS low-variance shoulder internal rotation velocity subgroup (4949 ± 642 deg/s) had significantly lower maximal shoulder internal rotation velocity compared with HS population (5774 ± 1057 deg/s) ( P < .001); similar findings were observed for PROs (5269 ± 835 vs 5824 ± 1076 deg/s; P < .001), as well as lower shoulder superior force compared with the PRO population (14.8% ± 8.8% vs 17.8% ± 8.8% body weight; P = .001). The PRO low-variance lead knee extension velocity subgroup had significantly lower maximal lead knee extension velocity (216 ± 135 vs 258 ± 125 deg/s; P = .001) and shoulder distractive force (111.5% ± 14.4% vs 115.6% ± 15.9% body weight; P = .003) compared with the PRO population. The PRO overall low-variance subgroup had significantly lower shoulder distractive force (111.8% ± 14.1% vs 119.6% ± 15.5% body weight; P = .008) and elbow anterior force (40.6% ± 5.0% vs 43.6% ± 6.2% body weight; P = .008) compared with the PRO overall high-variance subgroup., Conclusion: HS and PRO pitchers with low variance for joint and segment velocities achieved significantly lower maximal velocities in the subgroup of interest, while preserving ball velocity. PRO pitchers with overall low variance among multiple maximal joint and segment velocities demonstrated decreased shoulder distractive and elbow anterior force., Clinical Relevance: PRO pitchers with low intrapitch variation in maximal joint and segment velocities may be viewed as kinetically conservative throwers. These pitchers with similarly maintained mechanics between pitches may have an increasingly regimented form that preserves kinetic forces about the throwing arm. The opposite may be true for PRO pitchers with increased variability in segmental velocities during their pitching motion, as they showed increased throwing arm kinetics including shoulder distractive and elbow anterior force compared with the overall low-variance group, theoretically increasing their risk of injury., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: M.C.F. has received consulting fees from Stryker. L.V.G. has received consulting fees from Biomet, DePuy Synthes, Exactech, Medical Device Business Services, and Responsive Arthroscopy; royalties from Exactech and Zimmer Biomet Holdings; and speaking fees from Smith & Nephew; he holds stock or stock options in Imagen and Responsive Arthroscopy. J.S.D. has received consulting fees from Arthrex and Trice Medical, royalties from Arthrex and Linvatec, and support for education from Gotham Surgical; he holds stock or stock options in ViewFi. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Background: Excessive shoulder anterior force has been implicated in pathology of the rotator cuff in little league and professional baseball pitchers; in particular, anterior laxity, posterior stiffness, and glenohumeral joint impingement. Distinctly characterized motions associated with excessive shoulder anterior force remain poorly understood., Methods: High school and professional pitchers were instructed to throw fastballs while being evaluated with 3D motion capture (480 Hz). A supplementary random forest model was designed and implemented to identify the most important features for regressing to shoulder anterior force, with subsequent standardized regression coefficients to quantify directionality., Results: 130 high school pitchers (16.3 ± 1.2 yrs; 179.9 ± 7.7 cm; 74.5 ± 12.0 kg) and 322 professionals (21.9 ± 2.1 yrs; 189.7 ± 5.7 cm; 94.8 ± 9.5 kg) were included. Random forest models determined nearly all the variance for professional pitchers (R 2  = 0.96), and less than half for high school pitchers (R 2  = 0.41). Important predictors of shoulder anterior force in high school pitchers included: trunk flexion at maximum shoulder external rotation (MER) (X.IncMSE = 2.4, β = -0.23, p < 0.001), shoulder external rotation at ball release (BR)(X.IncMSE = 1.7, β = -0.34, p < 0.001), and shoulder abduction at BR (X.IncMSE = 3.1, β = 0.17, p < 0.001). In professional pitchers, shoulder horizontal adduction at foot contact (FC) was the highest predictor (X.IncMSE = 13.9, β = 0.50, p < 0.001), followed by shoulder external rotation at FC (X.IncMSE = 3.6, β = 0.26, p < 0.001), and maximum elbow extension velocity (X.IncMSE = 8.5, β = 0.19, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: A random forest model successfully selected a subset of features that accounted for the majority of variance in shoulder anterior force for professional pitchers; however, less than half of the variance was accounted for in high school pitchers. Temporal and kinematic movements at the shoulder were prominent predictors of shoulder anterior force for both groups., Clinical Relevance: : Our statistical model successfully identified a combination of features with the ability to adequately explain the majority of variance in anterior shoulder force among high school and professional pitchers. To minimize shoulder anterior force, high school pitchers should emphasize decreased shoulder abduction at BR, while professionals can decrease shoulder horizontal adduction at FC., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Joshua S Dines American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons: Board or committee member Arthrex, Inc: IP royalties; Paid consultant; Paid presenter or speaker; Research support Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery: Editorial or governing board; Linvatec: IP royalties; Thieme: Publishing royalties, financial, or material support; Wolters Kluwer Health – Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Publishing royalties, financial, or material support., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OCLT) are common injuries that can be difficult to treat. To date, long-term patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) of patients with particulated juvenile allograft cartilage implantation with or without calcaneal autograft have not been compared., Methods: Thirteen patients with difficult to treat OCLTs underwent arthroscopic-assisted implantation of particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (DeNovo NT®) with or without autogenous calcaneal bone grafting by a single surgeon. Calcaneal bone graft use was determined by lesion size > 150 mm 2 and/or deeper than 5 mm. Patients were evaluated using physical examination, patient interviews, and PROMs., Results: When comparing patients in regards to calcaneal bone graft implantation, no difference in age, BMI, pre-operative PROMs, or follow-up was noted, however, calcaneal bone graft patients did have a significantly larger lesion size (188.5 ± 50.9 vs. 118.7 ± 29.4 mm 2 respectively; p value = 0.027). VAS and FAAM ADL scores during final follow-up improvement did not significantly differ between cohorts. The FAAM Sports score improved significantly more for the DeNovo alone group compared to the bone graft cohort (p value = 0.032). The AOFAS score improvement did not differ between cohorts (p value = 0.944), however, the SF-36 PCS improved significantly more for the DeNovo alone group compared to the bone graft cohort (p value = 0.038). No intraoperative/perioperative complications were observed with calcaneal bone grafting., Conclusion: While patients followed over the course of ~ 8 years after implantation of particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (DeNovo NT®) with/without autogenous calcaneal bone graft had positive post-operative PROMs, patients without calcaneal bone graft had significantly greater improvement in functional outcome scores. Whether these differences are due to graft incorporation or larger lesion size is unclear., Level of Evidence: III, retrospective cohort study., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment for chronic refractory pain secondary to spinal compression fracture. This study investigates racial and socioeconomic disparities in kyphoplasty among the Medicare population., Materials and Methods: This study utilized data from the Medicare Limited Data Sets (LDS), a CMS administrative claims database. Patients aged 18 and older with ICD code consistent with spinal pathology and compression fractures were included. Outcome was defined as kyphoplasty by race and socioeconomic status (SES) with low SES defined by dual enrollment in Medicare/Medicaid., Results: There was a total of 215,502 patients gathered from CMS data, and 717 (0.33%) of these patients underwent kyphoplasty during the study period. Of these patients, 458 (63.8%) were female, the average age was 76.5 years old, 655 (91.3%) were White, 20 (2.7%) were Black, 9 (1.3%) were Hispanic, and 98 (13.7%) were Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible. White patients (32,317/157,177 [20.6%]) were less likely to be dual enrollment eligible in Medicare and Medicaid than Black (5407/13,522 [39.9%]), Hispanic (2833/3675 [77.1%]), Asian (2087/3312 [63.0%]), or North American Native patients (778/1578 [49.1%]). Multivariate regression (MVR) analysis was performed and showed that Blacks were less likely than Whites to have a kyphoplasty performed (OR 0.46 [95% CI: 0.29-0.72], p-value <0.001). Although Hispanics (OR 0.95 [0.49-1.86]), North American Native (OR 0.82 [0.3-2.19]), and unknown race had a decreased odd of undergoing kyphoplasty, it was not statistically significant., Conclusion: Our study showed after adjustment for pertinent comorbidities, Medicare/Medicaid dual-eligible patients and Black patients were significantly less likely to receive kyphoplasty than White patients with Medicare., (© 2023 World Institute of Pain.)

