Current Procedural Terminology Codes Research Articles

Blood loss during three column osteotomies: influence on outcomes and mitigation strategies.

Three column osteotomies (3CO) are a powerful tool for the correction of rigid sagittal spinal deformities. However, 3CO surgeries are technically demanding procedures that are associated with prolonged operative times, large amounts of intraoperative blood loss, and high rates of post-operative neurological and medical complications. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study is to delineate the effects of blood loss, blood transfusion, and tranexamic acid use on perioperative outcomes following 3CO. Patients undergoing 3CO between 2014 and 2021 were identified using current procedural terminology (CPT) codes, and charts were reviewed for demographics, surgical characteristics, and post-operative length of stay (LOS). Statistical analysis included T-tests for continuous characteristics and χ2 testing for categorical characteristics. Regression models were used to further investigate relationships between outcomes and variables of interest. Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Increased intensive care unit (ICU) LOS was positively correlated with increased operative length (P=0.02), percent estimated blood volume (EBV) lost (P=0.02), and number of units of red blood cell transfusion (P<0.001). Increased hospital LOS was associated with increased number of intraoperative blood transfusions (P=0.01). Linear regression analyses controlling for age, gender, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class showed that each 21% increase in EBV loss was associated with a one day increase in ICU LOS (P=0.01). Similarly, each additional unit of packed red blood cells transfused was associated with 0.728 day increase in hospital LOS. Increased intraoperative blood loss was associated with longer ICU stays. Red blood cell transfusions were also associated with increased hospital and ICU LOS. No variables of interest related to intraoperative blood loss or blood transfusion were associated with readmission or reoperation at any time point. These findings highlight the need for continued focus on surgical techniques and adjuncts that can minimize blood loss and transfusion requirements.

Diabetes screening among women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a descriptive study of commercial claims, 2011–2019

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects 6–12% of United States women of reproductive age. Because women with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, clinical practice guidelines from a number of organizations (e.g. American Diabetes Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, US Preventive Services Task Force) recommend that individuals with PCOS are routinely screened for diabetes. Guidelines further indicate that an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) should be used for diabetes screening in women with PCOS as opposed to an A1C or fasting plasma glucose test. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to estimate rates of diabetes screening among a nationwide sample of commercially insured women with PCOS and 2) to report the percentage of women screened using each test (OGTT, A1C, fasting plasma glucose) among those who were screened.MethodsWe used the MarketScan Commercial Claims database (2011–2019) to identify a sample of women aged 18–64 years with PCOS who were free from diabetes at baseline and had ≥ 5 years of continuous enrollment in their insurance plan. PCOS was ascertained using International Classification of Disease diagnosis codes (ICD-9: 256.4; ICD-10: E28.2). Diabetes screening was ascertained using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes (A1C: 8303683037; Fasting blood sugar: 82947; OGTT: 82950). Diabetes screening rates were calculated for the overall study sample as well as across subgroups defined by age, overweight/obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and vascular disease.ResultsIn our sample of 191,110 commercially insured women with PCOS, 73.40% were screened at least once for diabetes during a five-year period. Among the women screened, 19.24% were screened using the Androgen Excess Society (AES)-recommended OGTT, 61.58% were screened using A1C, and 23.37% were screened using fasting blood sugar.ConclusionsIn a sample of commercially insured individuals spanning the timeframe 2011–2019, nearly 75% of women with PCOS complied with the ACOG screening guidelines for diabetes. Although OGTT is recommended as the preferred screening tool for women with PCOS it was less commonly used than A1C and fasting blood sugar tests.

Ranking the Orthopedic Procedures With the Highest Morbidity and Mortality.

Musculoskeletal conditions currently affect more than one-third of the US population and orthopedic procedures play a pivotal role in managing them. Like any invasive intervention, these carry a wide spectrum of risk, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the associated morbidity and mortality. This study sought to provide a global perspective of the risks and complications associated with these procedures to establish an easy to understand risk stratification tool for both patients and providers. Current Procedural Terminology codes associated with orthopedic surgery were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2018 to 2020. Each code was associated with its rate of 30-day mortality as well as any adverse event (AAE) and then ranked for descriptive analysis. In total, there were 698,549 patients who underwent orthopedic procedures associated with 94 CPT codes with at least 1 morbidity event and 144 CPT codes with at least 1 AAE. The CPT code associated with the highest mortality was 27590 or above knee amputation. The CPT code associated with the highest rate of AAE was 27507 or open treatment of femoral shaft fracture with plate and screws. This is the first study to compare the rates of morbidity and mortality in all patients with orthopedic procedures. There was a strong bias toward increased risk associated with lower extremity surgery and surgery most often performed in the geriatric population. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

Evaluating the Efficacy of Large Language Models in CPT Coding for Craniofacial Surgery: A Comparative Analysis.

The advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT has introduced significant advancements in various surgical disciplines. These developments have led to an increased interest in the utilization of LLMs for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding in surgery. With CPT coding being a complex and time-consuming process, often exacerbated by the scarcity of professional coders, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to enhance coding efficiency and accuracy. This observational study evaluated the effectiveness of 5 publicly available large language models-Perplexity.AI, Bard, BingAI, ChatGPT 3.5, and ChatGPT 4.0-in accurately identifying CPT codes for craniofacial procedures. A consistent query format was employed to test each model, ensuring the inclusion of detailed procedure components where necessary. The responses were classified as correct, partially correct, or incorrect based on their alignment with established CPT coding for the specified procedures. The results indicate that while there is no overall significant association between the type of AI model and the correctness of CPT code identification, there are notable differences in performance for simple and complex CPT codes among the models. Specifically, ChatGPT 4.0 showed higher accuracy for complex codes, whereas Perplexity.AI and Bard were more consistent with simple codes. The use of AI chatbots for CPT coding in craniofacial surgery presents a promising avenue for reducing the administrative burden and associated costs of manual coding. Despite the lower accuracy rates compared with specialized, trained algorithms, the accessibility and minimal training requirements of the AI chatbots make them attractive alternatives. The study also suggests that priming AI models with operative notes may enhance their accuracy, offering a resource-efficient strategy for improving CPT coding in clinical practice. This study highlights the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating LLMs into the CPT coding process for craniofacial surgery. The findings advocate for further refinement and training of AI models to improve their accuracy and practicality, suggesting a future where AI-assisted coding could become a standard component of surgical workflows, aligning with the ongoing digital transformation in health care.

Combined Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction and Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy Has a Lower Risk of Recurrent Instability Requiring Revision Stabilization at 2 Years Than Either Procedure Alone

PurposeThe goal of this study was to utilize a large nationwide administrative database to directly compare usage, complications, and need for revision stabilization surgery after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPLFR), tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO), and combined MPFLR and TTO (MPFLRTTO). MethodsThe PearlDiver Mariner database was queried for all reported cases of MPLFR, TTO, and combined MPFLR and TTO performed between 2010 and 2020 using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Subsets from those cohorts with laterality-specific International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes for patellar instability were used to evaluate 2-year incidence of infection, stiffness, fracture, and revision stabilization with MPFLR and/or TTO. Multiple Linear regression and chi-squared analysis were used to analyze incidence trends and to compare complication rates. ResultsA total of 70,070 patients were identified. MPFLR was found to be the most common procedure (73.1%) followed by TTO (19.2%) and then MPFLRTTO (7.6%). MPLFR was observed to have the lowest overall complication rate (5.4%), while both TTO (7.5%) and MPFLRTTO (7.1%) had higher complication rates (P<.001). MPFLR had the highest rate of revision stabilization surgery at 3.7% compared with TTO at 2.7% and MPFLRTTO which carried the lowest risk for revision at 2.4% (P<.001). ConclusionIsolated MPFLR is the most common modality used for patellar instability, with increasing prevalence and the lowest 2-year complication rate. Isolated tibial tubercle osteotomy was unchanged in its utilization and had the highest overall complication rate. Combined MPFLR and TTO increased the overall complication rate but had a lower 2-year rate of recurrent instability requiring revision than MPFLR alone.

