Fellowship-trained Sports Medicine Research Articles

Implant Cost Awareness Among Orthopaedic Surgeons at a Single Academic Institution

Introduction Despite the increasing costs of implants, surgeons’ awareness of these costs varies widely. The purpose of this study is to determine baseline awareness of sports-medicine-related implant cost among orthopaedic surgeons. Methods A survey including images of 10 different orthopaedic implants related to sports medicine was sent to 18 surgeons. All included surgeons practice in a single ambulatory surgery center and routinely perform sports-medicine-related procedures. Surgeons were asked to estimate the cost of each implant and answer questions about surgeon characteristics. Cost estimates were compared with implant cost found in the institutional charge master database. Results Cost estimates varied widely among providers regardless of fellowship training. The average percent error among all providers was 54.3%. Surgeons that rated knowledge of implant cost to be important most or all of the time had an average cost estimate error of 60.7% versus 48.0% error in their counterparts that stated that knowledge of cost was important to them only some of the time, though this did not reach statistical significance. Low-cost implants were more likely to be overestimated while high-cost implants were more often underestimated. Years of experience, sports medicine fellowship training, and involvement in contract negotiations had no effect on implant cost accuracy. Conclusion Implant cost awareness is dishearteningly low sports medicine orthopaedists despite the large economic impact of these devices. There is considerable room for improving cost awareness in sports medicine.

Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models Address Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Superior Clarity and Completeness by Gemini Compared to ChatGPT-4 in Response to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines

To assess the ability of ChatGPT-4 and Gemini to generate accurate and relevant responses to the 2022 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) clinical practice guidelines for ACLR. Responses from ChatGPT-4 and Gemini to prompts derived from all 15 AAOS guidelines were evaluated by seven fellowship trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeons using a structured questionnaire assessing five key characteristics on a scale from 1-5. The prompts were categorized into three areas: Diagnosis and Preoperative Management, Surgical Timing and Technique, and Rehabilitation and Prevention. Statistical analysis included mean scoring, standard deviation, and two-sided t-tests to compare the performance between the two LLMs. Scores were then evaluated for inter-rater reliability (IRR). Overall, both LLMs performed well with means scores > 4 for the five key characteristics. Gemini demonstrated superior performance in overall clarity (4.848 ± 0.36 vs 4.743 ± 0.481, p = 0.034), but all other characteristics demonstrated non-significant differences (p = >0.05). Gemini also demonstrated superior clarity in the surgical timing and technique (p= 0.038) as well as the prevention and rehabilitation (p= 0.044) sub-categories. Additionally, Gemini had superior performance completeness scores in the rehabilitation and prevention sub-category (p= 0.044), but no statistically significant differences were found amongst the other sub-categories. The overall IRR was found to be 0.71 (moderate). Both Gemini and ChatGPT-4 demonstrate an overall good ability to generate accurate and relevant responses to question prompts based on the 2022 AAOS clinical practice guidelines for ACLR. However, Gemini demonstrated superior clarity in multiple domains in addition to superior completeness for questions pertaining to rehabilitation and prevention. The current study addresses a current gap in the LLM and ACLR literature by comparing the performance of ChatGPT-4 to Gemini, which is growing in popularity with more than 300 million individual uses in May 2024 alone. Moreover, the results demonstrated superior performance of Gemini in both clarity and completeness, which are critical elements of a tool being used by patients for educational purposes. Additionally, the current study uses question prompts based on the AAOS CPG which may be used as a method of standardization for future investigations on performance of LLM platforms. For these reasons, the authors believe that the results of the current study would be of interest to both the readership of Arthroscopy and patients, alike.

Analysis of supply and demand for sports medicine fellowship training: 2012-2022.