Introduction: A pitcher's ability to achieve pitch location precision after a complex series of motions is of paramount importance. Kinematics have been used in analyzing performance benefits like ball velocity, as well as injury risk profile; however, prior utilization of such data for pitch location metrics is limited., Objective: To develop a pitch classifier model utilizing machine learning algorithms to explore the potential relationships between kinematic variables and a pitcher's ability to throw a strike or ball., Methods: This was a descriptive laboratory study involving professional baseball pitchers (n = 318) performing pitching tests under the setting of 3D motion-capture (480 Hz). Main outcome measures included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the random forest model., Results: The optimized random forest model resulted in an accuracy of 70.0 %, sensitivity of 70.3 %, specificity of 48.5 %, F1 equal to 80.6 %, PPV of 94.3 %, and a NPV of 11.6 %. Classification accuracy for predicting strikes and balls achieved an area under the curve of 0.67. Kinematics that derived the highest % increase in mean square error included: trunk flexion excursion(4.06 %), pelvis obliquity at foot contact(4.03 %), and trunk rotation at hand separation(3.94 %). Pitchers who threw strikes had significantly less trunk rotation at hand separation(p = 0.004) and less trunk flexion at ball release(p = 0.003) compared to balls. The positive predictive value for determining a strike was within an acceptable range, while the negative predictive value suggests if a pitch was determined as a ball, the model was not adequate in its prediction., Conclusions: Kinematic measures of pelvis and trunk were crucial determinants for the pitch classifier sequence, suggesting pitcher kinematics at the proximal body segments may be useful in determining final pitch location., Competing Interests: The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundation with which they are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article., (© 2023 Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine if posteromedial tibial plateau (PMTP) bone bruising on pre-operative MRI is significantly associated with a ramp lesion identified during arthroscopy in patients with concomitant ACL ruptures., Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Sciences, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched systematically for studies that investigated the association between PMTP bone bruises on preoperative MRI and ramp lesions confirmed during arthroscopy. Eight studies met inclusion criteria. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) checklist was used to assess quality. A meta-analysis was performed to analyze odds of a ramp lesion after PMTP bone bruising identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Publication bias was assessed by funnel plot and Egger's linear regression test., Results: There are 2.05 greater odds of medial meniscal ramp lesions in patients with an ACL rupture when PMTP bone bruising is found on preoperative MRI (95% CI, 1.29-3.25; p = 0.002). Heterogeneity of the pooled studies may be substantial ( I 2   = 65%; p = 0.006). Funnel plot analysis and Egger's linear regression test ( p > 0.5) determined no publication bias among the studies included in the meta-analysis., Conclusion: Patients with acute ACL injuries and PMTP bone bruising on MRI have 2.05 times greater odds of a concomitant medial meniscal ramp lesion than those without this bone bruise pattern.

Background: Specific kinematic factors have been found to contribute to faster pitch speeds, with poor mechanics leading to injury., Purpose: To discuss the kinematic parameters that predict faster ball velocity among baseball pitchers., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the authors utilized the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed (2008-2019), and OVID/MEDLINE (2008-2019) databases. Eligible articles included those that reported on kinematic factors predictive of ball velocity across youth, high school, collegiate, and professional levels of play. The quality of all included studies was evaluated by 2 reviewers using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS). The lack of consistent study design or outcome variables precluded meta-analysis., Results: A total of 584 studies were identified from the initial search with 12 included in final analysis (930 pitchers in total; 429 [46.1%] youth, 164 [17.6%] high school, 153 [16.5%] collegiate and 184 [19.8%] professional) with mean ball velocity of 71.1 mph (114.4 km/h). The average AXIS score was 16 out of a possible 20. The shoulder played a significant role in the generation of velocity-induced torques. Hip and shoulder separation was associated with a 2.6 ± 0.5 mph (4.1 ± 0.8 km/h) increase in velocity, whereas increased shoulder movement of the nonthrowing arm was negatively correlated with initial ball velocity ( r 2 = 0.798). Furthermore, hip/shoulder separation, decreased movement of the nonthrowing shoulder, trunk power and timing of maximum trunk rotation, increased contralateral trunk tilt and increased sagittal-plane trunk tilt, and decreased knee flexion at ball release were all associated with higher fastball speeds., Conclusion: Multiple upper extremity and trunk kinematic parameters affect ball velocity, with significant contributions from the throwing shoulder and trunk, as well as nondominant arm. Understanding kinematic predictors of faster ball velocity can help guide training regimens., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: M.E.K. has received education payments from Smith & Nephew. J.S.D. has received education payments from Gotham Surgical, consulting fees from Arthrex and Trice Medical, nonconsulting fees from Arthrex, royalties from Arthrex and Linvatec, and hospitality payments from Horizon Pharma. J.B.C. has received education payments from Arthrex and hospitality payments from Smith & Nephew. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Background: Diabetic patients are known to have poor wound healing and worse outcomes following surgeries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate diabetes status and complications for patients receiving open rotator cuff repair., Methods: Patients undergoing open rotator cuff repair from 2006 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts: no diabetes mellitus, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Differences in demographics, comorbidities, and complications were assessed with the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of 7678 total patients undergoing open rotator cuff repair, 6256 patients (81.5%) had no diabetes, 975 (12.7%) had NIDDM, and 447 (5.8%) had IDDM. Bivariate analyses revealed that IDDM patients had increased risk of mortality, extended length of stay, and readmission compared to non-diabetic patients ( p  < 0.05 for all). IDDM patients had higher risks of major complications and readmission relative to NIDDM patients ( p  < 0.05 for both). On multivariate analysis, there were no differences in any postoperative complications between the non-diabetic, NIDDM, and IDDM groups., Discussion: Diabetes does not affect postoperative complications following open rotator cuff repairs. Physicians should be aware of this finding and counsel their patients appropriately. Level of Evidence: III., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2021.)

Background: The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty has continued to increase over the past decade. In response, commercial payers have implemented strategies to control the medical requirement of these surgeries in attempt to contain the growing costs. For example, most payers require a prolonged trial of conservative management prior to shoulder arthroplasty for patients who may otherwise be surgical candidates. However, little is known regarding the evidence used to support these indications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the references used by commercial payers to substantiate their coverage policies for shoulder arthroplasty., Methods: Ten of the leading commercial payers for total shoulder arthroplasty were identified. Publicly available coverage policies were searched on the internet or requested directly from the payer via email or telephone. Cited references were reviewed independently by two authors for type of document, level of evidence, and mention of the efficacy of conservative management., Results: A total of 5 coverage policies were obtained with 118 references. The most common reference type was primary journal article (n = 70; 59.3%) followed by review or expert opinion articles (n = 35; 29.7%). Most references were of level IV evidence (n = 60; 52.2%), with only 6 (5.2%) of level I or II evidence. Only 4 (3.5%) references mentioned the efficacy of conservative management in patients who may be candidates for shoulder arthroplasty., Conclusion: The majority of references used to substantiate the coverage policies for shoulder arthroplasty among major commercial payers within the United States are of low scientific evidence and fail to demonstrate the success of required nonoperative intervention strategies. Our study underscores the need for high-quality, comparative trials that evaluate the outcomes of conservative management vs. shoulder arthroplasty in end-stage glenohumeral osteoarthritis patients in order to determine the most cost-effective treatment algorithm., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Throwing arm kinetics differ in pitchers at varying arm slot (AS) positions (frontal-plane arm position at ball release relative to the vertical axis)., Purpose: To determine how kinematic and kinetic values differ between professional and high school pitchers with varying AS positions, and whether these differences are similarly observed in both populations., Methods: High school (n = 130) and professional (n = 288) pitchers threw 8 to 12 fastballs under 3-dimensional motion capture technology. Pitchers in each cohort were subdivided based on mean AS position at ball release: AS 1 (least degree of AS: most overhand throwing styles), AS 2 (intermediate degree of AS: three-quarter throwing styles), or AS 3 (greatest degree of AS: most sidearm throwing styles). Kinetic and kinematic parameters were compared between groups., Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Results: High school pitchers had a more overhand AS at ball release (50° ± 11°) compared with professional pitchers (58° ± 14°) ( P < .001). In both cohorts, AS 1 pitchers had significantly greater shoulder abduction (high school, P <0.001; professional, P <0.0001) and lateral trunk flexion (high school, P < 0.001; professional, P <0.0001) at ball release compared with AS 3 pitchers. Professional pitchers with an AS 3 position had significantly delayed timing of maximum upper trunk angular velocity compared with AS 1 pitchers (64% ± 7% vs 57% ± 7% of pitch time, respectively; P < .0001). A significant positive correlation between AS and elbow flexion torque was found in high school pitchers ( P = .002; β = 0.28), and a significant negative correlation between AS and elbow varus torque ( P < .001; β = -0.22) and shoulder internal rotation torque ( P < .001; β = -0.20) was noted in professional pitchers., Conclusion: AS position was related to shoulder abduction and trunk lateral tilt. Professional and high school pitchers with varying AS positions did not experience similar changes in throwing arm kinetics., Clinical Relevance: In professional pitchers, the earlier onset of maximum upper trunk angular velocity with overhand throwing style may reflect inappropriate pelvis-trunk timing separation, a parameter implicated in upper extremity injury, and the negative correlation between AS and elbow varus and shoulder internal rotation torque suggests that both excessive and minimal AS positions have negative implications., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: J.J.R. has received hospitality payments from Smith & Nephew. M.C.C. has received education payments from Liberty Surgical. J.S.D. has received education payments from Gotham Surgical; consulting fees from Arthrex, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Trice Medical; nonconsulting fees from Arthrex; and royalties from Arthrex and Linvatec. