Dustin H Massel

BACKGROUND: No studies have examined the impact of body mass index (BMI) on newer Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar decompression (LD). METHODS: Patients undergoing LD with preoperative PROMIS measures were stratified into four cohorts: normal (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 ), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 ), obese I (30 ≤ BMI < 35 kg/m2 ), and obese II-III (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 )...

BACKGROUND: There is a scarcity of literature that examines clinical outcomes through patient-reported outcomes (PROs), minimum clinically important difference (MCID), and recovery ratios (RR) for workers' compensation (WC) recipients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) versus anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). METHODS: WC claimants undergoing MIS-TLIF versus ALIF were propensity score matched to account for demographic differences...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the influence of preoperative symptom duration on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for degenerative conditions. METHODS: Patients undergoing LLIF presenting with radiculopathy and/or neurogenic claudication were separated into two groups: preoperative symptom duration < 1-year (shorter duration) versus duration ≥ 1-year (longer duration). Patients undergoing surgery for trauma/malignancy/infection were excluded...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the influence of preoperative disability through the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). METHODS: Patients undergoing ALIF were separated into two groups based on ODI<41 (lower disability) versus ODI≥41% (higher disability). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected at preoperative and postoperative 6-week/12-week/6-month/1-year/2-year time points...

BACKGROUND: In the Spring of 2020, residency programs across the country experienced rapid and drastic changes to their application process as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In response, residency programs shifted to virtual events and began harnessing social media to communicate with applicants. AIM: To analyze the changes in social media usage by orthopaedic surgery programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Based on the 2019 residency and fellowship electronic database, accredited US orthopaedic surgery programs were reviewed for social media presence on Instagram and Twitter...

Introduction: The direct anterior approach (DAA) has garnered a lot of attention and surgical popularity for total hip arthroplasty in recent years. Some of the postulated advantages for the increase in popularity of this approach include better pain control and earlier recovery in the immediate postoperative period. The amount of literature available on this topic has rapidly increased over the last 10 years requiring the need for an updated guide to best navigate the topic. Methods: The ISI Web of Knowledge database was used to search for research articles regarding the DAA surgical technique...

Introduction  Recent efforts to standardize reporting of surgeon experience in novel technique publications have recommended reporting of Tang level of expertise (LOE). Question/Purpose  The aim of this study was to document trends in LOE reporting for novel technique articles published in the Journal of Wrist Surgery and evaluate whether author experience affects novel research outcomes. Methods  A total of 261 articles published from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. Articles describing novel surgical techniques were included and examined for Tang LOE...

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CASE: We report a case of a 68-year-old woman who developed left shoulder glenohumeral joint septic arthritis within 1 week of receiving the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. CONCLUSION: Common vaccine complications include injection site pain, fever, chills, arthralgia, and hypersensitivity reactions. A less common and more serious complication of septic arthritis has been reported and requires invasive treatment of surgical irrigation and debridement, and culture-specific parenteral antibiotic therapy...

BACKGROUND: Preoperative depression is associated with increased perioperative pain, worse physical function, reduced quality of life, and inferior outcomes. Few studies have evaluated depressive symptoms between genders for individuals undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). The purpose of this investigation was to assess the severity of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores among patients with depressive symptoms before and after single-level MIS TLIF...

The purpose of the current brief communication is to establish a discussion regarding level of expertise (LOE) documentation in future arthroplasty clinical studies and to document the trend in adoption of LOE among arthroplasty publications to date. A review of Arthroplasty Today, Journal of Arthroplasty ( JOA ), Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery ( JBJS ), and International Orthopedics ( IO ) databases for original studies published between April 2016 and July 2020 was performed. A total of 105 articles were identified and evaluated in Arthroplasty Today , 1011 in JOA , 127 in JBJS , and 383 in IO ...

PURPOSE: As more patients undergo lumbar spine surgery, novel interventions may improve physical and mental health outcomes. Few studies summarize the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) among lumbar spine surgery patients. This study collects randomized control trial data to investigate the influence of CBT on patient reported outcomes among lumbar spine surgery patients. METHODS: Our study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and a medical library expert assisted in searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar...

BACKGROUND: As minimally invasive spine surgery becomes more widespread, concerns regarding radiation exposure to surgeons and patients alike has become a growing concern. Robotic-guidance has been developed as way to increase accuracy of instrumentation while decreasing radiation burden. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a large, multi-center, prospective study comparing robotic- to fluoroscopic-guidance (MISReFRESH) was performed to evaluate for differences in radiation exposure between study groups...

BACKGROUND: Improvement in patient-reported outcomes after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is poorly defined. As such, the purpose of this study was to quantify improvements in Visual Analogue Scale back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Short Form-12 (SF-12) Mental and Physical Composite scores following MIS-TLIF. METHODS: A surgical registry of patients who underwent primary 1-level MIS-TLIF during 2014-2015 was reviewed...

BACKGROUND: Hallux valgus is one of the most common surgically corrected forefoot deformities. Compared to open procedures, minimally invasive (MIS) treatment of hallux valgus has resulted in decreased operative time, reduced complication rates, and greater patient satisfaction. Historically, distal chevron osteotomies are the standard for moderate hallux valgus correction. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated biomechanical strength of transverse and chevron distal first metatarsal osteotomy (DMO) constructs...

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate depressive symptoms as measured by the PHQ-9 survey and correlated them with scores from the SF-12 and VR-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: With the rising incidence of depression and the need to identify modifiable risk factors before surgery, it is increasingly important to screen for preoperative depressive symptoms in spine surgery...

In this review, we discuss the demonstrated value of vitamin D in bone maintenance, fracture resistance, spinal health, and spine surgery outcomes. Despite this, the effect of vitamin D levels in spine surgery has not been well described. Through this review of literature, several conclusions were drawn. First, despite the fact that a high number of spine surgery patients are vitamin D deficient, screening is not commonly performed. Second, adequate vitamin D levels will not be achieved in a majority of these patients without supplementation...

Orthopaedic residency training has and will continue to evolve with a wide variety of changes. Hands-on surgical simulation "boot camps," computerized simulation of surgical process, and even virtual reality simulators, all can help trainees acquire surgical experience without compromising patient care. Low-cost training modules help remedy the rising costs associated with teaching complex orthopaedic surgery skills. Motion tracking and checklists help refine standardization of assessment. As technology and healthcare systems continue to grow, we encourage training programs to keep pace by considering engagement of these tools...

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the trend in documentation of surgeon level of expertise among the Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume) and the Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) publications. A review of Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume) and Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) databases for level of expertise between January 2015 and October 2019 was performed. Of 1042 articles identified, all 115 (20%) reporting level of expertise were published in Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ...

OBJECTIVE: While the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedure may be amenable to ambulatory surgery, it has been hypothesized that limitations such as the risk of postoperative ileus and vascular complications have hindered transition of this procedure to the outpatient setting. Identification of independent risk factors predisposing patients to inpatient stays of ≥ 24 hours after ALIF may facilitate better postsurgical outcomes, target modifiable risk factors, and assist in the development of screening tools to transition appropriate patients to the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting for this procedure...