The impact of mental health on major complications following total shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThe volume of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) procedures has seen a remarkable surge over the past decade in the United States. Recent research has shown an association between depression and poorer postoperative outcomes following shoulder, hip, and knee arthroplasties. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between patients with a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety and the risk of major postoperative complications after TSA. MethodsThe TriNetX Research Network database was queried on May 30, 2023. Patient cohorts and outcomes were defined using International Classification for Disease, 10th Edition diagnosis codes and Current Procedural Terminology codes. After propensity score matching, the two cohorts were analyzed for differences in major outcomes within two years following the initial procedure. ResultsOf the 45,838 patients who underwent TSA identified in TriNetX, 15,074 patients were included in the depression/anxiety cohort and 30,764 were included in the no depression/anxiety cohort. Propensity score matching was performed to match 13,392 patients from each cohort. Compared to patients with no depression nor anxiety, patients with either depression and/or anxiety were identified to have a higher risk for dislocation (odds ratio [OR] 1.502, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.285-1.756; P < .001), periprosthetic joint infection (OR 1.309, 95% CI 1.123-1.525; P = .001), periprosthetic fracture (OR 1.661, 95% CI 1.341-2.056; P < .001), and revision TSA (OR 1.316, 95% CI 1.150-1.506; P < .001) within 2 years after the initial procedure. ConclusionOverall, this study showed that patients who have depression and/or anxiety have a higher risk for dislocation, periprosthetic joint infection, revision TSA, and periprosthetic fracture within two years after TSA.

Low Rates of 30-Day Postoperative Complications After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: A Retrospective Study Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the short-term (30-day) postoperative complication rates in patients undergoing meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT). MethodsAmerican College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database was queried for patients who had undergone MAT from 2014 to 2021 using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients were excluded if they did not have sufficient demographic data – namely those without data for age, sex, BMI, preoperative functional status, ASA classification, operative time, and length of hospital stay. Post-operative complications within 30 days were identified and rates of complications were examined as the primary outcome of this study. As a secondary outcome, multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with the thirty-day incidence of post-operative complications. Subgroup analysis was performed to analyze differences in postoperative outcomes following isolated MAT versus MAT with concomitant ligament reconstruction/repair, cartilage preservation, or realignment osteotomy. ResultsA total of 396 meniscal transplants were identified, with mean age of 35.2 ± 14.9, mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.6 ± 6.7, mean length of stay of 0.5 ± 1.8 days. 11 patients experienced any adverse event (AAE), Specific complications included surgical site infections (5), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (1), urinary tract infection (UTI) (3), and return to the operating room (OR) (2). On subgroup analysis, there was no significant difference between AAE rates in patients undergoing MAT with concomitant procedures compared to patients undergoing isolated MAT (7 vs 4, p=0.5). ConclusionPatients who underwent MAT had an overall complication rate of 2.8% in the short-term postoperative period (≤30 days). Patients undergoing MAT with concomitant ligament reconstruction/repair, cartilage preservation, and realignment osteotomy had similar rates of all postoperative complications when compared to patients undergoing isolated MAT. Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic case series.

Trends in payments for facility and surgeon professional fees for shoulder surgeries performed at ambulatory surgery centers

It has previously been demonstrated that utilization of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) results in cost savings and improved outcomes. Despite these benefits, Medicare reimbursement for professional fees at ASCs are decreasing over time. In this study, we sought to analyze the discrepancy between facility fee and professional fee reimbursements for ASCs by Medicare for common shoulder procedures over time. We hypothesized that professional fees for shoulder procedures would decrease over the study period while facility fees kept pace with inflation. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify shoulder specific procedures approved for ASCs by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Procedures were grouped into arthroscopic and open categories. Publicly available data from CMS was accessed via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Lookup Tool and used to determine professional fee payments from 2018-2024. Additionally, Medicare ASC Payment Rates files were accessed to determine facility fee reimbursements to ASCs from 2018-2024. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate means and percent change over time. Compound annual growth rates (CAGR) were calculated and discrepancies in inflation were corrected for using the Consumer Price Index. The Benjamini and Hochberg method was used to correct P values in the setting of multiple comparisons. A total of 33 common shoulder procedures were included for analysis (10 arthroscopic codes and 23 open codes). Reimbursements for facility fees have remained significantly higher than corresponding professional fees for both open and arthroscopic procedures (p<0.01). On average, facility fee reimbursements for common shoulder surgeries have risen on an annual basis in a manner consistent with inflation (p=0.838). However, professional fees for these procedures have experienced a nearly uniform decline over the study period both nominally and in inflation-adjusted dollars (p=0.064 and p=0.005, respectively). Facility fee payments for outpatient approved shoulder surgeries have matched or outpaced inflation. Over the same time period, professional fee reimbursements for surgeons are consistently decreasing, both in absolute and inflation-adjusted dollars. Reform to the physician fee schedule is necessary to ensure that Medicare patients retain access to high-quality physician care.