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Background: The purpose of this study is to characterize National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for rotator cuff research and evaluate the impact of orthopedic surgeons on this portfolio., Methods: The NIH's Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results database was queried for "rotator cuff repair" or "rotator cuff tear" from the 2011 to 2021 fiscal years. Compound annual growth rates were calculated and grants were categorized by basic, clinical, or translational research. Funding totals were compared by Principal Investigator (PI) and grant characteristics., Results: A total of 52 grants were awarded to 38 PIs between 2011 and 2021, totaling $40,156,859. Annual NIH funding for rotator cuff tear and rotator cuff repair increased by a Compound annual growth rate of 11.0% from 2011 to 2021, compared to 3.4% for the total NIH budget. Orthopedic surgeon-scientists received $9,208,212 (22.9%), most commonly through R01 (80.5%) and K08 (7.1%) mechanisms. No significant difference in funding was found by PI sex ( P  = .332), degree ( P  = .460), academic rank ( P  = .118), or researcher type ( P  = .227). Professors had a higher h-index than associate and assistant professors ( P  = .001). Orthopedic surgeon-scientists had a higher h-index (mean 36.3 ± 9.4) compared to clinician-scientists (mean 8.0 ± 1.4) and research-scientists (35.5 ± 40.7) ( P  = .044). Clinical topics receiving the highest funding were rehabilitation (23.9%), diagnosis, (22.3%) and surgical technique (14.8%). Orthopedic surgeon-scientists acquired funding for diagnosis (57.1%), rehabilitation (17.0%), and surgical technique (14.5%)., Discussion: While NIH funding for rotator cuff research is growing, orthopedic surgeon representation is low. Future studies should evaluate barriers to obtaining funding for orthopedic surgeon-scientists., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Background: Prospective trial registration has become an important means of improving the transparency and reproducibility of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and is recommended by the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES) per the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. Herein, we performed a cross-sectional evaluation of RCTs published in JSES from 2010 to present to determine the prevalence of trial registration and consistency of outcome reporting., Methods: The electronic database PubMed was searched to identify all RCTs on total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) published in JSES from 2010 to 2022 using the search terms "randomized controlled trial" AND "shoulder" AND "arthroplasty OR replacement." RCTs were considered to be registered if they provided a registration number. For articles that were registered, authors also extracted the registry name, registration date, date of first enrollment, date of last enrollment, and if the primary outcomes reported in the registry were either (1) omitted, (2) newly introduced in the publication, (3) reported as a secondary outcome or vice versa, or (4) varied in timing of assessment compared to the publication. "Early" RCTs were considered those published from 2010 to 2016, whereas "later" RCTs were from 2017 to 2022., Results: Fifty-eight RCTs met inclusion criteria. There were 16 early RCTs and 42 later RCTs. Twenty-three of the 58 (39.7%) studies were registered, with 9 of 22 with an available registry (40.9%) of those being enrolled prior to patient enrollment. Nineteen of the registered studies (82.6%) provided the name of the registry and a registration number. The proportion of later RCTs that were registered was not significantly different from the early RCTs (45.2% vs. 25.0%, P = .232). Seven RCTs (31.8%) had at least 1 inconsistency compared with the registry. The most common discrepancy was the timing of the assessment (ie, follow-up period) reported in the publication vs. the registry., Discussion: Although JSES recommends prospective trial registration, less than half of shoulder arthroplasty RCTs are registered and more than 30% registered trials have at least 1 inconsistency with their registry record. More rigorous review of trial registration and accuracy is necessary to limit bias in published shoulder arthroplasty RCTs., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Chronic steroid and immunosuppressant use have been shown to increase the risk for postoperative complications in orthopedic surgery. Further understanding of the risks of immunosuppression is necessary to aid in risk stratification and patient counseling. However, these risks have not yet been explored in ankle fracture patients. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine whether patients taking immunosuppressives are at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures. Patients undergoing operative treatment for ankle fractures from 2006 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were categorized based on their use of immunosuppressive medications. Postoperative outcomes assessed included superficial surgical site infections, deep surgical site infections, organ space infections, wound dehiscence, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, renal failure, blood transfusion requirement, deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, cardiac arrest, extended length of hospital stay, readmission, reoperation, and mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. In total, 10,331 patients underwent operative treatment for ankle fracture. Total 10,153 patients (98.3%) were not taking immunosuppressants and 178 (1.7%) were taking these medications. In multivariate analysis, patients taking immunosuppressants were at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (odds ratio [OR] 4.382; p = .041) and hospital readmission (OR 2.131; p = .021). Use of immunosuppressive medications is an independent risk factor for pulmonary embolism and readmission following ORIF for ankle fractures. Notably, no association with wound complications, infections, or sepsis was identified., (Copyright © 2023 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: It is well established that diabetes is associated with complications following surgical procedures across the wide array of surgical subspecialties. The evidence on the effect of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR), however, is not as robust, and findings have not been consistent. It was hypothesized that patients with diabetes are at increased risk of complications and a higher rate of hospital admission following ACLR., Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction from 2006 to 2019. Two patient cohorts were defined in this retrospective study: patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes. The various patient demographics, medical comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups, with the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of 9,576 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, 9,443 patients (98.6%) did not have diabetes, whereas 133 patients (1.4%) had diabetes. Following adjustment on multivariate analyses, compared to non-diabetic patients, those with diabetes had an increased risk of admission to the hospital within thirty days of the surgery (OR 2.14; p = 0.002)., Conclusion: Patients with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of being admitted to the hospital compared to those without the disease. Clinicians should be aware of diabetic patients who undergo ACLR to ensure appropriate pre- and postoperative care to minimize complications in this patient population., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Femoral shaft fractures are common in the pediatric population, accounting for over 20% of inpatient pediatric fractures. Patients with developmental delays are a population group whose medical care and recovery come with a unique set of considerations and challenges. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of developmental delay on outcomes following open treatment of femoral shaft fractures in the pediatric population., Methods: Pediatric patients undergoing open treatment of femoral shaft fracture from 2012 to 2019 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with developmental delay and patients without developmental delay. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and various postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups using bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of the 5896 pediatric patients who underwent open treatment of femoral shaft fracture, 5479 patients (92.9%) did not have developmental delay whereas 417 (7.1%) had developmental delay. Patients with developmental delay were more likely to have other medical comorbidities. Following adjustment on multivariable regression analysis to control for the baseline differences between the two groups, patients with developmental delay had an increased risk of readmission to the hospital (OR 4.762; p = 0.014)., Conclusion: Developmental delay in the pediatric population was found to be an independent risk factor for hospital readmission following open treatment of femoral shaft fractures. Taking these patients into special consideration when evaluating the optimal treatment plan can be beneficial to reduce the risks of readmission, which can decrease costs for both the patient and the hospital., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of different dosages of intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TXA) in the treatment of traumatic hip fractures against that of the control group of no TXA., Data Sources: This study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to perform a network meta-analysis on the use of TXA for the treatment of hip fractures. The study team used Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Reviews, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases to perform the search. Studies that were published in English between the years 2010 and 2020 were selected., Study Selection/data Extraction: For inclusion in this study, selected articles were required to be randomized controlled trials with at least 1 control group that had no antifibrinolytic intervention to serve as a control, and IV formulations of TXA were used as part of the treatment group. Furthermore, all study participants must have undergone surgical intervention for traumatic hip fractures. Studies that did not immediately meet criteria for inclusion were saved for a review by the full investigating team and were included based on consensus., Data Synthesis: All statistical analyses conducted for this study were performed using R software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Network meta-analyses were conducted with a frequentist approach with a random-effects model using the netmeta package version 0.9-6 in R. The frequentist equivalent to surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities, termed " P score," was used to rank different treatments., Conclusion: The use of TXA in the surgical management of traumatic hip fractures reduces the number of transfusions and perioperative blood loss, with minimal to no increased incidence of thrombotic events when compared with those in controls. When comparing formulations, no route of administration is clearly superior in reducing perioperative blood loss., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The impact of seizure disorders on pediatric patients who undergo hip dysplasia surgery has yet to be elucidated. This study focused on identifying the effect of seizure disorders on the incidence of complications following surgical management of hip dysplasia. Pediatric patients undergoing surgical treatment for hip dysplasia from 2012 to 2019 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. Patients were divided into two cohorts: patients with and patients without a seizure disorder. Patient demographics, comorbidities and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Of 10 853 pediatric patients who underwent hip dysplasia surgery, 8117 patients (74.8%) did not have a seizure disorder whereas 2736 (25.2%) had a seizure disorder. Bivariate analyses revealed that compared to patients without a seizure disorder, patients with a seizure disorder were at increased risk of developing surgical site infections, pneumonia, unplanned reintubation, urinary tract infection, postoperative transfusion, sepsis, extended operation time and length of stay and readmission ( P  < 0.05 for all). Following adjustment for patient demographics and comorbidities on multivariate analysis, there were no differences in any postoperative complications between pediatric patients with and without a seizure disorder. There were no differences in 30-day postoperative complications in patients with and without a seizure disorder. Due to potential decreased bone mineral density as an effect of antiepileptic drugs and the risk of femur fracture during surgery for hip dysplasia, pediatric patients with a seizure disorder should be closely monitored as they may be more susceptible to injury. Level of Evidence: III., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

High-grade knee laxity is associated with early anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft failure, poor function, and compromised clinical outcome. Yet, the specific ligaments and ligament properties driving knee laxity remain poorly understood. We described a Bayesian calibration methodology for predicting unknown ligament properties in a computational knee model. Then, we applied the method to estimate unknown ligament properties with uncertainty bounds using tibiofemoral kinematics and ACL force measurements from two cadaver knees that spanned a range of laxities; these knees were tested using a robotic manipulator. The unknown ligament properties were from the Bayesian set of plausible ligament properties, as specified by their posterior distribution. Finally, we developed a calibrated predictor of tibiofemoral kinematics and ACL force with their own uncertainty bounds. The calibrated predictor was developed by first collecting the posterior draws of the kinematics and ACL force that are induced by the posterior draws of the ligament properties and model parameters. Bayesian calibration identified unique ligament slack lengths for the two knee models and produced ACL force and kinematic predictions that were closer to the corresponding in vitro measurement than those from a standard optimization technique. This Bayesian framework quantifies uncertainty in both ligament properties and model outputs; an important step towards developing subject-specific computational models to improve treatment for ACL injury., (Copyright © 2023 by ASME.)