The recruitment of high-quality applicants is critical to the vitality of the sports medicine physician workforce. To analyze changes in the total number of available training positions, applicants, and unfilled training positions in the Sports Medicine Match from 2012 to 2022. This was a retrospective cohort study of sports medicine fellowship applicants. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited sports medicine fellowship training programs. A total of 3763 individuals applying for sports medicine fellowship training from 2012 to 2022. Not applicable. Annual number of applicants, training positions, and number of unfilled training positions. From 2012 to 2022, the annual number of training positions in sports medicine increased from 177 to 353 (99% increase, p < .001) while the annual number of applicants increased from 256 to 428 (67% increase, p < .001). The annual applicant-to-training position ratio decreased (1.4 to 1.2, p < .001). Annual match rates increased for both U.S. MD graduates (64% to 86%, p < .001) and non-U.S. MD graduates (64% to 77%, p < .001). U.S. MD graduates had higher match rates than non-U.S. MD graduates in 2021 (79% vs 70%, p < .05) and 2022 (86% vs 77%, p < .05). The percentage of applicants who matched at their first (36%-36%, p > .05), second (14%-15%, p > .05), and third (9%-8%, p > .05) ranked programs did not change. The percentage of applicants who did not match decreased (33%-19%, p < .001). The percentage of available fellowship training positions that went unfilled decreased (8%-2%, p < .001). Interest in sports medicine fellowship training is increasing as evidenced by an increasing number of applications and decreasing rate of unfilled training positions. Continued monitoring of future match cycles is important given projected shortages in the physician workforce.

Understanding How ChatGPT May Become a Clinical Administrative Tool Through an Investigation on the Ability to Answer Common Patient Questions Concerning Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries.

The consumer availability and automated response functions of chat generator pretrained transformer (ChatGPT-4), a large language model, poise this application to be utilized for patient health queries and may have a role in serving as an adjunct to minimize administrative and clinical burden. To evaluate the ability of ChatGPT-4 to respond to patient inquiries concerning ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries and compare these results with the performance of Google. Cross-sectional study. Google Web Search was used as a benchmark, as it is the most widely used search engine worldwide and the only search engine that generates frequently asked questions (FAQs) when prompted with a query, allowing comparisons through a systematic approach. The query "ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction" was entered into Google, and the top 10 FAQs, answers, and their sources were recorded. ChatGPT-4 was prompted to perform a Google search of FAQs with the same query and to record the sources of answers for comparison. This process was again replicated to obtain 10 new questions requiring numeric instead of open-ended responses. Finally, responses were graded independently for clinical accuracy (grade 0 = inaccurate, grade 1 = somewhat accurate, grade 2 = accurate) by 2 fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons (D.W.A, J.S.D.) blinded to the search engine and answer source. ChatGPT-4 used a greater proportion of academic sources than Google to provide answers to the top 10 FAQs, although this was not statistically significant (90% vs 50%; P = .14). In terms of question overlap, 40% of the most common questions on Google and ChatGPT-4 were the same. When comparing FAQs with numeric responses, 20% of answers were completely overlapping, 30% demonstrated partial overlap, and the remaining 50% did not demonstrate any overlap. All sources used by ChatGPT-4 to answer these FAQs were academic, while only 20% of sources used by Google were academic (P = .0007). The remaining Google sources included social media (40%), medical practices (20%), single-surgeon websites (10%), and commercial websites (10%). The mean (± standard deviation) accuracy for answers given by ChatGPT-4 was significantly greater compared with Google for the top 10 FAQs (1.9 ± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.6; P = .001) and top 10 questions with numeric answers (1.8 ± 0.4 vs 1 ± 0.8; P = .013). ChatGPT-4 is capable of providing responses with clinically relevant content concerning UCL injuries and reconstruction. ChatGPT-4 utilized a greater proportion of academic websites to provide responses to FAQs representative of patient inquiries compared with Google Web Search and provided significantly more accurate answers. Moving forward, ChatGPT has the potential to be used as a clinical adjunct when answering queries about UCL injuries and reconstruction, but further validation is warranted before integrated or autonomous use in clinical settings.

