Abstract

The objective of this study was to quantify the burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on the Ontario health care system. Specifically, we examined the magnitude and costs of MSD-associated ambulatory physician care and hospital service use, considering different physician types (e.g. primary care, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons) and hospital settings (e.g. emergency department (ED), day surgery, inpatient hospitalizations).

Administrative health data were analyzed for fiscal year 2013/14 for adults aged 18+ years (N=10,841,302). Data sources included: Ontario Health Insurance Plan Claims History Database, which captures data on in- and out-patient physician services, Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Discharge Abstract Database, which records diagnoses and procedures associated with all inpatient hospitalizations, and CIHI National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, which captures data on all emergency department (ED) and day surgery encounters. Services associated with MSDs were identified using the single three digit International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 9 diagnosis code provided on each physician service claim for outpatient physician visits and the “most responsible” ICD-10 diagnosis code recorded for hospitalizations, ED visits and day surgeries. Patient visit rates and numbers of patients and visits were tabulated according to care setting, patient age and sex, and physician specialty. Direct medical costs were estimated by care setting. Data were examined for all MSDs combined as well as specific diagnostic groupings, including a comprehensive list of both trauma and non-trauma related conditions.

Overall, 3.1 million adult Ontarians (28.5%) made 8 million outpatient physician visits associated with MSDs in 2013/14. These included 5.6 million primary care visits, nearly 15% of all adult primary care visits in the province. MSDs accounted for 560,000, 12.3%, of all adult ED visits. Patient visit rates to the ED for non-trauma spinal conditions were the highest of all MSDs at 1032 per 100,000 population, accounting for 23% of all MSD-related ED visits. Osteoarthritis had the highest rate of inpatient hospitalization of all MSDs at 340 per 100,000 population, accounting for 42% of all MSD-related admissions. Total costs for MSD-related care were $1.6 billion, with 12.6% of costs attributed to primary care, 9.2% to specialist care, 8.6% to ED care, and 61.2% of total costs associated with inpatient hospitalizations. Costs due to ‘arthritis and related conditions’ as a group accounted for 40.1% of total MSD costs ($966 million). Costs due to non-trauma related spinal conditions accounted for 10.5% ($168 million) of total MSD costs. All trauma-related conditions (spine and non-spine combined) were responsible for 39.4% ($627 million) of total MSD costs. MSD-related imaging costs for patients who made physician visits for MSDs were $169 million. Including these costs yields a total of $1.8 billion.

MSDs place a significant and costly burden on the health care system. As the population ages, it will be essential that health system planning takes into account the large and escalating demand for MSD care, both in terms of health human resources planning and the implementation of more clinically and cost effective models of care, to reduce both the individual and population burden.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of common mental disorders in patients undergoing complex limb reconstruction.

Patients undergoing limb reconstruction are vulnerable to mental health problem as they must adapt to significant and prolonged physical disability. Treatment emphasis has been on restoration and rehabilitation of physical health with little or no attention given to spectrum of psychological consequences. IMPARTS (Integrating Mental and Physical healthcare: Research, Training and Services) is a King's Health Partners initiative aiming to develop informatics to improve detection and management of common mental disorders in medical settings. IMPARTS screening in the King's College Hospital limb reconstruction clinic commenced in April 2012.

Outpatients attending between April 2012 and November 2013 were screened prior to their appointment. Patients were screened for symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol dependence and drug use.

In total, 298 individual patients were screened. The prevalence of depression was found to be 21.8%, with 6.4% experiencing suicidal thoughts. Probable anxiety disorder was identified in 20.7% of patients. Symptoms of PTSD were reported by 29.2%, with 9.0% reporting severe symptoms. Probable alcohol dependence was identified in 2.7% of patients, and 3.0% screened positive for drug misuse.

The consequences of undergoing limb reconstruction stretch beyond the physical problem to mental well-being, rendering patients vulnerable to mental health problems and substance misuse. Early detection and management of such problems may have a significant effect on physical treatment outcome and rehabilitation to productive social life. There is urgent need to integrate mental health care as part of early management of severely injured patients.

Aims. Disorders of bone integrity carry a high global disease burden, frequently requiring intervention, but there is a paucity of methods capable of noninvasive real-time assessment. Here we show that miniaturized handheld near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) scans, operated via a smartphone, can assess structural human bone properties in under three seconds. Methods. A hand-held NIR spectrometer was used to scan bone samples from 20 patients and predict: bone volume fraction (BV/TV); and trabecular (Tb) and cortical (Ct) thickness (Th), porosity (Po), and spacing (Sp). Results. NIRS scans on both the inner (trabecular) surface or outer (cortical) surface accurately identified variations in bone collagen, water, mineral, and fat content, which then accurately predicted bone volume fraction (BV/TV, inner R. 2. = 0.91, outer R. 2. = 0.83), thickness (Tb.Th, inner R. 2. = 0.9, outer R. 2. = 0.79), and cortical thickness (Ct.Th, inner and outer both R. 2. = 0.90). NIRS scans also had 100% classification accuracy in grading the quartile of bone thickness and quality. Conclusion. We believe this is a fundamental step forward in creating an instrument capable of intraoperative real-time use. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(4):250–261