Background: Repetitive horizontal shoulder abduction during pitching can cause increased contact between the posterosuperior aspect of the glenoid and the greater tuberosity of the humeral head, theoretically putting baseball pitchers at increased risk of shoulder internal impingement and other shoulder pathologies., Hypothesis: Increased shoulder horizontal abduction is associated with increased shoulder anterior force, while increased horizontal adduction is associated with increased shoulder distraction force., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study., Level of Evidence: Level 4., Methods: A total of 339 professional baseball pitchers threw 8 to 10 fastball pitches using 3D motion capture (480 Hz). Pitchers were divided into 2 sets of quartiles based on maximum shoulder horizontal abduction and adduction. Elbow flexion, shoulder external rotation, and peak shoulder kinetics were compared between quartiles with post hoc linear regressions conducted for the entire cohort., Results: At maximum shoulder horizontal abduction, there was no difference in ball velocity between quartiles ( P = 0.76). For every 10º increase in maximum shoulder horizontal abduction, shoulder anterior force decreased by 2.2% body weight (BW) ( P < 0.01, B = -0.22, β = -0.38), shoulder adduction torque decreased by 0.5%BW × body height (BH) ( P < 0.01, B = -0.05, β = -0.19), and shoulder horizontal adduction torque decreased by 0.4%BW × BH ( P < 0.01, B = -0.04, β = -0.48). For every 10º increase in maximum shoulder horizontal adduction, shoulder anterior force increased by 2%BW and ball velocity decreased by 1.2 m/s (2.7 MPH)., Conclusion: Professional pitchers with the least amount of maximum horizontal adduction had faster ball velocity and decreased shoulder anterior force. Pitchers with greater maximum shoulder horizontal abduction had decreased shoulder anterior force, shoulder adduction torque, and shoulder horizontal adduction torque. To maximize ball velocity as a performance metric while minimizing shoulder anterior force, pitchers can consider decreasing maximum shoulder adduction angles at later stages of the pitch., Clinical Relevance: Identifying risk factors for increased throwing shoulder kinetics (ie, shoulder anterior force, shoulder adduction torque) has potential implications in injury prevention. Specifically, mitigating shoulder anterior forces may be beneficial in reducing risk of injury.

Aims: Mid-level constraint designs for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are intended to reduce coronal plane laxity. Our aims were to compare kinematics and ligament forces of the Zimmer Biomet Persona posterior-stabilized (PS) and mid-level designs in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes under loads simulating clinical exams of the knee in a cadaver model., Methods: We performed TKA on eight cadaveric knees and loaded them using a robotic manipulator. We tested both PS and mid-level designs under loads simulating clinical exams via applied varus and valgus moments, internal-external (IE) rotation moments, and anteroposterior forces at 0°, 30°, and 90° of flexion. We measured the resulting tibiofemoral angulations and translations. We also quantified the forces carried by the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL/LCL) via serial sectioning of these structures and use of the principle of superposition., Results: Mid-level inserts reduced varus angulations compared to PS inserts by a median of 0.4°, 0.9°, and 1.5° at 0°, 30°, and 90° of flexion, respectively, and reduced valgus angulations by a median of 0.3°, 1.0°, and 1.2° (p ≤ 0.027 for all comparisons). Mid-level inserts reduced net IE rotations by a median of 5.6°, 14.7°, and 17.5° at 0°, 30°, and 90°, respectively (p = 0.012). Mid-level inserts reduced anterior tibial translation only at 90° of flexion by a median of 3.0 millimetres (p = 0.036). With an applied varus moment, the mid-level insert decreased LCL force compared to the PS insert at all three flexion angles that were tested (p ≤ 0.036). In contrast, with a valgus moment the mid-level insert did not reduce MCL force. With an applied internal rotation moment, the mid-level insert decreased LCL force at 30° and 90° by a median of 25.7 N and 31.7 N, respectively (p = 0.017 and p = 0.012). With an external rotation moment, the mid-level insert decreased MCL force at 30° and 90° by a median of 45.7 N and 20.0 N, respectively (p ≤ 0.017 for all comparisons). With an applied anterior load, MCL and LCL forces showed no differences between the two inserts at 30° and 90° of flexion., Conclusion: The mid-level insert used in this study decreased coronal and axial plane laxities compared to the PS insert, but its stabilizing benefit in the sagittal plane was limited. Both mid-level and PS inserts depended on the MCL to resist anterior loads during a simulated clinical exam of anterior laxity., Competing Interests: M. B. Cross reports royalties or licenses from Depuy Synthes and PSI, consulting fees from Depuy Synthes, Exactech, and 3M, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Depuy Synthes and 3M, and stock or stock options in Ospitek, PSI, and Intellijoint, all of which are unrelated to this article. D. J. Mayman reports royalties or licenses from Orthalign and Smith & Nephew, and stock or stock options in Imagen, Orthalign, Smith & Nephew, Wishbone, Micare Path, and Cymedica, all of which are unrelated to this article. C. W. Imhauser reports payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Corin Medical, unrelated to this study. P. K. Sculco reports consulting fees from Zimmer Biomet, Intellijoint Surgical, Lima Corporate, Depuy Synthes, and ATEC, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Zimmer Biomet, stock or stock options in Parvizi Surgical Innovation and Intellijoint Surgical, and receipt of equipment, materials, drugs, medical writing, gifts or other services, all of which are unrelated to this study., (© 2023 Author(s) et al.)

