Vlasak, Alexander

Introduction: Flipped classroom models, which use active, case-based discussion, have shown promise across graduate medical education. Previous literature demonstrates that transitioning to a flipped classroom model resulted in significant increases in overall Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) scores. This observational study retrospectively compares foot and ankle OITE scores for orthopaedic surgery residents before and after implementation of a flipped classroom curriculum. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed OITE scores for orthopaedic residents, comparing a lecture-based curriculum (n = 49) to a flipped classroom curriculum (n = 61). Residents who started their second year in July 2020 or later were defined as treated. The curriculum is given to the postgraduate year-2 (PGY2) residents only. Percentage of correct foot and ankle questions (F&A) were analyzed via mixed-effects models using random-subject intercepts. Fixed effects included PGY, overall performance on other sections, and flipped classroom status. All statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.4.1. Results: Residents in the flipped classroom cohort demonstrated a statistically significant increase in F&A questions answered correctly. The average increase was 7% (95% confidence interval: 4%, 10%; p < 0.001). This improvement trend became clearly visible in PGY3 and grew stronger in senior residents. Specifically, PGY3 residents improved their mean percentage correct from 62.26% to 66.07% (p = 0.16). PGY4 residents improved from 69.16% to 74.83% (p = 0.013), and PGY5 residents improved from 69.03% to 75.53% (p = 0.006). Historically, approximately 75% of traditional PGY5 residents scored lower on the F&A section than on the rest of the examination. Conversely, in the flipped classroom group, approximately 75% of PGY4 and PGY5 residents scored higher on the F&A section compared with other sections Discussion: The implementation of a flipped classroom model was associated with a statistically significant improvement in resident performance on the F&A section of the OITE. The educational benefits of this curriculum appear cumulative over the course of residency, with the most substantial performance gains realized by senior residents in their fourth and fifth years of training. Level of Evidence: Level III , Observational Study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) is a high-energy electromagnetic modality that delivers field strengths of 80–150 mT, effective transduction power > 60 kT/s, and dual-frequency architecture with pulse repetition near 8 Hz and oscillations of 100–300 kHz. This prospective pilot study evaluated pain and functional outcomes in patients with symptomatic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). Eight patients (13 feet; five bilateral and three unilateral cases) with radiographic Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade 3 or 4 midfoot OA received eight EMTT sessions over four weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline, after the eighth treatment at four weeks, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up using the 0–10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure—Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL). VAS demonstrated a significant overall effect of time (F(3,36) = 3.93, p = 0.016), with mean scores decreasing from 4.15 ± 1.63 at baseline to 2.62 ± 1.98 at 3 months and 3.00 ± 2.08 at 6 months. Bonferroni-adjusted baseline-to-follow-up contrasts approached significance at 3 months (p = 0.067) and were not significant at 6 months (p = 0.150). FAAM-ADL improved significantly over time (F(3,30) = 13.76, p < 0.001), increasing from 61.7% ± 9.9% at baseline to 81.8% ± 11.1% at 6 months. No treatment-related adverse events were observed; one participant proceeded to surgery by 6 months and was classified as a treatment failure. These preliminary findings suggest that EMTT is safe and may provide clinically meaningful functional improvement in selected patients with midfoot OA; larger sham-controlled trials are needed.

AbstractCervical radiculopathy from uncovertebral joint (UVJ) hypertrophy and nerve root compression often occurs anterior and lateral within the cervical intervertebral foramen, presenting a challenge for complete decompression through anterior cervical approaches owing to the intimate association with the vertebral artery and associated venous plexus. Complete uncinatectomy during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a controversial topic, many surgeons relying on indirect nerve root decompression from restoration of disc space height. However, in cases of severe UVJ hypertrophy, indirect decompression does not adequately address the underlying pathophysiology of anterolateral foraminal stenosis. Previous reports in the literature have described techniques involving extensive dissection of the cervical transverse process and lateral uncinate process (UP) in order to identify the vertebral artery for safe removal of the UP. Recent anatomical investigations have detailed the microanatomical organization of the fibroligamentous complex surrounding the UP and neurovascular structures. The use of the natural planes formed from the encapsulation of these connective tissue layers provides a safe passage for lateral UP dissection during anterior cervical approaches. This can be performed from within the disc space during ACDF to avoid extensive lateral dissection. In this article, we present our 10‐year experience using an anatomy‐based microsurgical technique for safe and complete removal of the UP during ACDF for cervical radiculopathy caused by UVJ hypertrophy.

AbstractIntroductionThree‐dimensional printing and virtual simulation both provide useful methods of patient‐specific anatomical modeling for assessing and validating surgical techniques. A combination of these two methods for evaluating the feasibility of spinal instrumentation techniques based on anatomical landmarks has not previously been investigated.Materials and MethodsNineteen anonymized CT scans of the thoracic spine in adult patients were acquired. Maximum pedicle width and height were recorded, and statistical analysis demonstrated normal distributions. The images were converted into standard tessellation language (STL) files, and the T12 vertebrae were anatomically segmented. The intersection of two diagonal lines drawn from the lateral and medial borders of the T12 transverse process (TP) to the lateral border of the pars and inferolateral portion of the TP was identified on both sides of each segmented vertebra. A virtual screw was created and insertion into the pedicle on each side was simulated using the proposed landmarks. The vertebral STL files were then 3D‐printed, and 38 pedicles were instrumented according to the individual posterior landmarks used in the virtual investigation.ResultsThere were no pedicle breaches using the proposed anatomical landmarks for insertion of T12 pedicle screws in the virtual simulation component. The technique was further validated by additive manufacturing of individual T12 vertebrae and demonstrated no breaches or model failures during live instrumentation using the proposed landmarks.ConclusionsEx vivo modeling through virtual simulation and 3D printing provides a powerful and cost‐effective means of replicating vital anatomical structures for investigation of complex surgical techniques.