Validation of Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Patient Complexity and Clinical Decision Making

IntroductionOver the past 15 years, the emergency nurse practitioner has been recognized as a nursing specialty role with dedicated scope and standards of practice. However, a paucity of objective data exists to validate the actual practice of emergency nurse practitioners in the emergency care setting. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the initial acuity of patients assigned to emergency nurse practitioners, actions, decisional complexity, and disposition decisions of advanced practice nurses as they function in emergency departments in a single system. MethodsThis descriptive exploratory study used retrospective chart data to gain understanding. ResultsThe most common Emergency Severity Index level seen by emergency nurse practitioners was Emergency Severity Index 3. Of 8513 encounters with Emergency Severity Index level data, 21% were triaged at Emergency Severity Index 2, 56% at Emergency Severity Index 3, 21% at Emergency Severity Index 4, and only 2% at Emergency Severity Index 5. Half of encounters resulted in a Current Procedural Terminology code of 99825 or higher and 94% were coded at 99824 or higher. There were a high percentage of admissions including intensive care unit admissions. DiscussionAlthough descriptive, this study is highly illustrative of the broad scope of complex skills and clinical decision making required to perform as an advanced practice nurse in the emergency department. Further examination of education and training is warranted.

Recent Medicare Billing Trends of Hospitals and Surgeons for Revision Hip and Knee Total Joint Arthroplasty: Is the Value of a Surgeon’s Work Decreasing?

BackgroundRevision hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is associated with higher health care costs and work burden than primary TJAs. However, previous studies demonstrated a decrease in the value of reimbursements for revision TJA, causing concerns for hospitals and surgeons regarding the financial sustainability of these resource-expensive procedures. This study aimed to investigate the Medicare billing trends of hospitals and surgeons for revision TJA between 2017 and 2022. MethodsMedicare claims and payments for revision TJA were identified from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Part A and B databases. Hospital claims for revision TJA were identified through Diagnostic-Related Groups (467, 468). Surgeon claims were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes for revision hip (27134, 27137, 27138) and knee (27486, 27487) TJA. Yearly charges, reimbursements, and markup ratios (MR = charge/reimbursement) were analyzed. All monetary values were adjusted to the 2022 U.S. dollars. ResultsA total of 43,125 surgeons and 152,974 hospital claims were included in this study. From 2017 to 2022, the total volume of revision TJA decreased by 19.4%. Hospital reimbursements remained relatively unchanged, with a decrease of 1.4%, while hospital charges increased by 11.8%, resulting in a 13.3% increase in the MR. For surgeons, reimbursements decreased by 13.8%, and charges decreased by 11.0%, leading to a 3.3% increase in the MR. The proportion of surgeon reimbursement to hospital reimbursement decreased from 8.5 to 7.5%. ConclusionsThe comparison of the billing trends of hospitals and surgeons showed the relatively stable value of hospital reimbursement while the value of surgeon reimbursement continued to decline, implying the decreasing fiscal value of physicians’ work. The study suggests the need for sustainable financial incentives for surgeons performing revision TJA and strategies to control hospital charges to alleviate financial burdens and improve patient access to revision TJA.

Sleeve gastrectomy prior to primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty is associated with increased risk of early complications

AimsThe purpose of this study was to determine the association between prior sleeve gastrectomy in patients undergoing primary total hip and knee arthroplasty, and 90-day complications, incidence of revision arthroplasty, and patient-reported outcome scores at final follow-up.MethodsThis is a retrospective, single-centre analysis. Patients undergoing primary hip or knee arthroplasty with a prior sleeve gastrectomy were eligible for inclusion (n = 80 patients). A morbidly obese control group was established from the same institutional registry using a 1:2 match, for cases:controls with arthroplasty based on propensity score using age, sex, pre-sleeve gastrectomy BMI, Current Procedural Terminology code to identify anatomical location, and presurgical haemoglobin A1C. Outcomes included 90-day complications, incidence of revision arthroplasty, and patient-reported outcome scores at final follow-up. Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations of underlying preoperative demographic and treatment characteristics with outcomes.ResultsComplications within 90 days of surgery were increased in the sleeve gastrectomy group relative to the obese control group after controlling for underlying preoperative demographic characteristics (odds ratio (OR) 4.00 (95% CI 1.14 to 13.9); p = 0.030). Postoperative revisions were similar in the sleeve gastrectomy group relative to the obese control group after controlling for underlying preoperative demographic characteristics (OR 17.8 (95% CI 0.64 to 494.3); p = 0.090). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression decreased by a greater amount from pre- to postoperative in the obese controls relative to the sleeve gastrectomy group (OR 4.04 (95% CI 0.06 to 8.02); p = 0.047). PROMIS pain interference and physical function change from pre- to postoperative was not associated with sleeve gastrectomy status.ConclusionWe found a higher rate of complications at 90 days in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy prior to primary hip or knee arthroplasty relative to a matched, obese control population. Prosthetic revision rates were similar between the two groups, while improvements in PROMIS depression scores were larger in the obese cohort. This study suggests that sleeve gastrectomy to achieve preoperative weight loss prior to arthroplasty surgery may not mitigate early complication risks in obese patient populations.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):935–941.