ChatGPT-4 Performs Clinical Information Retrieval Tasks Using Consistently More Trustworthy Resources Than Does Google Search for Queries Concerning the Latarjet Procedure

PurposeTo assess the ability for ChatGPT-4, an automated Chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to answer common patient questions concerning the Latarjet procedure for patients with anterior shoulder instability and compare this performance to Google Search Engine. MethodsUsing previously validated methods, a Google search was first performed using the query “Latarjet.” Subsequently, the top ten frequently asked questions (FAQs) and associated sources were extracted. ChatGPT-4 was then prompted to provide the top ten FAQs and answers concerning the procedure. This process was repeated to identify additional FAQs requiring discrete-numeric answers to allow for a comparison between ChatGPT-4 and Google. Discrete, numeric answers were subsequently assessed for accuracy based on the clinical judgement of two fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons blinded to search platform. ResultsMean (±standard deviation) accuracy to numeric-based answers were 2.9±0.9 for ChatGPT-4 versus 2.5±1.4 for Google (p=0.65). ChatGPT-4 derived information for answers only from academic sources, which was significantly different from Google Search Engine (p=0.003), which used only 30% academic sources and websites from individual surgeons (50%) and larger medical practices (20%). For general FAQs, 40% of FAQs were found to be identical when comparing ChatGPT-4 and Google Search Engine. In terms of sources used to answer these questions, ChatGPT-4 again used 100% academic resources, while Google Search Engine used 60% academic resources, 20% surgeon personal websites, and 20% medical practices (p=0.087). ConclusionChatGPT-4 demonstrated the ability to provide accurate and reliable information about the Latarjet procedure in response to patient queries, using multiple academic sources in all cases. This was in contrast to Google Search Engine, which more frequently used single surgeon and large medical practice websites. Despite differences in the resources accessed to perform information retrieval tasks, the clinical relevance and accuracy of information provided did not significantly differ between ChatGPT-4 and Google Search Engine.

Complication rates and efficacy of single-injection vs. continuous interscalene nerve block: a prospective evaluation following arthroscopic primary rotator cuff repair without a concomitant open procedure

To compare the complications and efficacy of pain relief of the interscalene anesthetic block using either a single-injection (SI) vs. a continuous, indwelling catheter (CIC) for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery. Patients undergoing primary, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair without concomitant open procedure or biceps tenodesis were prospectively enrolled by 4 fellowship-trained sports medicine and shoulder surgeons. Patients received either a SI or CIC preoperatively based on surgeon preference. Patients were contacted by phone to complete a standard questionnaire on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Patients were asked to rate the efficacy of their subjective pain relief (scale of 0-10), document issues with the catheter, describe analgesic usage, and report pharmacological and medical complications. The primary outcome was measured as complication rate. Postoperative narcotic use, patient satisfaction, and visual analog scale pain scores were measured as secondary outcomes. Seventy patients were enrolled, 33 CIC patients (13 male, 20 female, mean age 61±8 years) and 37 SI patients (20 male, 17 female, mean age 59±10 years). There were significantly more injection/insertion site complications in the CIC group (48%) vs. the SI group (11%, P=.001). The incidence of motor weakness was higher in the CIC group on POD 1 (P=.034), but not at any subsequent time points. On POD 1, CIC patients had a clinically significantly lower pain score compared to SI (3.2 vs. 5.4; P=.020). Similar scores were observed at subsequent time points until POD 28, when CIC again had a lower pain score (0.8 vs. 2.7; P=.005). However, this did not reach clinical significance. All patients in both groups rated a satisfaction of 9 or 10 (scale 0-10) with the anesthesia provided by their nerve block. CIC interscalene nerve blocks had an increased risk for injection site complications and minor complications in the immediate postoperative period when using the CIC for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair without any concomitant open procedures. CIC blocks demonstrated clinically significant superior pain relief on POD 1 but were equal to SI blocks at every time point thereafter. Superior pain relief of CIC at POD 28 was not clinically significant. CIC catheters do not appear to markedly decrease the use of postoperative narcotics. Despite this trend in complication rates and pain scores, all patients in both groups were satisfied with their nerve block.

