Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft‐tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents and accounts for 3% of all pediatric tumors. Subtypes include alveolar, spindle cell, embryonal, mixed‐type, pleomorphic, and rhabdomyosarcoma with ganglionic differentiation. The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for patients diagnosed with any type of rhabdomyosarcoma between 1973 and 2014. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and incidence were studied with χ2 analysis. Survival was modeled with Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the effect of age and gender on survival. Pleomorphic subtype had higher grade and larger sized tumors compared to other subtypes (p < 0.05). Pleomorphic and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma had the worst overall survival with a 26.6% and 28.9% 5‐year survival, respectively. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma had the highest 5‐year survival rate (73.9%). Tumor size was negatively correlated with survival months, indicating patients with larger tumors had shorter survival times (p < 0.05). Presence of higher‐grade tumors and metastatic disease at presentation were negatively correlated with survival months (p < 0.05). No significant differences in the survival were found between gender or race between all of the subtypes (p > 0.05). This study highlights key differences in the demographic and survival rates of the different types of rhabdomyosarcoma that can be used for more tailored patient counseling. We also demonstrate that large, population‐level databases provide sufficient data that can be used in the analysis of rare tumors. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2226–2230, 2019

Chondrosarcomas are rare tumors and, historically, investigation of these tumors has been limited to small series and single-institution studies. There have been no studies that evaluated the identification or comparison of differences in prognostic factors between the five known non-conventional chondrosarcoma subtypes (myxoid, juxtacortical, clear-cell, mesenchymal, and dedifferentiated). The purpose of this paper was to determine the demographic, clinical, incidence, and tumor characteristics of all five known non-conventional chondrosarcoma subtypes, determine the 1-, 5-year, and median survival differences between these subtypes, and to determine the demographic and clinical variables that are significant prognostic indicators for each chondrosarcoma subtypes. We retrospectively reviewed the SEER database for all patients with non-conventional chondrosarcoma. χ 2 testing was used for correlations between clinical variables. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to compare survival of the subtypes, and to assess the prognostic value of age group, race, sex, grade, anatomic location, and metastatic involvement. Several demographic characteristics including gender, race, age, and grade varied between chondrosarcoma subtypes. The tumor characteristics showed marked differences in presence of metastasis on presentation between the subtypes with increasing order of rate of metastasis with juxtacortical (2.1%), clear cell (5.7%), myxoid (7.6%), mesenchymal (10.6%), and the highest in dedifferentiated (19.8%). One-, 5-year, and median survival differed significantly between chondrosarcomas subtypes. The highest median survival was found in the juxtacortical subtype (97 months), followed by clear cell (79 months), myxoid (60 months), mesenchymal (33.5 months), and lowest in dedifferentiated (11 months). The only prognostic variable that was shown to significantly impact the survival of each non-conventional chondrosarcoma subtype was a metastatic disease at diagnosis (p = 0.03 to p < 0.001). Subtyping classification of chondrosarcoma should be made whenever possible, given differences in survival and prognostic factors between chondrosarcoma subtypes.

Objectives: Middle third clavicle fractures have long been managed conservatively with immobilization. Some patients, especially those with completely displaced or shortened clavicle fractures are now thought to have increased risk of nonunion or symptomatic malunion. The authors performed a meta-analysis to study the incidence of nonunion and symptomatic malunion and test the hypothesis that surgical fixation of these fractures significantly lowers the risk of these complications. Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental trials that compare outcomes of operative and nonoperative management for clavicle fractures that are fully (100%) displaced or have greater than 2 cm of shortening. Pooled patient data were used to construct forest plots for the meta-analysis. Results: Eleven studies including 497 patients who were treated and 457 patients treated conservatively were analyzed. Patients managed operatively had significantly lower relative risk of developing nonunion [0.17 (95% confidence interval 0.08–0.33)] and symptomatic malunion [0.13 (95% confidence interval 0.05–0.37)]. Plate fixation significantly reduced the risk of nonunion, but intramedullary nail fixation did not. There was no difference in Constant–Murley or DASH scores between the 2 treatment groups or in the rate of secondary operative procedures. Conclusions: Patients who undergo operative fixation of displaced middle-third clavicle fractures have a lower incidence of nonunion and symptomatic malunion. The clinical significance of this effect is uncertain, as functional scores were similar in both groups. Further research into the risk factors for nonunion and symptomatic malunion will be necessary to determine which patients benefit from operative fixation. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background Elderly and frail patients undergo open emergency colectomies and are at greater risk for complications. The relationship between frailty and open emergent colectomies is yet unexplored. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between frailty and outcomes after open emergent colorectal surgery. Design Using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database, a validated modified frailty index was used, along with logistic regression, to assess the relationship between frailty and outcomes. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes included mortality (primary), Clavien-Dindo Complication Grade >3, reintubation, ventilator >48 hours, and reoperation (secondary). Results The rates for 30-day mortality, Clavien-Dindo Grade >3, reintubation, ventilator > 48 hours, and reoperation in our cohort were 16.6%, 36.9%, 8.6%, 23.9%, and 15.0%, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in prevalence of all outcomes with increasing frailty. Limitations A causal relationship between frailty and complications cannot be established in a retrospective analysis. Also, extrapolation of our data to reflect outcomes beyond 30 days must be done with caution. Conclusions Frailty is a statistically significant predictor of mortality and morbidity after open emergent colectomies and can be used in an acute care setting.