Quality ofIntegration ofAir Force Trauma Surgeons Within the Center forSustainment ofTrauma andReadiness Skills, Cincinnati: A Pilot Study.

While previous studies have analyzed military surgeon experience within military-civilian partnerships (MCPs), there has never been an assessment of how well military providers are integrated within an MCP. The Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, Cincinnati supports the Critical Care Air Transport Advanced Course and maintains the clinical skills of its staff by embedding them within the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. We hypothesized that military trauma surgeons are well integrated within University of Cincinnati Medical Center and that they are exposed to a similar range of complex surgical pathophysiology as their civilian partners. After Institutional Review Board approval, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were abstracted from billing data for trauma surgeons covering University of Cincinnati Hospitals in 2019. The number of trauma resuscitations and patient acuity metrics were abstracted from the Trauma Registry and surgeon Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities clinical activity (KSA-CA) scores were calculated using their CPT codes. Finally, surgeon case distributions were studied by sorting their CPT codes into 23 categories based on procedure type and anatomic location. Appropriate, chi-squared or Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare these metrics between the military and civilian surgeon groups and the metrics were normalized by the group's full-time equivalent (FTE) to adjust for varying weeks on service between groups. Data were available for two active duty military and nine civilian staff. The FTEs were significantly lower in the military group: military 0.583-0.583 (median 0.583) vs. civilian 0.625-1.165 (median 1.0), P = 0.04. Per median FTE and surgeon number, both groups performed a similar number of trauma resuscitations (civilian 214 ± 54 vs. military 280 ± 13, P = 0.146) and KSA-CA points (civilian 55,629 ± 25,104 vs. military 36,286 ± 11,267; P = 0.582). Although the civilian surgeons had a higher proportion of hernia repairs (P < 0.001) and laparoscopic procedures (P = 0.006), the CPT code categories most relevant to combat surgery (those relating to solid organ, hollow viscus, cardiac, thoracic, abdominal, and tissue debridement procedures) were similar between the surgeon groups. Finally, patient acuity metrics were similar between groups. This is the first assessment of U.S. Air Force trauma surgeon integration relative to their civilian partners within an MCP. Normalized by FTE, there was no difference between the two groups' trauma experience to include patient acuity metrics and KSA-CA scores. The proportion of CPT codes that was most relevant to expeditionary surgery was similar between the military and civilian partners, thus optimizing the surgical experience for the military trauma surgeons within University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The methods used within this pilot study can be generalized to any American College of Surgeons verified Trauma Center MCP, as standard databases were used.

Surgical Outcomes for Patients With Trisomy 21 and Hirschsprung's Disease: An NSQIP-Pediatric Study

IntroductionPrevious studies have demonstrated worse outcomes for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) procedures in Trisomy 21 (T21) patients. Using a large national database, we sought to investigate surgical outcomes in HD patients with T21 compared to non-T21 patients. MethodsWe utilized the deidentified National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database from 2012 to 2021. Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, children <18 y old with HD were included and stratified by T21 diagnosis. Demographics, Current Procedural Terminology codes, case characteristics, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. ResultsOf 3456 HD patients, 12.0% (n = 413) patients had a concurrent diagnosis of T21. Pull-through (PT) procedures accounted for 54.9% of surgeries (n = 1896), of which 10.0% (n = 189) had T21. T21 patients who underwent PT had a younger gestational age (P < 0.0001), cardiac risk factors (P < 0.0001), hematologic disorders (P < 0.0001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P < 0.0001), and were older at their index operation (P = 0.03). Though operative times were similar, T21 patients had a longer total length of stay (P = 0.0263), postoperative length of stay (P = 0.0033), and more unplanned reoperations (P = 0.0094). Though only significant in unadjusted analyses, T21 patients had more postoperative complications after PT (P = 0.0034), specifically deep surgical site infections (P = 0.009), organ/space surgical site infections (P = 0.004), wound disruption (P < 0.001), and sepsis (P = 0.025). ConclusionsWe confirm significant differences exist between T21 and non-T21 patients undergoing HD procedures, particularly increased total length of stay, postoperative length of stay, and unplanned reoperations. Understanding these differences will lead to more optimal treatment plans for this unique patient population.