Background: Risk stratification tools are being increasingly utilized to guide patient selection for outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify the existing calculators used to predict discharge disposition, postoperative complications, hospital readmissions, and patient candidacy for outpatient shoulder arthroplasty and to compare the specific components used to generate their prediction models., Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and OVID Medline were searched for studies that developed calculators used to determine patient candidacy for outpatient surgery or predict discharge disposition, the risk of postoperative complications, and hospital readmissions after anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Reviews, case reports, letters to the editor, and studies including hemiarthroplasty cases were excluded. Data extracted included authors, year of publication, study design, patient population, sample size, input variables, comorbidities, method of validation, and intended purpose. The pros and cons of each calculator as reported by the respective authors were evaluated., Results: Eleven publications met inclusion criteria. Three tools assessed patient candidacy for outpatient TSA, 3 tools evaluated the risk of 30- or 90-day hospital readmission and postoperative complications, and 5 tools predicted discharge destination. Four calculators validated previously constructed comorbidity indices used as risk predictors after shoulder arthroplasty, including the Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, modified Frailty Index, and the Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment, while 7 developed newcalculators. Nine studies utilized multiple logistic regression to develop their calculators, while 1 study developed their algorithm based on previous literature and 1 used univariate analysis. Five tools were built using data from a single institution, 2 using data pooled from 2 institutions, and 4 from large national databases. All studies used preoperative data points in their algorithms with one tool additionally using intraoperative data points. The number of inputs ranged from 5 to 57 items. Four calculators assessed psychological comorbidities, 3 included inputs for substance use, and 1 calculator accounted for race., Conclusion: The variation in perioperative risk calculators after TSA highlights the need for standardization and external validation of the existing tools. As the use of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty increases, these calculators may become outdated or require revision. Incorporation of socioeconomic and psychological measures into these calculators should be investigated., (Copyright © 2023 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Past research has shown diabetic patients, including those of geriatric age, to be at an increased risk of postoperative complications following various surgeries, including revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA). However, whether these risks are disproportionately greater in octogenarian patients has not been well investigated. This study aimed to determine whether diabetic octogenarians are at an increased risk of postoperative complications following rTHA., Methods: The national surgical quality improvement program database was used to identify all diabetic patients who underwent rTHA from 2007 to 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: an aged 65 to 79 cohort and an aged 80 to 89 cohort. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were assessed and compared between the two aged cohorts, with the utilization of bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of the 1184 diabetic patients who underwent rTHA, 906 (76.5%) patients were in the aged 65 to 79 cohort and 278 (23.5%) patients were in the aged 80 to 89 cohort. After adjusting for patient demographics and medical comorbidities, compared to patients in the aged 65 to 79 group, diabetic patients who were 80 to 89 years old were found to have an increased risk of extended length of hospital stay (OR 1.67; p = 0.017)., Conclusion: Diabetic octogenarian patients have an increased risk for a prolonged hospital stay following rTHA relative to their younger diabetic geriatric counterparts. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of these increased risks to properly educate diabetic octogenarians and assist in surgical management decision making in these patients considering rTHA., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) encompasses a wide range of abnormal hip development and is a common condition in the pediatric population. Congenital pulmonary abnormalities are typically mild in the pediatric population but can be associated with severe comorbid conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of structural pulmonary/airway abnormalities on the incidence of postoperative complications following surgical management of DDH., Methods: From 2012 to 2019, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database was utilized to identify pediatric patients undergoing surgical treatment for hip dysplasia. Patients were stratified into two groups: patients with a structural pulmonary/airway abnormality and patients without a pulmonary abnormality. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were compared between the two cohorts with the use of various statistical analyses, including bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of the 10,853 patients who underwent surgical treatment for hip dysplasia, 10,157 patients (93.6%) did not have a structural pulmonary/airway abnormality whereas 696 (6.4%) had an airway abnormality. Following adjustment on multivariate analysis, patients with a structural pulmonary abnormality had an increased risk of cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR 2.342; p = 0.045)., Conclusion: The results indicated that patients with a structural pulmonary abnormality had an increased risk of cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to those without a pulmonary abnormality. Ensuring appropriate preoperative evaluation with a multidisciplinary team and close monitoring postoperatively is important to prevent the risk of severe outcomes in this vulnerable patient population., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: It has previously been speculated that baseball pitchers who display excessive forearm pronation at foot contact (FC) have a higher propensity toward ulnar collateral ligament injury and subsequent surgery., Purpose: To evaluate the association between degree of forearm pronation/supination at FC and throwing arm kinetics in high school and professional pitchers, at both the individual (intrapitcher) and the group (interpitcher) level., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study., Methods: High school (n = 41) and professional (n = 196) pitchers threw 8 to 12 fastballs while being assessed with a 3-dimensional motion-capture system (480 Hz). Pitchers at each playing level were divided into a supination or pronation subgroup depending on degree of forearm pronation at FC. Regression models were built to observe the relationship between forearm pronation at FC and kinetic and kinematic parameters of interest., Results: At both the individual and the group level of high school and professional pitchers, there was no significant correlation between forearm pronation at FC and elbow varus torque ( P min = .21). For every 10° increase in forearm pronation at FC in the individual high school pitcher, elbow flexion at FC decreased by 5°, whereas maximum elbow extension velocity was achieved 0.6% later in the pitch. In addition, elbow medial force increased by 4.1 N and elbow varus torque increased by 0.8 N·m for every 10° increase in forearm supination at FC. For every 10° increase in forearm supination in the individual professional pitcher, ball velocity increased by 0.5 m/s, shoulder external rotation at FC decreased by 11°, and elbow medial force decreased by 5.5 N., Conclusion: Supination- or pronation-predominant forearm motion during the pitch did not significantly differ between playing levels. Excessive forearm pronation at FC was not a significant risk factor for increased throwing arm kinetics for high school or professional pitchers. There was a weak positive association between forearm supination at FC and elbow varus torque in the individual high school pitcher. Ultimately, coaches and pitchers may be better served by redirecting their focus to other mechanical aspects of the pitch that may have stronger associations with injury risk implications as well as performance., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: J.B.C. has received education payments from Arthrex and hospitality payments from Smith & Nephew. L.V.G. has received consulting fees from DePuy Synthes, Exactech, and Responsive Arthroscopy and royalties from Exactech and Zimmer Biomet. J.S.D. has received education payments from Gotham Surgical; consulting fees from Arthrex, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Trice Medical; speaking fees from Arthrex; and royalties from Linvatec and Arthrex. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Background: Graft failure after osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) of the knee is a devastating outcome, often necessitating subsequent interventions. A comprehensive understanding of the risk factors for failure after OCA of the knee may provide enhanced prognostic data for the knee surgeon and facilitate more informed shared decision-making discussions before surgery., Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors associated with graft failure after OCA of the knee., Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4., Methods: The PubMed, Ovid/MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were queried in April 2021. Data pertaining to study characteristics and risk factors associated with failure after OCA were recorded. DerSimonian-Laird binary random-effects models were constructed to quantitatively evaluate the association between risk factors and graft failure by generating effect estimates in the form of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs, while mean differences (MDs) were calculated for continuous data. Qualitative analysis was performed to describe risk factors that were variably reported., Results: A total of 16 studies consisting of 1401 patients were included. The overall pooled prevalence of failure was 18.9% (range, 10%-46%). There were 44 risk factors identified, of which 9 were explored quantitatively. There was strong evidence to support that the presence of bipolar chondral defects (OR, 4.20 [95% CI, 1.17-15.08]; P = .028) and male sex (OR, 2.04 [95% CI, 1.17-3.55]; P = .012) were significant risk factors for failure after OCA. Older age (MD, 5.06 years [95% CI, 1.44-8.70]; P = .006) and greater body mass index (MD, 1.75 kg/m 2 [95% CI, 0.48-3.03]; P = .007) at the time of surgery were also significant risk factors for failure after OCA. There was no statistically significant evidence to incontrovertibly support that concomitant procedures, chondral defect size, and defect location were associated with an increased risk of failure after OCA., Conclusion: Bipolar chondral defects, male sex, older age, and greater body mass index were significantly associated with an increased failure rate after OCA of the knee. No statistically significant evidence presently exists to support that chondral defect size and location or concomitant procedures are associated with an increased graft failure rate after OCA of the knee. Additional studies are needed to evaluate these associations.

Purpose: To evaluate shoulder arthroscopy case volume for graduating United States orthopaedic surgery residents., Methods: We used the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case log records to evaluate reports from academic years 2016 to 2020. Logs were queried for pediatric, adult, and total (pediatric and adult) cases. The 10th, 30th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of case volumes from 2016 to 2020 were presented to demonstrate case volume variability., Results: There was a significant increase in the average number of total (70.7 ± 35 vs 81.8 ± 45; P < .001), adult (69 ± 34 vs 79.7 ± 44; P < .001), and pediatric (1.8 ± 2 vs 2.2 ± 3; P  = .003) shoulder arthroscopy cases performed by orthopaedic surgery residents between the academic year 2016 and 2020. Residents were involved in more than 36 times the number of adult cases compared with pediatric cases in 2020 (79.7 ± 44 vs 2.2 ± 3; P < .001). The 90th percentile of residents performed 6 pediatric cases in 2020, compared with zero cases in the 30th percentile and lower., Conclusions: Approximately one-third of orthopedic surgery residents graduate without having performed a pediatric shoulder arthroscopy., Clinical Relevance: The findings from this study could help guide the revision of current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education guidelines for orthopaedic surgery residents., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a commonly encountered orthopedic condition that can be difficult to treat. Several techniques have been described to manage these tears, with the implantable subacromial balloon spacer being one of the most recent. The device, which has only been approved for clinical use in the United States since 2021, functions by resisting the superior humeral head migration seen in the setting of massive RCTs and restoring normal shoulder biomechanics, as corroborated by cadaveric studies. However, results regarding clinical outcomes have been mixed to date, and further high-quality studies are needed to define the optimal use of the subacromial balloon spacer in the treatment of massive irreparable RCTs., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons.)

