Turner, Norman S.

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.

Background: Tibiotalar arthrodesis (TTA) is a common operation for end-stage ankle arthritis. Elevated body mass index (BMI) is believed to contribute to complications following TTA. Previous studies involved national registries or small, underpowered cohorts. This study aimed to determine the effects of elevated BMI on nonunion and complication rates following TTA with a large cohort from a single academic institution. Methods: A retrospective study identified 514 patients (527 ankles) who underwent primary TTA from 2005-2017. Mean age was 60 years. Patients were stratified by BMI according to the World Health Organization classification. A reference group of 203 patients (208 ankles) included normal weight or mildly overweight patients (BMI 18.5 to <30). Ankle radiographs were evaluated to determine union or nonunion. Other outcomes included revision TTA, reoperations, subsequent adjacent joint arthrodesis, infection, and readmission. Data were analyzed using Pearson χ 2 and odds ratios for categorical variables. Analysis of variance and Kaplan-Meier estimation assessed continuous variables and time-to-event outcomes, respectively. Mean follow-up was 34.3 months. Results: Obesity class III patients had elevated risk of complications compared with normal weight patients including nonunion (odds ratio [OR] 3.96, P = .002), revision (OR 3.69, P = .03), superficial infection (OR 9.36, P = .002), and readmission (OR 10.90, P = .01). Superficial infection rates were elevated in class I (OR 6.36, P = .007) and readmissions in class II (OR 9.98, P = .01). No differences were found in reoperation ( P = .448), symptomatic implant removal ( P = .805), adjacent joint arthrodesis ( P = .353), or deep infection ( P = .507) rates. Discussion: In this retrospective review after TTA, increased rates of nonunion, revision, superficial infection, and readmission were found in obesity class III patients, compared with the reference group of normal weight or mildly overweight patients. Superficial infection rates were likewise relatively elevated in class I and readmission rates in class II patients.

Background: Evidence-based, procedure-specific guidelines for prescribing opioids are urgently needed to optimize pain relief while minimizing excessive opioid prescribing and potential opioid diversion in our communities. A multidisciplinary panel at our institution recently developed procedure-specific guidelines for discharge opioid prescriptions for common orthopaedic surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative opioid prescription quantities, variability, and 30-day refill rates before and after implementation of the guidelines. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single academic institution from December 2016 to March 2018. Guidelines were implemented on August 1, 2017, with a recommended maximum opioid prescription quantity for 14 common orthopaedic procedures. Patients who underwent these 14 procedures during the period of December 2016 to May 2017 made up the pre-guideline cohort (n = 2,223), and patients who underwent these procedures from October 2017 to March 2018 made up the post-guideline cohort (n = 2,300). Opioid prescription quantities were reported as oral morphine equivalents (OME), with medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs). Four levels were established for recommended prescription maximums, ranging from 100 to 400 OME. Results: In the pre-guideline cohort, the median amount of prescribed opioids across all procedures was 600 OME (IQR, 390 to 863 OME), which decreased by 38% in the post-guideline period, to a median of 375 OME (IQR, 239 to 400 OME) in the post-guideline cohort (p < 0.001). The 30-day refill rate did not change significantly, from a rate of 24% in the pre-guideline cohort to 25% in the post-guideline cohort (p = 0.43). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that guideline implementation was the factor most strongly associated with prescriptions exceeding guideline maximums (odds ratio [OR] = 9.9; p < 0.001). Age groups of <80 years (OR = 2.0 to 2.4; p < 0.001) and males (OR = 1.2; p = 0.025) were also shown to have higher odds of exceeding guideline maximums. Conclusions: Procedure-specific guidelines are capable of substantially decreasing opioid prescription amounts and variability. Furthermore, the absence of change in refill rates suggests that pain control remains similar to pre-guideline prescribing practices. Evidence-based guidelines are a readily employable solution that can drive rapid change in practice and enhance the ability of orthopaedic surgeons to provide responsible pain management.