The Effect of Aspiration and Corticosteroid Injection After ACL Injury on Postoperative Infection Rate

Background: Injecting bioactive substances into the knee is common in orthopaedic practice, and recently it has been shown to mitigate risk factors for posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Therefore, understanding the influence of these injections on postoperative infection rate is imperative. Hypothesis: Postinjury aspiration and corticosteroid injection (CSI) of the knee before anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) would not increase the risk of postoperative infection. Study Design: Cohort Study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients between the ages of 10 and 65 years who underwent primary bone–patellar tendon–bone ACLR by 1 fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon between January 1, 2011, and September 8, 2020, at 1 of 2 major academic centers were evaluated for inclusion. A total of 693 patients were included, with 273 patients receiving postinjury and preoperative aspiration and CSI. A postoperative infection was defined as a patient returning to the operating room for an intra-articular washout. The intervals—measured in days—between the CSI and ACLR and between ACLR and the final follow-up were recorded. To further evaluate the infection risk in each cohort (total cohort; aspiration and injection cohort; no aspiration and injection cohort), the upper 95% confidence bound for the infection risk was calculated for each cohort. Results: There were no postoperative infections in the 693 patients included in this study. The upper 95% confidence bounds were 0.4%, 1.1%, and 0.7% for the total cohort, the cohort that underwent aspiration and injection, and the cohort that did not, respectively. The median number of days between the surgical date and that of the aspiration and injection was 34 days, and the mean follow-up for the entire cohort was 337.4 days (95% CI, 307.6-367.3). Conclusion: Postinjury and preoperative aspiration and CSI is a safe intervention that can be used before ACLR. Future studies with larger sample sizes, longer patient follow-ups, and multiple surgeons would be helpful to both better understand infection risk and better identify the influence of CSI on preventing posttraumatic osteoarthritis.

Poster 264: Medial Tibia Bone Marrow Edema on Preoperative MRI Predicts Inferior Patient Outcomes Following Posterior Medial Meniscus Root Repair