Purpose: As the geriatric population continues to grow, the incidence of tibial shaft fractures in octogenarians is projected to increase. There is significant variation in the functional and physiologic status within the geriatric population. The purpose of this study is to compare the complications following operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures for patients who are 65- to79-year-old compared to patients who are 80- to 89-year-old., Methods: Data were collected through the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for the years 2007-2018. All isolated tibial shaft fractures that were treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or intramedullary nail (IMN) were identified. Patients were divided into a 65- to 79-year-old group and an 80-to 89-year-old group. Primary and secondary outcomes were studied and included 30-day mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with a significance set at p  <  0.05., Results: In total, 434 patients with tibial shaft fractures were included in the study. Of these, 333 were 65- to 79-year-old and 101 were 80- to 89-year-old (Table 1). On multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in complication rates between the two cohorts., Conclusion: After controlling for demographics and comorbidities, age was not independently associated with 30-day mortality or any other peri-operative complications between patients aged 80 to 89 and patients aged 65 to 79 following operative management of tibial shaft fractures. In appropriately selected octogenarian patients, operative management of tibial shaft fractures represents a relatively safe treatment modality that may promote early rehabilitation., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To compare complication rates and 5-year reoperation rates between open debridement (OD) and arthroscopic debridement (AD) for lateral epicondylitis., Methods: The PearlDiver MUExtr database (2010-2019) was reviewed for patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis (queried by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10] codes) undergoing OD or AD of the common extensor tendon without repair (queried by Current Procedural Terminology codes). Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: those who underwent AD and those who underwent OD. Nonoperative treatment modalities were reported for both groups within 1 year before index procedure. The rates of 90-day postoperative complications were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for complications. The 5-year reoperation rates, using laterality-specific ICD-10 codes, were also compared between the 2 groups., Results: In total, 19,280 patients (OD = 17,139, AD = 2,141) were analyzed in this study. The most common nonoperative treatments for patients who underwent OD or AD were corticosteroid injections (49.5% vs 43.2%), physical therapy (24.8% vs 25.7%), bracing (2.8% vs 3.2%), and platelet-rich plasma injections (1.3% vs 1.0%). There were no significant differences in radial nerve injuries, hematomas, surgical site infections, wound dehiscence, and sepsis events between the 2 procedures (P = .50). The 5-year reoperation rate was not significantly different between the AD (5.0%) and OD (3.9%) cohorts (P = .10)., Conclusions: For lateral epicondylitis, both AD and OD of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (without repair) were found to have low rates of 90-day adverse events, with no significant differences between the 2 approaches. Similarly, the 5-year reoperation rate was low and not statistically different for those treated with OD or AD., Level of Evidence: Level III, cross-sectional study., (Copyright © 2022 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background  While previous studies have investigated the association between bleeding disorders and outcomes with hip or knee surgeries, no studies have investigated the association between bleeding disorders and outcomes in upper extremity surgery. Questions/Purposes  The purpose of this study was to investigate if a past history of bleeding disorders is associated with which, if any postoperative complications for patients receiving distal radius fracture open reduction internal fixation. Patients and Methods  Patients undergoing operative treatment for distal radius fracture from 2007 to 2018 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were stratified into two cohorts: patients with a bleeding disorder and patients without a bleeding disorder. In this analysis, 30-day postoperative complications were assessed, as well as mortality, extended length of stay, reoperation, and readmission. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results  Of the 16,489 total patients undergoing operative treatment for distal radius fracture, 16,047 patients (97.3%) did not have a bleeding disorder, whereas 442 (2.7%) had a bleeding disorder. Following adjustment on multivariate analyses, an increased risk of postoperative transfusion requirement (odds ratio [OR] 17.437; p  = 0.001), extended length of hospital stay more than 3 days (OR 1.564; p  = 0.038), and readmission (OR 2.515; p  < 0.001) were seen in patients with a bleeding disorder compared to those without a bleeding disorder. Conclusion  History of bleeding disorders is an independent risk factor for transfusions, extended length of stay, and readmission. We recommend a multidisciplinary team approach to addressing bleeding disorders before patients receive distal radius fracture open reduction internal fixation. Level of Evidence  Level III, retrospective study., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest S.A.T. reported consulting fees for Education consultant from OrthoPediatrics. And Committee member in the following organizations: AAOS, POSNA, AACPDM, and IAACD. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Objective measures of research influence are being increasingly utilized to evaluate and compare academic faculty. However, traditional bibliometrics, such as the Hirsch index and article citation count, are biased by time-dependent factors and are limited by a lack of field normalization. The relative citation ratio (RCR) is a new field- and time-normalized article-level metric developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)., Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the RCR among fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgeons and to analyze physician factors associated with RCR values. We hypothesized that the mean RCR score for fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgery faculty will fall above the NIH standard., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed using the iCite database for all fellowship-trained sports medicine surgery faculty associated with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs in December 2021. In eligible faculty, the mean RCR, weighted RCR, and total publication count were compared by sex, career duration, academic rank, and presence of additional degrees. A mean RCR value of 1.0 is the NIH-funded field-normalized standard. The data herein are presented as the median and interquartile range, in addition to the mean and standard deviation, to account for outliers of the mean and weighted RCR scores., Results: A total of 624 fellowship-trained sports medicine surgery faculty members from 160 orthopaedic surgery residency programs were included in the analysis. Overall, faculty produced impactful research, with a median RCR of 1.6 (interquartile range, 1.0-2.2) and a median weighted RCR of 19.3 (interquartile range, 5.1-69.3). Advanced academic rank and career longevity were associated with increased weighted RCR and total publication count. All subgroups analyzed had an RCR value >1.0., Conclusion: Study findings indicate that fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgery faculty are highly productive and produce impactful research, as evidenced by the high median RCR value relative to the benchmark NIH RCR value of 1.0., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: R.P. has received education payments from Arthrex. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the literature on pediatric shoulder arthroscopy and outline its indications, outcomes, and complications., Methods: This systematic review was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and OVID Medline were searched for studies reporting the indications, outcomes, or complications in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy under the age of 18 years. Reviews, case reports, and letters to the editor were excluded. Data extracted included surgical techniques, indications, preoperative and postoperative functional and radiographic outcomes, and complications. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool., Results: Eighteen studies, with a mean MINORS score of 11.4/16, were identified, including a total of 761 shoulders (754 patients). Weighted average age was 13.6 years (range, 0.83-18.8 years) with a mean follow-up time of 34.6 months (range, 6-115). As part of their inclusion criteria, 6 studies (230 patients) recruited patients with anterior shoulder instability and 3 studies recruited patients with posterior shoulder instability (80 patients). Other indications for shoulder arthroscopy included obstetric brachial plexus palsy (157 patients) and rotator cuff tears (30 patients). Studies reported a significant improvement in functional outcomes for arthroscopy indicated for shoulder instability and obstetric brachial plexus palsy. A significant improvement was also noted in radiographic outcomes and range of motion for obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients. The overall rate of complication ranged from 0% to 25%, with 2 studies reporting no complications. The most common complication was recurrent instability (38 patients of 228 [16.7%]). Fourteen of the 38 patients (36.8%) underwent reoperation., Conclusion: Among pediatric patients, shoulder arthroscopy was indicated most commonly for instability, followed by brachial plexus birth palsy, and partial rotator cuff tears. Its use resulted in good clinical and radiographic outcomes with limited complications., Level of Evidence: Systematic review of Level II to IV studies., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: The relative citation ratio (RCR), a novel National Institutes of Health-Supported measure of research productivity, allows for accurate interdisciplinary comparison of publication influence. This study evaluates the RCR of fellowship-trained adult reconstructive orthopaedic surgeons with the goal of analyzing potentially influential physician demographics., Methods: Adult Reconstruction Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellowship-trained faculty for orthopaedic residency programs were identified via departmental websites. The National Institutes of Health's iCite database was retrospectively reviewed for mean RCR, weighted RCR, and publication count by surgeon. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and analyses of variance testing to compare sex, career length, academic rank, and professional degrees in addition to an MD or DO. Significance was considered P < .05., Results: A total of 488 fellowship-trained adult reconstruction faculty from 144 programs were included in the analysis. Overall, the faculty recorded a median RCR of 1.65 (interquartile range: 1.01-2.28) and a median weighted RCR of 16.59 (interquartile range: 3.98-61.92). The weighted RCR and total number of publications were associated with academic rank and career longevity, while the mean RCR was associated with academic rank. The median RCR ranged from 1.12 to 1.87 for all subgroups., Conclusion: Adult reconstruction faculty are exceptionally productive and generate highly impactful studies as evidenced by the high median RCR value relative to the National Institutes of Health standard value of 1.0. Our data have important implications in the assessment of grant outcomes, promotion, and continued evaluation of research influence within the hip and knee community., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: With the expanded indications for telemedicine, there is increased utility for screening methods to determine which patients are likely to progress to surgical intervention, requiring in-person visits. Patient-rated tools such as the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) may be one such tool for screening patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether BCTQ scores were predictive of offering conservative treatment or surgical intervention for CTS., Methods: Patients diagnosed with CTS from January 2017 to February 2020 completed BCTQ questionnaires prior to in-person office visits. Demographics, comorbidities, and highest level of intervention recommended were recorded for each patient as conservative, injection, or surgery. Pearson χ 2 and independent-samples t tests were conducted to determine whether BCTQ symptom severity and functional scores were associated with intervention type., Results: A total of 200 patients with CTS were included. Of these, 103 were recommended conservative or injection treatment and 97 were recommended surgery. There were no differences in comorbidities between groups, including other upper extremity pathology ( P = .57), previous upper extremity surgery ( P = .32), hypertension ( P = .17), hypothyroidism ( P = .15), rheumatoid arthritis ( P = .34), and diabetes ( P = .30). Between these groups, there were no differences in BCTQ symptom severity score (symptom severity scale [SSS]; P = .16) or BCTQ functional severity score (functional severity scale [FSS]; P = .96)., Conclusions: There is no correlation between comorbidities and BCTQ SSS or FSS score, and offering surgery for CTS. In an era of minimizing non-essential health care visits, the BCTQ is insufficient in screening patients as potential surgical candidates.