Veterans' use of inpatient and outpatient palliative care: The national landscape.

Palliative care improves the quality of life for people with life-limiting conditions, which are common among older adults. Despite the Veterans Health Administration (VA) outpatient palliative care expansion, most research has focused on inpatient palliative care. This study aimed to compare veteran characteristics and hospice use for palliative care users across care settings (inpatient vs. outpatient) and dose (number of palliative care encounters). This national cohort included veterans with any VA palliative care encounters from 2014 through 2017. We used VA and Medicare administrative data (2010-2017) to describe veteran demographics, socioeconomic status, life-limiting conditions, frailty, and palliative care utilization. Specialty palliative care encounters were identified using clinic stop codes (353, 351) and current procedural terminology codes (99241-99245). Of 120,249 unique veterans with specialty palliative care over 4 years, 67.8% had palliative care only in the inpatient setting (n = 81,523) and 32.2% had at least one palliative care encounter in the outpatient setting (n = 38,726), with or without an inpatient palliative care encounter. Outpatient versus inpatient palliative care users were more likely to have cancer and less likely to have high frailty, but sociodemographic factors including rurality and housing instability were similar. Duration of hospice use was similar between inpatient (median = 37 days; IQR = 11, 112) and outpatient (median = 44 days; IQR = 14, 118) palliative care users, and shorter among those with only one palliative care encounter (median = 18 days; IQR = 5, 64). This national evaluation provides novel insights into the care setting and dose of VA specialty palliative care for veterans. Among veterans with palliative care use, one-third received at least some palliative care in the outpatient care setting. Differences between veterans with inpatient and outpatient use motivate the need for further research to understand how care settings and number of palliative care encounters impact outcomes for veterans and older adults.

Staged Management for Distal Femur Fractures: Impacts on Reoperation, Stiffness, and Overall Outcomes.

To evaluate the outcomes of staged management with external fixation (ex-fix) prior to definitive fixation of distal femur fractures. Design: Retrospective cohort. Single Level I Trauma Center. Adults treated operatively between 2004 and 2019 for distal femur fractures (OTA/AO 33A/33C) were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Excluded cases were those with screw only fixation, acute distal femur replacement, 33B fracture pattern, no radiographs available, or did not have 6-months of follow-up. Postoperative complication rates including surgical site infection [SSI], reoperation to promote bone healing, final knee arc of motion <90 degrees, heterotopic ossification formation, and reoperation for stiffness were compared between patients treated with ex-fix prior to definitive fixation and those not requiring ex-fix. A total of 407 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 27 months (median [IQR] of 12 [7,33] months), (range 6-192 months). Most patients were male (52%) with an average age of 48 [Range: 18-92] years. Ex-fix was utilized in 150 (37%) cases and 257 (63%) cases underwent primary definitive fixation. There was no difference in SSI rates (p=0.12), final knee arc of motion <90 degrees (p=0.51), and reoperation for stiffness (p=0.41) between the ex-fix and no ex-fix groups. The 150 patients requiring ex-fix spent an average of 4.2 days (SD 3.3) in the ex-fix before definitive fixation. These patients were further analyzed by comparing the duration of time spent in ex-fix, <4 days (n=82) and ≥4 days (n=68). Despite longer time spent in ex-fix prior to definitive fixation, there was again no significant difference in any of the complication and reoperation rates when comparing the two groups, including final knee arc of motion <90 degrees (p=0.63), reoperation for stiffness (p=1.00), and SSI (p=0.79). Ex-fix of distal femur fractures as a means of temporary stabilization prior to definitive ORIF does not increase the risk of complications such as SSI, final knee arc of motion <90 degrees, or reoperations for bone healing or stiffness when compared to single stage ORIF of distal femur fractures. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Enhancing the Management of Deployment-Limiting Medical Conditions in the U.S. Department of Navy Leveraging Electronic Health Records and Predictive Analytics Methods.