Background: The training process and practice of orthopaedic surgery is demanding and arduous. Accordingly, grit, self-control, and conscientiousness are desirable qualities in orthopaedic surgeons. Some established orthopaedists have expressed concern that the future generation of surgeons may not possess the same level of grit as their predecessors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of grit among attending orthopaedic surgeons, identify predictors of grit in orthopaedic surgeons, and compare grit scores between attending surgeons and orthopaedic residency applicants. We hypothesized that applicants would demonstrate lower grit and self-control scores but greater conscientiousness scores than attending surgeons. Methods: A total of 2,342 attending orthopaedic surgeons and 895 orthopaedic residency applicants from the 2016-2017 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were given surveys that quantified their grit, self-control, and conscientiousness. Demographic and career information also was collected. Results: Assessments were completed by 655 (28%) of 2,342 practicing orthopaedic surgeons and 455 (50.8%) of 895 orthopaedic residency applicants. The residency applicants demonstrated higher mean grit scores (4.12 of 5.0) than the attending orthopaedic surgeons (4.03) (p < 0.01). These average scores placed applicants and attending surgeons at the 70th and 65th percentile, respectively, when compared with the general population. There were no differences in self-control (p = 0.68) or conscientiousness (p = 0.93) between the 2 groups. Attending surgeons with more publications had increased grit (p < 0.01), self-control (p = 0.04), and conscientiousness (p = 0.01) scores. Attending surgeons who had been inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society as medical students demonstrated greater conscientiousness scores than those who were not members (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Orthopaedic residency applicants were at least as gritty, consistent in their interest, persevering in their efforts, and ambitious as currently practicing orthopaedic surgeons. Although these results may be encouraging and diverge from some preconceived perceptions of “millennials,” it is unclear if they will be predictive of career success in the next generation of orthopaedists.

Purpose The medical student performance evaluation (MSPE) summarizes a residency applicant’s academic performance. Despite attempts to improve standardized clerkship grading, concerns regarding grade inflation and variability at United States medical schools persist. This study’s aim was to describe current patterns of clerkship grading and applicant performance data provided in the MSPE. Method The authors evaluated Electronic Residency Application Service data submitted to a single institution for the 2016–2017 Match cycle. Clerkship grading characteristics regarding grading tiers, school rank, location, and size were obtained. Data regarding methods for summative comparisons such as key word utilization were also extracted. Descriptive statistics were generated, and generalized linear modeling was performed. Results Data were available for 137/140 (98%) MD-granting U.S. medical schools. Pass/fail grading was most commonly used during the preclinical years (47.4%). A 4-tier system was most common for clerkship grading (31%); however, 19 different grading schemes were identified. A median of 34% of students received the highest clerkship grade (range, 5%–97%). Students attending a top 20 medical school were more likely to receive the highest grade compared with those attending lower-rated schools (40% vs 32%, P < .001). Seventy-three percent of schools ranked students, most commonly using descriptive adjectives. Thirty-two different adjectives were used. Conclusions There is significant institutional variation in clinical grading practices and MSPE data. For core clerkships where most students received the highest grade, the ability to distinguish between applicants diminishes. A standardized approach to reporting clinical performance may allow for better comparison of residency applicants.

Background: Infection following Achilles tendon surgery is a devastating complication and can be difficult to treat and often leads to poor outcomes. A number of treatments have been described, but there is little information concerning outcomes of these treatments. Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of patients who have undergone treatment for an infected Achilles tendon after acute and chronic midsubstance repair. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for an infected Achilles tendon between 2000 and 2016. The mean follow-up time was 21 months (range, 2-68 months). All patients underwent extensive debridement of the tendon with removal of all infected tissue and foreign material. Soft tissue wound coverage was utilized for large wounds that were not amenable to primary or secondary closure. All patients received culture-specific intravenous (IV) antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks. Postoperatively, the extremity was immobilized in a splint followed by a cast until the wound was healed. The cast was then replaced with a walking boot and the patients were provided a physical therapy program. Functional outcomes were measured using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scale. Results: All wounds had healed at the time of last follow-up. Three patients (15%) required an unplanned return to the operating room for repeat debridement. All patients were able to walk without the use of a gait aid. Five patients (25%) required continued use of a boot or brace during ambulation. Fourteen patients participated in the FAAM ADL survey. There were 6 patients lost to follow-up. The average FAAM score was 87 (range, 71.4-100). At last follow-up, most patients reported their overall function as “normal” or “nearly normal.” Eradication of infection and satisfactory functional results can be attained after radical debridement, wound closure, and administration of culture-specific IV antibiotics. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increase in residency applications, little change in the information available for review prior to a face-to-face interview has occurred. Asynchronous or one way video interviews (OWVI) may offer a way to collect additional data on applicants. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of OWVI and to correlate OWVI performance with in-person interview scores. METHODS: Characteristics of successful residents were identified and OWVI questions were developed using medical student volunteers. Candidates who presented for in-person interviews during the 2016-17 season for OB/GYN (n= 45) and Orthopedic Surgery (n=98) were invited to participate in OWVI with 3 questions and a maximum of 3 minutes per question. Videos were reviewed and scored independently by 2 reviewers from the respective departments using a standardized 5-point scale. RESULTS: Forty-six (47%) Orthopedic and eleven (24%) OB/GYN applicants completed OWVI. The interviewer’s scores of OWVI were within one point of one another 84% of the time. High OWVI scores were correlated with higher in-person interview scores (r=0.26) and higher rank list placement (r=0.33). Sixty-two percent of the applicants were satisfied with the OWVI process. Most respondents wanted additional OWVI questions that would allow them to explain why they wanted to apply to a particular program. CONCLUSION: Asynchronous interviews enabled reviewers to differentiate applicants and their scores correlated with rank list placement and in person interview scores. The process was viewed by participants as a way to humanize their application and this may have potential to help screen applicants for residency.