Background: Professional baseball pitchers sustain 75% of knee injuries while at the pitcher's mound, yet no pitching motion has been associated directly with such injuries. Stride width is a potential, modifiable risk factor worth investigating., Hypothesis: Increased stride width in both the positive and negative directions (deviations from neutral stride width) would correlate with increased incidence of knee injury in pitchers., Study Design: Descriptive laboratory., Level of Evidence: Level 5., Methods: Professional pitchers (n = 199) were evaluated with motion capture (480 Hz) while pitching. Injury history over 10 years was recorded at face-to-face interviews with pitchers. Players were subsequently grouped into stride width tertiles, compared for previous injury incidence of the lower extremities. Regressions were performed to observe performance benefits of stride width with ball velocity, accuracy, or consistency in pitch location as secondary outcomes., Results: Of the 40 lower extremity injuries reported, meniscal injury (27.5%) was the most common, followed by foot stress fracture (20.0%). Significant differences in injury incidence were noted between the least and most positive stride width tertiles: lower extremity (10.4% vs 25.8%, respectively; P = 0.03), knee (3.0% vs 15.2%, respectively; P = 0.02), and meniscal (0.0% vs 12.1%; P = 0.00). Stride width of pitchers with meniscal injury in the lead (32.6 ± 7.1 cm, n = 5; P = 0.02) and stance leg (33.5 ± 10.6 cm, n = 5; P = 0.03) was significantly more positive than that of uninjured pitchers (21.1 ± 11.5 cm, n = 164). No significant relationships were established between stride width and ball velocity ( P = 0.54) or pitch location metrics ( P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Pitchers with increased positive, stride width had significantly higher incidence of lower extremity injury (knee and meniscus). Wider, positive stride width may increase the degree of external rotation on the lead knee in a loaded state, which can place the medial side of the knee (and meniscus) at higher risk of injury., Clinical Relevance: Decreasing stride width may be beneficial for professional pitchers to reduce the rate of lower extremity injury, while also preserving performance metric outcomes.

Background: Despite the rising incidence of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) among surgeons, little is known about the learning curve associated with these procedures. The purpose of this systematic review was to (1) identify the learning curves associated with ATSA and RTSA, (2) evaluate the effect of the learning curves on clinical outcomes, and (3) determine the number of cases needed to achieve proficiency., Methods: Four online databases [PubMed (NLM), MEDLINE (OVID), Cochrane Library (Wiley), and Scopus (Elsevier)] were systematically searched and screened according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The search included results from the inception of each database to May 18, 2022. Data regarding study characteristics, patient demographics, learning curve analyses, patient reported outcome measures, range of motion, complication rates, and reoperation rates were collected. A quality assessment for each article was performed according to the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies criteria., Results: A total of 13 studies of fair to good quality were included for analysis (one of level II evidence, five of level III, and seven of level IV) with the majority originating from the United States [n = 8, 61.5%]. Overall, there were a total of 3381 cases (1861 RTSA and 1520 ATSA), with a mean patient age of 72.6 years [range: 45-92 years]. From the studies analyzed in this systematic review, for RTSA, the approximate average number of cases surgeons need to perform to move to an acceptable position on the RTSA learning curve is 25 cases. For ATSA, a wider range of 16-86 cases was derived as only two studies reported on ATSA., Conclusion: Progression along the learning curve for RTSA and ATSA results in decreased operative times, improved patient-reported outcomes, and fewer complications. However, a true learning curve is difficult to quantify given the heterogeneity of reported outcome measures, individual surgeon experience at the time of data collection, and statistical analyses used across studies., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: Although ball velocity has often been associated with increased kinetics at the upper extremity and risk of injury in youth and adolescent pitchers, it is unclear if the performance metric pitch location consistency has any positive or negative associations with pitching kinetics., Methods: High school pitchers (n = 59) pitched 8-12 fastballs using 3D motion capture (480 Hz). Pitchers were divided into high-consistency (HiCon) and low-consistency (LoCon) groups based on the absolute center deviation of each pitcher's pitch to the center of the pitcher's mean pitch location. Ninety-five percent confidence ellipses with major and minor radii were constructed, and kinematics and kinetics were compared between groups., Results: Compared with LoCon pitchers, HiCon pitchers had decreased lead hip flexion at elbow extension (40° ± 12° vs. 52° ± 13°, respectively, P = .008), and at foot contact, decreased back hip extension (-1° ± 10° vs. -10° ± 13°, respectively, P = .038) and increased back hip internal rotation (9° ± 15° vs. -2° ± 15°, respectively, P = .043). LoCon pitchers achieved maximum lead hip flexion earlier in the pitch (61.3% ± 23.2% vs. 75.8% ± 15.1%, respectively, P = .039). A multiregression model predicted 0.49 of variance in pitch location consistency using kinematic inputs., Discusssion and Conclusion: Pitchers who differ in pitch location consistency outcomes do not appear to demonstrate physiologically unsafe kinematics. High school pitchers who strive for improved pitch consistency can consider adjusting parameters of hip kinematics during early portions of the pitch., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Prior orthopedic literature has found patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to be at an increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify whether there are any differences in risk for 30-day morbidity or mortality following ORIF for ankle fractures between adult patients with COPD and without COPD. Patients undergoing operative treatment for ankle fracture were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2018. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: non-COPD and COPD patients. In this analysis, demographics data, medical comorbidities, and thirty-day postoperative outcomes were analyzed between the 2 cohorts. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Of 10,346 total patients who underwent operative treatment for ankle fracture, 9986 patients (96.5%) did not have a history of COPD whereas 360 (3.5%) had COPD. Following adjustment to control for demographic and comorbidity data, relative to patients without COPD, those with COPD had an increased risk of pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] 4.601; p = .001), unplanned intubation (OR 3.085; p = .043), and hospital readmission (OR 1.828; p = .020). Patients with COPD did not have a statistically significant difference with regards to mortality (OR 2.729; p = .080). Adult patients with COPD are at an increased risk for pneumonia, unplanned intubation, and hospital readmission within 30 days following ORIF of ankle fractures compared to patients without COPD. Despite these risks, this is a relatively safe procedure for these patients and the presence of COPD alone should not serve as a barrier to surgery., (Copyright © 2022 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: As the indications for and the volume of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair increase, it is important to optimize perioperative care to minimize postoperative complications and health care costs., Purpose: We sought to investigate if the anesthesia type used affects the rate of postoperative complications in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from 2014 to 2018. Patients were divided into 3 cohorts: general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and combined general plus regional anesthesia. Bivariate and multivariate analyses with stepwise technique were performed on data related to patient demographics, smoking history, functional status, medical comorbidities (ie, bleeding disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dialysis), and postoperative outcomes within 30 days of discharge. To assess the independent risk factors for postoperative complications, demographics and medical comorbidities were included in the multivariate analyses for any variables that derived P values <.20., Results: Of 24,677 total patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, 15,661 (63.5%) had general anesthesia, 889 (3.6%) had regional anesthesia, and 8127 (32.9%) received combined general plus regional anesthesia. Patients who received general anesthesia rather than regional anesthesia were more frequently white (76.8% vs 74.8%, respectively) and had a medical history of hypertension (47.9% vs 41.8%, respectively), smoking (14.9% vs 12.4%, respectively), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.4% vs 1.6%, respectively). Compared with patients receiving general anesthesia, those receiving combined general plus regional were more likely to have higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class and a smoking history. Following adjustment, patients who underwent regional anesthesia had a decreased risk for postoperative admission compared with patients who had general anesthesia. Patients who underwent combined regional plus general anesthesia had decreased rates of wound complications and readmission compared with those who received general anesthesia., Conclusion: Among patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, this retrospective study found a significantly higher rate of respiratory and cardiac comorbidities with general anesthesia compared with regional anesthesia. When controlling for these confounders, the use of