Disorders of human joints manifest during dynamic movement, yet no objective tools are widely available for clinicians to assess or diagnose abnormal joint motion during functional activity. Machine learning tools have supported advances in many applications for image interpretation and understanding and have the potential to enable clinically and economically practical methods for objective assessment of human joint mechanics. We performed a study using convolutional neural networks to autonomously segment radiographic images of knee replacements and to determine the potential for autonomous measurement of knee kinematics. The autonomously segmented images provided superior kinematic measurements for both femur and tibia implant components. We believe this is an encouraging first step towards realization of a completely autonomous capability to accurately quantify dynamic joint motion using a clinically and economically practical methodology

There are two types of pain, mechanical and non-mechanical. Mechanical pain hurts with movement/use, is not constant and is helped by morphine-type products. Non-mechanical pain is different. It is present 24 hours a day, often worse at night, and except for the pain of infection, is not relieved by morphine-type products. If the cause of mechanical pain can be determined, it can be corrected by an operation. The usual cause of postoperative mechanical knee pain nowadays is multifactorial, i.e. a combination of minor errors, none of which on their own would require revision. Non-mechanical pain, other than infection, is much more difficult to handle. The commonest cause is not really a pain complaint, it is disappointment due to a failure of expectation. It does not matter how often you tell patients, some patients still think they should step in a drive away. A lot of these failures of expectations become much more realistic by the end of year one. There are several other categories. Incipient osteoarthritis or sensitive people (The Princess and the Pea). If the pain complaints were severe with minimal arthritis, an operation is not likely to help. The patient on disability for no clear reason is unlikely to get a good result and Workmen's Compensation Board and motor vehicle accident patients are also a very bad prognostic sign and will often produce the postoperative painful knee. Preoperative use of large doses of morphine is also a very bad sign. It is not clear if it is the morphine, which influences the patient or the patient, who influences the morphine. There are several pain syndromes, some of which are purely psychiatric such as Conversion Disorders and Somatoform Pain Disorders. Treatment of purely psychiatric conditions should be a referral to a psychiatrist is in order. Complex regional pain syndrome is an organic pain disorder. Type 2 is causalgia or an actual nerve injury. This is unusual following knee replacement other than the odd drop foot, which even after recovery, leaves an area of dysaethesia on the dorsum of the foot. Type 1 used to be called reflex sympathetic dystrophy. This is not uncommon after total knee replacement. I managed to collect more than 40 cases. One problem is that the diagnosis to some extent is a diagnosis of exclusion. If the diagnosis can be made, then treatment is available including Cymbalta, Lyrica or Gabapentin. I have found most success with lumbar sympathetic blocks, but it is difficult to find someone, who can do these. Some patients have been treated with implantable electrical spinal stimulators with variable results. The current flavour of the month pain syndrome is called central sensitization. The theory is that if someone has pain for more than six months, then there will be changes in the brain, which will remain after the original pain goes away, hence, the title the pain in the brain syndrome. If this theory were correct, then we as arthroplasty surgeons have been collectively wasting our time for the last 40 years as no patient would have recovered. The likelihood, therefore, of this theory having any basis in reality is pretty remote. Fortunately, by the end of year one, the vast majority of our knee replacement patients are reasonably content with the procedure

Introduction. The combination of spinal fusion and THP is not exceptional. Disorders of the pelvic tilt and stiffness of the lumbosacral junction modify the adaptation options while standing or sitting. Adjusting the cup can be difficult and THP instability is a potential risk. This study reports an experience with EOS® simultaneous measurements on AP and lateral views of spine and hips in THP patients. Material and methods. 29 men and 45 women were included in this prospective study. 21cases had bilateral THP. Patients were separated into two groups: long fusions including the thoraco-lumbar junction (group 1) and shorter fusions below L1 (group 2). We analyzed the impact of the arthrodesis on the position of the pelvis by measuring variations of the sacral slope (SS) and APP angle. Cup position was defined by coronal inclination and functional anteversion in the horizontal plane standing and sitting. We compared the data to a previous series of 150 THP patients with asymptomatic and non fused spine. Results. Table1 reports the results of the fusion series. The overall analysis of all patients demonstrates that the values for the cup functional anteversion and coronal inclination are statistically different when comparing standing to sitting (respectively p <0.01and p <0.001). The same results are obtained for SS and APP. This difference is not significant for group 1 patients. The mean range of variation for cup anteversion and inclination is 5° and 7° in the fused cases. Table 2 reports the results of the non fusion series. SS, APP and cup orientation values are statistically significant between standing and sitting. All of the values are statistically different when compared to the fused patients. The mean range of variation for cup anteversion and inclination is 11,6° and 10°. Discussion. The population of THP patients is characterized by pelvic retroversion and a significant reduction of sagittal pelvic mobility when compared to young asymptomatic individuals. Patients combining THP and spine fusion showed significant reduction of adaptation possibilities due to low variations for SS and cup orientation angles. Conclusion. This preliminary study shows the importance of planning THP taking into account not only the orientation of the spine but also its mobility for adaptation in standing and sitting positions. This is a key issue because of the growing number of elderly THP patients whose spine is degenerative or fused. A particular attention must be drawn to the cases with long fusions. The interest of a global vision of the hip-spine relationship is evident in the prevention or in management of dislocations and subluxations, and especially for the indications of dual-mobility prostheses. To view tables/figures, please contact authors directly