Deployment-limiting medical conditions (DLMCs) such as debilitating injuries and conditions may interfere with the ability of military service members (SMs) to deploy. SMs in the United States (U.S.) Department of the Navy (DoN) with DLMCs who are not deployable should be placed in the medically restricted status of limited duty (LIMDU) or referred to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) for Service retention determination. It is critical to identify SMs correctly and promptly with DLMCs and predict their return-to-duty (RTD) to ensure the combat readiness of the U.S. Military. In this study, an algorithmic approach was developed to identify DoN SMs with previously unidentified DLMCs and predict whether SMs on LIMDU will be able to RTD. Five years of historical data (2016-2022) were obtained from inpatient and outpatient datasets across direct and purchased care from the Military Health System (MHS) Data Repository (MDR). Key fields included International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes, Current Procedure Terminology codes, prescription medications, and demographics information such as age, rank, gender, and service. The data consisted of 44,580,668 medical encounters across 1,065,224 SMs. To identify SMs with unidentified DLMCs, we developed an ensemble model combining outputs from multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms. When the ML ensemble model predicted a SM to have high risk scores, despite appearing healthy on administrative reports, their case was reviewed by expert clinicians to investigate for previously unidentified DLMCs; and such feedback served to validate the developed algorithms. In addition, leveraging 1,735,422 encounters (60,433 SMs) from LIMDU periods, we developed four separate ML models to estimate RTD probabilities for SMs after each medical encounter and predict the final LIMDU outcome. The ensemble model had 0.91 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Out of 236 (round one) and 314 (round two) SMs reviewed by clinicians, 127 (54%) and 208 (66%) SMs were identified with a previously unidentified or undocumented DLMC, respectively. Regarding predicting RTD for SMs placed on LIMDU, the best performing ML model achieved 0.76 AUROC, 68% sensitivity, and 71% specificity. Our research highlighted potential benefits of using predictive analytics in a medical assessment to identify SMs with DLMCs and to predict RTD outcomes once placed on LIMDU. This capability is being deployed for real-time clinical decision support to enhance health care provider's deployability assessment capability, improve accuracy of the DLMC population, and enhance combat readiness of the U.S Military.

Risk of Subsequent Hip Fractures across Varying Treatment Patterns for Index Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Introduction: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) pose a considerable healthcare burden and are linked to elevated morbidity and mortality. Despite available anti-osteoporotic treatments (AOTs), guideline adherence is lacking. This study aims to evaluate subsequent hip fracture incidence after index VCF and to elucidate AOT prescribing patterns in VCF patients, further assessing the impact of surgical interventions on these patterns. Materials and Methods: Patients with index VCFs between 2010 and 2021 were identified using the PearlDiver database. Diagnostic and procedural data were recorded using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9, ICD-10) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients under age 50 and follow-up <one year following index VCF were excluded. Patients were categorized based on whether they received AOT within one year, preceding and after index VCF, and were subsequently propensity-matched 1:3 based on age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) score to compare hip fracture incidence following index VCF. Sub-analysis was performed for operatively managed VCFs (kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty). Statistical tests included Chi-squared for categorical outcomes, and Kruskal-Wallis for continuous measures. Results: Of 637,701 patients, 72.6% were female. The overall subsequent hip fracture incidence was 2.6% at one year and 12.9% for all-time follow-up. Propensity-matched analysis indicated higher subsequent hip fracture rates in patients initiated on AOT post-index VCF (one year: 3.8% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.0013; all-time: 14.3% vs. 13.0%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The study reveals an unexpected increase in subsequent hip fractures among patients initiated on AOT post-index VCF, likely due to selection bias. These findings highlight the need for refined osteoporosis-management strategies to improve guideline adherence, thereby mitigating patient morbidity and mortality.

Complications After Pediatric Penetrating Keratoplasty: An IRIS Registry Study.

