Goulding, Krista A.

Case: We present a case report of a 64-year-old man who developed a rare Bipolaris species fungal periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after revision arthroplasty for complications associated with a metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty. The patient underwent a 2-stage debridement with antibiotic bead placement and implant retention, along with chronic antifungal suppression. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. Conclusion: Fungal PJI with filamentous fungi such as Bipolaris species is a rare clinical entity. This case report highlights the clinical presentation and management of this rare condition.

Background: While there has been much interest in the increased dislocation rate in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients with a lumbar spine fusion (LSF), there is minimal literature comparing the risk based on surgical approach. The purpose of this study was to determine if a direct anterior (DA) approach was protective against dislocation when compared to the anterolateral and posterior approaches in this high-risk patient population. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 6554 THAs performed at our institution from January 2011 to May 2021. 294 (4.5%) patients had a prior LSF and were included in the analysis. The surgical approach, timing of LSF in relation to THA, vertebral levels fused, timing of THA dislocation, and the need for revision surgery were recorded for statistical analysis. Results: In total, 39.7.3% of patients underwent a DA approach (n = 117), 25.9% underwent an anterolateral approach ( n = 76), and 34.3% underwent a posterior approach ( n = 101). There was no difference in number of vertebral levels fused between groups (mean 2.5, all p > 0.05). There was a total of 13 (4.4%) THA dislocation events, with an average time from surgery to dislocation of 5.6 months (0.3–30.5 months). There were fewer dislocations in the DA cohort (0.9%) in comparison to both the anterolateral (6.6%, p = 0.036) and posterior groups (6.9%, p = 0.026). Conclusions: The DA approach demonstrated a significantly lower THA dislocation rate compared to both the anterolateral and posterior approaches in patients with a concomitant LSF.

Surgical treatment of pelvic sarcoma involving the bone is the standard of care but is associated with several sequelae and reduced functional quality of life (QOL). Treatment with photon and proton radiotherapy is associated with relapse. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) may reduce both relapse rates and treatment sequelae. The PROSPER study is a tricontinental, nonrandomized, prospective, three-arm, pragmatic trial evaluating treatments of pelvic sarcoma involving the bone. Patients aged at least 15 years are eligible for inclusion. Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of two or less, newly diagnosed disease, and histopathologic confirmation of pelvic chordoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma with bone involvement, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with bone involvement, or non-RMS soft tissue sarcoma with bone involvement. Treatment arms include (1) CIRT (n = 30) delivered in Europe and Asia, (2) surgical treatment with or without adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 30), and (3) proton therapy (n = 30). Arms two and three will be conducted at Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. The primary end point is to compare the 1-year change in functional QOL between CIRT and surgical treatment. Additional comparisons among the three arms will be made between treatment sequelae, local control, and other QOL measures.

AbstractBackgroundInnovations in machined and three‐dimensionally (3D) printed implant technology have allowed for customized complex pelvic reconstructions. We sought to determine the survivorship of custom hemipelvis reconstruction using ilium‐only fixation at a minimum 2‐year follow‐up, their modes of failure, and the postoperative complications resulting from the procedure.MethodsA retrospective review identified 12 consecutive patients treated with custom hemipelvis reconstruction. Indications for surgery were bone tumor requiring internal hemipelvectomy (four patients) or multiply revised, failed hip arthroplasty with massive bone loss (eight patients). All patients had a minimum of 2‐year follow‐up with a mean of 60.5 months. Kaplan–Meier survivorship analysis was determined for all patients. Postoperative complications and reoperations were categorized for all patients.ResultsAt a mean of 60.5 months, 11 of 12 patients had retained their custom implant (92% survivorship). One implant was removed as a result of an acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). There were no cases of aseptic loosening. Seven of 12 patients required reoperation (three PJI; two dislocations; two superficial wound complications), with five patients going on to reoperation‐free survival.ConclusionsCustom hemipelvis reconstruction utilizing an ilium monoflange provides durable short‐term fixation at a minimum 2‐year follow‐up. Reoperation for infection and dislocation is common.

Abstract Background Orthopaedic surgery has the lowest proportion of women surgeons in practice of any specialty in the United States. Preliminary studies suggest that patients who are treated by physicians of the same race, ethnicity, cultural background, or gender feel more comfortable with their care and may have better outcomes. Therefore, understanding the discrepancies in the diversity of the orthopaedic surgeon workforce is crucial to addressing system-wide healthcare inequities. Questions/purposes (1) Does a difference exist in gender representation among practicing orthopaedic surgeons across geographic distributions and years in practice? (2) Does a difference exist in gender representation among practicing orthopaedic surgeons with regard to rural-urban setting, group practice size, and years in practice? Methods Orthopaedic surgeons serving Medicare patients in 2017 were identified in the Medicare Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File and Physician Compare national databases. This dataset encompasses more than 64% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons, providing a low proportion of missing data compared with other survey techniques. Group practice size, location, and Rural-urban Commuting Area scores were compared across physician gender and years in practice. Linear and logistic regressions modeled gender and outcomes relationships adjusted by years in practice. Least-square means estimates for outcomes were calculated by gender at the median years in practice (19 years) via regression models. Results According to the combined Medicare databases used, 5% (1019 of 19,221) of orthopaedic surgeons serving Medicare patients were women; this proportion increased with decreasing years in practice (R2 0.97; p < 0.001). Compared by region, the West region demonstrated the highest proportion of women orthopaedic surgeons overall (7% [259 of 3811]). The Midwest and South regions were below the national mean for proportions of women orthopaedic surgeons, both overall (5% [305 of 6666] and 5% [209 of 4146], respectively) and in the first 5 years of practice (9% [54 of 574] and 9% [74 of 817], respectively). Women worked in larger group practices than men (median [interquartile range] 118 physicians [20 to 636] versus median 56 [12 to 338]; p < 0.001, respectively). Both genders were more likely to practice in an urban setting, and when controlling for years in practice, there was no difference between men and women orthopaedic surgeons practicing in rural or urban settings (respectively, R2 = 0.0004 and 0.07; p = 0.89 and 0.09). Conclusion Among orthopaedic surgeons, there is only one woman for every 20 men caring for Medicare patients in the United States. Although gender representation is increasing longitudinally for women, it trails behind other surgical subspecialties substantially. Longitudinal mentoring programs, among other evidenced initiatives, should focus on the more pronounced underrepresentation identified in Midwestern/Southern regions and smaller group practices. Gender-based equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts should focus on recruitment strategies, and further research is needed to study how inclusion and diversity efforts among orthopaedic surgeons improves patient-centered care. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.