Frailty in the elderly population is an important predictor of surgical outcomes. It has been quantified by several models, including the modified frailty index, which has demonstrated applicability in many surgical subspecialties. We aim to conduct the first decade-long retrospective analysis of frailty and complications between open and laparoscopic colectomy. We used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify colectomies performed between 2005 and 2014. Our primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were grouped into five categories: wound, hematologic, pulmonary, renal, or cardiac/vascular complications. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify significant predictors of outcomes. Of the 244,639 colectomies identified in our data set, 117,064 cases were included after exclusion criteria were applied. 42,192 (36%) cases were laparoscopic. Mortality rates among open colectomies in mFI cohorts 0, 1, 2, 3, and ≥ 4 were 1.2, 3.4, 7.9, 14.3, and 20.3%, respectively, while rates in laparoscopic colectomies 0.2, 0.7, 2, 3.5, and 5.4%, respectively (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed increase likelihood of mortality with open colectomies in all mFI cohorts (p < 0.05). The open approach also had statistically significant higher rates of secondary outcomes in nearly all frailty levels. Our study analyzed the relationship of frailty, approach to colectomy, and postoperative complications. Laparoscopic colectomies resulted in lower mortality rates as well as less wound, hematologic, pulmonary, renal, and cardiovascular complications.

Background Most closed clavicle fractures are treated nonoperatively. Research during the past decade has reported differences in the treatment of clavicle fractures based on insurance status in the US and may highlight unmet needs in a vulnerable population, particularly because new data show that surgery may lead to improved outcomes in select populations. Large-scale, national data are needed to better inform this debate. Questions/purposes (1) Does the likelihood of operative fixation of closed clavicle fractures vary among patients with different types of insurance? (2) What demographic and socioeconomic factors are associated with the likelihood of clavicle fracture surgery? (3) Has the proportion of operative fixation of clavicle fractures changed over time? Methods A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2001-2013 database was performed. This database is the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the US that provides pertinent socioeconomic data on a nationwide scale. Data were queried for patients with closed clavicle fractures using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic codes, and surgery was determined using ICD-9 procedural codes. A total of 252,109 patients were included in the final analysis after 158,619 patients were excluded because of missing demographic or insurance data, ambiguous fracture location, or age younger than 19 years. Of the 252,109 included patients, 21,638 (9%) underwent surgical fixation of clavicle fractures. A chi-square analysis was performed to determine variables to be included in a multivariable analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine demographic and other important variables, with a significance level of p < 0.01. Poisson’s regression and a t-test were used to analyze trends over time. Results were recorded as odds ratios (OR) and incidence rate ratios. Results After controlling for demographic and potentially relevant variables, such as the median income and fracture location, we found that patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and no insurance had a lower likelihood of undergoing operative fixation of clavicle fractures than did those with private insurance. Patients without insurance were the least likely to undergo surgery (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60-0.66; p < 0.001), followed by those with Medicare (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.70-0.78; p < 0.001) and those with Medicaid (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.69-0.78; p < 0.001). Women, black, and Hispanic patients were also less likely to undergo surgery than men and white patients (OR, 0.95; p = 0.003; OR = 0.67; p < 0.001; and OR = 0.82; p < 0.001, respectively) There was an increase in the overall proportion of patients undergoing surgery, from 5% in 2001 to 11% in 2013 (incidence rate ratio, 2.99; p < 0.001). Conclusions We believe that the greater use of surgery among adult patients with clavicle fractures who have private insurance than among those with nonprivate or no insurance—as well as among men and white patients compared with women and patients of color—may be a manifestation of important health care disparities in the inpatient population. This may be owing to variable access to care or a difference in the likelihood that a surgeon will offer surgery based on a patient’s insurance status. Because operative fixation of closed clavicle fractures increases in the adult population, future research should elucidate conscious and subconscious motivations of patients and surgeons to better inform the discussion of health care disparities in orthopaedics. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Despite the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), more than 20,000 revision TKA procedures are performed annually. In an effort to decrease failures due to loosening in the past, cementless fixation of TKA was suggested. The preliminary results of cementless fixation for TKA proved to be discouraging, with midterm results linking the use of uncemented components to early aseptic loosening. While cemented TKA has remained the gold standard fixation technique, the changing demographics of the average TKA patient have led some surgeons to revisit cementless fixation as an option.

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