Introduction. Hip Arthrodesis had been considered as a useful surgical option in young adult patient with high activity demands suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip. Although the procedure surely eliminates pain of the hip joint, it can also cause disorders of the adjacent joints in addition to the complete loss of motion, might consequently deteriorate the activity of daily living. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and drawback of hip arthrodesis, focusing on the effect of this procedure on the adjacent joints. Materials and Methods. From 1976 to 1989, 29 hip arthrodesis were performed and 22 hips were followed up (1 died, 6 lost). Disorders led to arthrodesis were septic arthritis (1 hip), post-traumatic (1), osteonecrosis (1), primary osteoarthritis (3), and secondary osteoarthritis due to DDH (16). The average age at surgery was 38 years (range, 19–53 years, 6 men and 16 women). Hip arthrodesis was indicated for young active adults with end stage osteoarthritis, who had normal or mild osteoarthritis in contralateral hip and needed physical labor. The hip was positioned in 30 degrees of flexion, 0 to 5 degree of external rotation, and 0 to 5 degree of abduction. Clinical and radiographic assessment was done for these patients. The clinical follow-up consisted of questionnaire which assessed ability of typical Japanese daily living movement and patient's satisfaction. The condition of the adjacent joints was evaluated clinically and radiographically. Results. After an average follow-up of 22 years (range15-28), no patients complained of pain in the fused hip joint. On the other hand, pain in the adjacent joints was seen frequently. Seventeen (77%) of 22 patients had low back pain and one of these patients, who had severe low back pain, required conversion of arthrodesis to THA. Ten patients (45%) had contralateral hip pain and 8 (36%) of whom subsequently needed THA. All patients who required THA had early stage osteoarthritis when they underwent arthrodesis. Ten patients (45%) had knee pain (5 in the ipsilateral and 5 in the contralateral knee). Radiographic progression of osteoarthritis in adjacent joints was also seen frequently, namely, 9 in lumbar spine, 11 in contralateral hip, 6 in ipsilateral and 6 in contralateral knee. Although pain in the involved hip disappeared, activity of daily living was severely deteriorated (impossible to clip nail: 88%, ride a bicycle: 94%, use a Japanese toilet: 75%, sit in Japanese style: 50%). As a result, only 4 patients (18%) were satisfied with the hip arthrodesis. Discussion. The satisfaction of hip arthrodesis was unexpectedly poor despite of pain relief of involved hip joint. One of essential reasons was activity of daily living in Japanese style, which requires relatively deep flexion in hip and knee. Compensation of limited movement in hip might cause pain and progression of osteoarthritic change in adjacent joints. Another vital reason was that we indicated this procedure for bilateral DDH case whose contralateral hip had early stage osteoarthritis, ended up with THA in most cases

Aims

Healthcare systems have been rapidly restructured to meet COVID-19 demand. Clinicians are working to novel clinical guidelines, treating new patient cohorts and working in unfamiliar environments. Trauma and orthopaedics (T&O) has experienced cancellation of routine clinics and operating, with redistribution of the workload and human resources. To date, no studies have evaluated the mental health impact of these changes on the T&O workforce. We report the results of a novel survey on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of our orthopaedic workforce and the contributory factors.

The poor reporting and use of statistical methods in orthopaedic papers has been widely discussed by both clinicians and statisticians. A detailed review of research published in general orthopaedic journals was undertaken to assess the quality of experimental design, statistical analysis and reporting. A representative sample of 100 papers was assessed for compliance to CONSORT and STROBE guidelines and the quality of the statistical reporting was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Overall compliance with CONSORT and STROBE guidelines in our study was 59% and 58% respectively, with very few papers fulfilling all criteria. In 37% of papers patient numbers were inadequately reported; 20% of papers introduced new statistical methods in the ‘results’ section not previously reported in the ‘methods’ section, and 23% of papers reported no measurement of error with the main outcome measure. Taken together, these issues indicate a general lack of statistical rigour and are consistent with similar reviews undertaken in a number of other scientific and clinical research disciplines. It is imperative that the orthopaedic research community strives to improve the quality of reporting; a failure to do so could seriously limit the development of future research.