Fractures of the calcaneus with associated locked dislocation of the posterior facet have been previously described. Two patients with a calcaneal fracture with a locked dislocation of a portion of the posterior facet were treated with minimally invasive open reduction and percutaneous screw fixation of the fragment with cannulated screws. Both patients had satisfactory reductions and healed the fractures without any soft-tissue complications. This technique can be a useful addition to the armamentarium of the surgeon treating these injuries, especially in the patient at high risk for wound complications.

Soft tissue sarcomas of the foot and ankle are common. Currently, there exist limited data on prognostic variables. The aim of this study was to review our institution’s experience with soft tissue sarcomas of the foot and ankle to identify factors affecting outcomes and survivorship. We reviewed the records of 62 foot and ankle soft tissue sarcomas treated with definitive surgery at our institution between 1992 and 2013. The cohort consisted of 35 males and 27 females with a mean age at diagnosis of 45 years and a mean follow-up of 7 years. The most common tumor subtype was synovial sarcoma (n = 16). The overall limb salvage rate was 53%. Local recurrence was observed in 9 patients and distant metastases in 15 patients. Tumor size ≥3 cm in maximal dimension was the greatest risk factor in mortality. Posttreatment complications occurred in 15 patients. Local recurrence and development of distant disease was relatively common following wide excision of a soft tissue sarcoma of the foot and ankle. Tumors that were ≥3 cm in maximal dimension were associated with a worse overall survival and patients with neoadjuvant radiation were at increased risk of complications. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Retrospective Case Series

Background: Ankle arthrodesis is considered to be a well-accepted technique for end-stage ankle arthritis. Our purpose was to evaluate outcomes of patients with bilateral ankle arthrodeses with attention to radiographic and functional outcomes. Methods: Medical records of 31 patients were reviewed from 1977 through 2007. All patients had 1 year of clinical follow-up after their contralateral ankle arthrodesis, with an average follow-up of 11.2 years following the initial arthrodesis. Pertinent patient demographics and information pertaining to the operative procedure, complications, and subsequent adjacent joint fusions was collected. Radiographs were reviewed for time to fusion and adjacent joint arthritis. Functional outcomes were measured using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle and Hindfoot scale. Results: Ten females and 21 males underwent bilateral ankle fusions at an average age of 57 years at the time of the initial fusion. The contralateral fusion occurred on average 3.1 years following the initial fusion. Radiographic fusion occurred 12 weeks following the initial fusion and 14 weeks following the contralateral fusion. There was a significant increase ( P = .0001) in the average AOFAS score postoperatively in both ankles. The average FAAM score at last follow-up was 70. Adjacent joint arthritis developed in the majority of patients; however, most of the patients were free from adjacent fusions and reported their function as “normal” or “nearly normal” at last follow-up. Conclusion: Bilateral ankle arthrodesis was an acceptable treatment option for patients with bilateral, end-stage ankle arthritis. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.