To describe the frequency of postoperative complications in children undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PK). This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients (aged 0-18 years) in the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry who underwent primary PK between January 2013 and December 2020. Patients were identified using Current Procedure Terminology codes. Postoperative complications were identified using International Classification of Diseases Revision 9 and 10 codes and categorized as complications affecting the anterior segment (epithelial defect, infectious keratitis, neurotrophic keratitis, and glaucoma) or posterior segment (vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, choroid detachment, choroidal hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, epiretinal membrane, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy). Of the 544 pediatric patients undergoing PK, 259 (47.6%) experienced postoperative complications. Anterior segment complications (n = 222, 40.8%) were more common than posterior segment complications (n = 96, 17.6%). The most common anterior complication was infectious keratitis (n = 163, 30.0%) with a median onset time of 275 days (IQR 50-560 days) after surgery. Vitreous hemorrhage (n = 52, 9.6%) and retinal detachment (n = 48, 8.8%) were the most common posterior segment complications. Infectious keratitis was the most common postoperative complication in children undergoing PK. More complications occurred in the anterior segment (70%) of the eye as compared with the posterior segment (30%). These findings demonstrate the challenges associated with pediatric PK and may help guide postoperative monitoring and management.

How difficult is titanium plate and screw implant removal? A retrospective case series

IntroductionTitanium implants are commonly used for surgical fixation in orthopedic trauma, and have many benefits compared to stainless steel implants. Despite these benefits, some orthopedic surgeons remain hesitant to use titanium implants due to concerns of difficulty with future implant removal, given concerns with cold-welding and screw strippage. The objective of this study was to assess difficulties associated with titanium plate and screw implant removal. MethodsThis is a retrospective case series from a large hospital system. Patients were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 20,680 from 2017 to 2020. Patients were included if they had removal of titanium plate and screws from the upper or lower extremity, were at least18 years of age, and considered skeletally mature. The ease of titanium plate/screw removal was determined by assessing for implant cold-welding, broken screws, stripped screws, and the need for advanced tools (screw removal set, trephine, burr). Results157 patients were identified, with a mean age of 54 years and 59 % female. In total 1274 screws were removed: 14 (1.1 %) were stripped, 8 (0.6 %) were cold-welded, 42 (3.3 %) were loose, and 13 (1.0 %) were broken. 183 plates were removed in total, and 15 (8.2 %) had bone overgrowth that required removal. 12 (7.6 %) procedures were complicated and required the use of advanced tools. Complicated implant removal operations occurred after significantly longer in vivo implant time (mean of 3.7 vs. 1.1 years, p = 0.036), were associated with a younger age, were more likely to occur in lower extremity procedures (p = 0.034), and took significantly longer time for removal (95 vs. 42 min, p < 0.001). ConclusionsDespite concerns with titanium implants, we found a low rate of screw strippage, breakage, and cold welding during the removal process. However, 7.6 % of the 157 surgeries required additional tools other than just a screwdriver, and needed additional operative time. This information allows treating surgeons to plan for implant removal when titanium implants have been used for fixation. Level of evidenceIV

Examining the Impact of Certificate of Need Laws on the Utilization and Reimbursement of Cataract Surgeries Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: Cataract surgery is an effective and commonly utilized procedure and can significantly improve quality of life and restore economic productivity. Certificate of need (CON) laws aim to regulate healthcare facility expansion and equipment acquisition to curtail costs, enhance quality, and ensure equitable access to care. However, little is known about the impact of CON laws on cataract surgery utilization and reimbursement. Objectives: To compare utilization and reimbursement for non-complex cataract surgery in CON and non-CON states. Methods: This retrospective database review analyzed publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from 2017 to 2021 to identify the Medicare beneficiaries who underwent non-complex cataract surgery using Current Procedural Terminology code 66984 in Medicare outpatient hospitals. Utilization and reimbursement patterns were analyzed in states with and without CON laws using the compound annual growth rate, with reimbursement adjusted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. Results: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported 893 682 non-complex cataract surgeries in the study period; of these, 609 237 were in CON and 280 215 in non-CON states. Inflation-adjusted reimbursement increased in both CON (1.17%) and non-CON (1.83%) states, while the reimbursement in non-CON states was greater than the national average adjusted reimbursement (1.67%). Utilization of non-complex cataract surgery declined during the study period in both CON and non-CON states. A larger decline in utilization was observed in CON states (-7.32%) than in non-CON states (-6.49%). Utilization was slightly higher in non-CON than in CON states for each year except 2019. Discussion: Utilization of non-complex cataract surgery by Medicare beneficiaries declined over the study period in both CON and non-CON states, possibly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation-adjusted reimbursement adjusted for Consumer Price Index increased more in non-CON than CON states, possibly reflecting shifts in market dynamics in CON-regulated states. Conclusions: Surgeons and policymakers should consider the implications of CON laws on the utilization and reimbursement of cataract surgery. Further study is necessary to ascertain whether these trends persist beyond 2021.