regional anesthesia was still associated with lower rates of postoperative readmission compared with the general and combined subgroups. Patients receiving combined general plus regional anesthesia had decreased rates of wound complications and readmittance compared with general anesthesia. These findings may influence anesthetic choice in minimizing postoperative complications for rotator cuff repairs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: Octogenarians are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality following various orthopaedic procedures, but this has not been explored among total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) patients. Thus, this study analyzed whether octogenarians undergoing TEA are at an increased risk of postoperative complications relative to the younger geriatric population., Methods: A national database was queried to identify TEA patients. Patients were stratified into an aged 65 to 79 cohort and an aged 80 to 89 cohort. Demographics, comorbidities, and complications were assessed, with the use of bivariate and multivariate analyzes., Results: In total, 390 patients underwent TEA, with 289 (74.1%) between the ages of 65 to 79 and 101 (25.9%) between the ages of 80 to 89. On bivariate analyzes, patients aged 80 to 89 were more likely to undergo postoperative transfusion ( p  = 0.001) compared to those aged 65 to 79. Following adjustment on multivariate analyzes, the aged 80 to 89 cohort no longer had an increased risk of postoperative transfusion. There were no differences in mortality, readmission, and reoperation between the two groups., Discussion: Age greater than 80 should not be used as an independent factor when evaluating whether a geriatric patient is an appropriate candidate for TEA., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: A growing number of patients use the internet to learn about their conditions and management options, but there may exist a disconnect between the readability of online education materials and a patient's health literacy. This issue is of particular relevance for shoulder conditions, where even with traumatic injuries (eg, clavicle fracture, shoulder dislocation), treatment is discretionary, directed primarily at quality of life, and therefore highly preference-sensitive.The purpose of this study was to utilize multiple readability algorithms to calculate the readability of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) patient education materials pertaining to diseases and conditions of the shoulder., Methods: Online patient education articles from the AAOS pertaining to diseases and conditions of the shoulder were reviewed. The articles were modified for analysis using Readability Pro and readability scores were computed using the following 9 algorithms: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Simple Measure of the Gobbledygook Index (SMOG), Automated Readability Index, FORCAST, and New Dale and Chall Index. A list of suggested word changes to improve the readability of included articles was compiled from Readable Pro. The average number of illustrations (images and/or videos) included per article was documented., Results: Twenty-eight articles were included for analysis. For each of the algorithms studied, the average scores were as follows: Flesch Kincaid Grade Level was 8.8 ± .8 [range, 7.2-10.2]; recommended score: ≤ 8.0, Flesch Reading Ease 54.3 ± 5.3 [range, 45.3-64.1]; recommended score: ≥ 60, Gunning Fog 10.8 ± 1.2 [range, 8.3-13.1]; recommended score: ≤ 8.0, Coleman-Liau 11.2 ± .9 [range, 9.2-12.9]; recommended score: ≤8.0, SMOG index 11.4 ± .8 [range, 9.2-12.9]; recommended score: ≤ 8.0 , Automated Readability Index 8.4 ± .8 [range, 6.9-10.0]; recommended score: ≤ 8.0, FORCAST 11.2 ± .4 [range, 10.2-12.0]; recommended score: ≤ 9.0, and New Dale and Chall Index 5.8 ± .5 [range, 4.9-7.2 recommended score: ≤ 6.0-6.9]. The average number of illustrations per article was 4.5 ± 3.1 [range, 1-14]., Conclusion: The readability of most patient education materials from the AAOS pertaining to diseases and conditions of the shoulder is higher than recommended across a variety of algorithms. Efforts to revise the readability of online education materials are important to facilitate shared decision-making, particularly in practice settings where most decisions are preference-sensitive., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Background: Open debridement (OD) of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon, both with and without repair to the lateral epicondyle, are effective treatments for recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis. However, few comparative studies exist within the literature., Purpose: To (1) compare the 5-year reoperation rates of patients who underwent OD alone versus OD with tendon repair (ODR) and (2) identify the 90-day adverse event rates, total same-day reimbursement amounts, and national usage trends for these 2 procedures from 2010 to 2019., Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3., Methods: The PearlDiver MUExtr database was reviewed for patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis who underwent OD alone and ODR or reattachment between January 2010 and December 2019. These patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: the OD cohort and ODR cohort. The 5-year reoperation rates were assessed and compared, and the incidence of 90-day postoperative complications and risk factors were identified. The number of ODs and ODRs performed each year and the mean same-day reimbursement amounts (in US$) for both procedures were assessed., Results: Overall, 41,932 lateral epicondylitis patients who underwent debridement were identified, with 17,139 OD patients and 24,793 ODR patients. There were no significant changes in the proportion of OD versus ODR procedures performed during the study period ( P = .18). A significantly higher incidence of hematoma was seen after OD compared with ODR (0.19% vs 0.12%; P = .04), but ODR had a significantly lower 5-year reoperation rate than OD (2.8% vs 3.9%; P = .006), with an absolute risk reduction of 1.1% and a number needed to treat of 91. Finally, ODR ($1683.17 ± $12.15) had a higher mean same-day reimbursement than OD ($1479.05 ± $15.78) ( P = .001)., Conclusion: Both OD and ODR had low complication rates. The 5-year reoperation rates were low for both procedures, but they were significantly higher for OD. Over the 10-year study period, there were no significant changes in the relative percentages of OD versus ODR performed. ODR had a significantly higher mean same-day reimbursement., Competing Interests: One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: A.E.J. has received education payments from Medwest. R.V. has received education payments from Mid-Atlantic Surgical Systems. A.D.N. has received grant support from Arthrex. T.A.B. has received consulting fees from Catalyst OrthoScience, Stryker, Wright Medical, and Zimmer Biomet; speaking fees from Wright Medical; and hospitality payments from Arthrex. D.W.A. has received consulting fees and royalties from Stryker and hospitality payments from Arthrex. L.V.G. has received education payments from Gotham Surgical; consulting fees from DePuy/Medical Device Business Services, Exactech, and Zimmer Biomet; speaking fees from Smith & Nephew; and royalties from Exactech. J.S.D. has received consulting fees from Arthrex, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Trice Medical; nonconsulting fees from Arthrex; and royalties from Arthrex and Linvatec. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: Although contralateral trunk tilt has been recognized, the phenomenon of excessive ipsilateral trunk tilt, often observed during earlier portions of the pitch, has not been explored as a potential correlate with throwing-arm kinetics among baseball pitchers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate kinetic and kinematic parameters among high school and professional pitchers related to excessive ipsilateral and contralateral trunk tilt., Methods: Professional and high school pitchers were assessed with a 3-dimensional motion capture system (480 Hz) while pitching. Pitchers were grouped as follows: excessive ipsilateral tilt at foot contact (FC), neutral, or excessive contralateral tilt at ball release (BR). Trunk and shoulder kinematics as well as throwing-arm kinetics were compared between subgroups via post hoc regression analysis., Results: Professional pitchers (n = 287) had significantly higher ipsilateral trunk tilt at FC (P < .001) than high school pitchers (n = 59). High school pitchers with excessive contralateral trunk tilt at BR experienced significantly higher shoulder superior force (27.0% ± 7.4% body weight [BW] vs. 17.6% ± 5.1% BW, P < .001) and shoulder anterior force (39.6% ± 8.2% BW vs. 35.7% ± 5.4% BW, P < .001) compared with the ipsilateral trunk tilt cohort but had comparable ball velocity (30.2 ± 3.2 m/s vs. 30.4 ± 2.1 m/s, P = .633). For professionals, for every 10° increase in ipsilateral trunk tilt at FC, ball velocity increased by 0.2 m/s (B = 0.02, β = 0.07, standard error [SE] = 0.005, P = .010) whereas elbow varus torque decreased by 0.1% BW × height (B = -0.01, β = -0.08, SE = 0.002, P < .001) and shoulder internal rotation torque decreased by 0.1% BW × height (B = -0.01, β = -0.07, SE = 0.002, P = .005)., Conclusion: High school and professional pitchers with excessive ipsilateral trunk tilt at FC consistently demonstrated significantly decreased throwing-arm kinetics (shoulder anterior force and shoulder superior force for high school pitchers and shoulder internal rotation torque and elbow varus torque for professional pitchers) compared with pitchers with excessive contralateral trunk tilt at BR, with equivalent ball velocity. In addition, professional pitchers appeared to engage in significantly greater ipsilateral trunk tilt during early portions of the pitch when compared with high school pitchers, which may represent a kinetically favorable method adopted by pitchers at higher playing levels to maintain adequate ball velocity while concomitantly minimizing throwing-arm kinetics., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)