Objectives: Repair of posterior medial meniscus root (PMMR) tears demonstrates favorable patient outcomes and may prevent rapid progression of knee osteoarthritis, however, there is a paucity of data in literature regarding prognostic factors affecting postoperative outcomes. The medial meniscus plays an important role in the knee biomechanically by increasing tibiofemoral contact area and decreasing peak tibiofemoral contact pressures. Few studies exist that examine preoperative knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) following PMMR repair. Semi-quantitative MRI evaluation can offer improved detection of degenerative pathology. Identifying specific factors that may predict surgical outcomes is important when considering PMMR repair, as some patients with more advanced degenerative joint disease may benefit from consideration for knee arthroplasty instead of joint preservation with meniscus repair surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify factors on preoperative MRI that may predict postoperative outcomes following PMMR repair. We hypothesize that patients with worse knee overall quality would have worse postoperative PRO scores. Methods: Between 2012 and 2020, patients who underwent posterior medial meniscus root repair at a tertiary referral academic center by fellowship trained sports medicine surgeons were retrospectively identified, recruited, and enrolled in the study. Institutional review board approval and informed consent was obtained. Inclusion criteria included patients ages 18-70, posterior medial meniscus root repair through transtibial fixation technique, minimum two years postoperative follow-up, and a preoperative knee MRI. Exclusion criteria included prior ipsilateral knee meniscus or ligamentous injury, additional ipsilateral knee injury requiring surgery, and conversion to knee arthroplasty. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain and PRO surveys including Patient Reported Outcome Measures Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) Computer Adaptive Test, Lysholm Knee Score, Knee Osteoarthritis and Injury Outcome Score (KOOS) with 5 sub-sections, were collected at minimum 2-years postoperative. Patient Acceptable State Score (PASS) values from a prior meniscus study were utilized to identify patients that met PASS for the KOOS subsections. A fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed preoperative MRIs and calculated Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scores (WORMS) for meniscus, cartilage, bone marrow edema pattern (BMEP) in 6 knee locations as well as effusion/synovitis and meniscal extrusion. Radiographs were scored with Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scores to assess presence and severity of osteoarthritis. Statistical analysis was performed with Stata (StataCorp) using two sample T-tests, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Significance was defined as p&lt;0.05. Results: We evaluated 29 knees (22 female patients) with a mean age at surgery of 52.3±9.9 years, body mass index of 27.6±5.6 kg/m2, and at a mean follow-up of 59.6 months ± 26.5. median KL grade 2, and 44.8% with meniscal extrusion. Pain scores decreased significantly from before surgery to final follow-up (p&lt;0.001), and the percentage of patients meeting PASS ranged from 44.8% for KOOS-Sport subscale to 72.4% for KOOS-Pain and KOOS-Quality of Life subscales (Table 1). There were 10 patients with medial tibial BMEP on pre-operative MRI and 19 with no medial tibial BMEP (Table 2). Patients with medial tibia BMEP had significantly lower Lysholm Knee Score (p=0.037), KOOS-Symptoms (p=0.028), and KOOS-QOL (p=0.029) (Figure 1). There were no significant differences in demographics between those with and without medial tibia BMEP. There was no significant difference in PRO scores when comparing those with medial femoral condyle BMEP, cartilage quality in any of the knee regions, or presence of meniscus extrusion. Conclusions: We observed that patients with medial tibia BMEP at baseline on their preoperative MRI had inferior PROMs for Lysholm Knee Score, KOOS Symptoms, and KOOS-QOL after PMMR repair compared to those without medial tibia BMEP. The presence of medial tibial BMEP could represent underlying damage that may not be evident in the cartilage itself, given most medial tibia cartilage was normal on MRI and cartilage quality was not a significant discriminant for outcomes. The presence of meniscus extrusion did not correlate with patient outcomes either. Limitations of this study include only VAS-Pain score as a pre-operative measure. Multivariate analysis was not possible due to the sample size available. A strength of this study is the mean follow up of approximately 5 years and preoperative MRI data on all patients. Posterior medial meniscus root tears are generally treated with surgical repair due to increased risk of progression to arthritis, however, some patients continue to have symptoms after repair. Our results show that patients with medial tibial BMEP on their preoperative MRI have worse PRO scores after posterior medial meniscus root repair, which can help surgeons better counsel patients towards optimal treatment options. In conclusion, the presence of medial tibia BMEP on preoperative MRI was a marker for inferior patient outcomes for Lysholm Knee Score, KOOS Symptoms, and QOL at minimum two years postoperative following posterior medial meniscus root repair. [Table: see text][Table: see text]

Poster 169: Severe Attrition and Poor Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Tele-Rehabilitation Versus Standard In-Office Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions: Randomized Controlled Trials That Required Cessation

Objectives: The use of telerehabilitation after sports medicine procedures such as arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has rapidly increased in recent years; however, functional outcomes and patient satisfaction after telerehabilitation compared to in- person rehabilitation remain unclear. We hypothesized that functional outcomes and patient satisfaction would not differ significantly between the rehabilitation modalities. Methods: Two separate randomized-controlled trials were conducted involving patients scheduled to undergo ARCR or ACLR by one of six fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons between October 2020 and November 2021. Initially 60 patients were included in each arm of the trial. Patients were randomized to receive telerehabilitation or in-person rehabilitation for their post-operative course. International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) scores (for ACLR), the American Shoulder &amp; Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score (for ARCR), and satisfaction metrics were collected at timepoints of baseline and at each post-operative visit. Baseline characteristics and outcomes between the in-person and telerehabilitation arms of each cohort were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: In total, 16 ACLR patients were enrolled, of whom 10 (62.5%) were assigned to in-person rehabilitation and 6 (37.5%) to telerehabilitation. Additionally, 32 ARCR patients were enrolled of whom 20 (62.5%) were assigned to in-person rehabilitation and 12 (37.5%) were assigned to telerehabilitation. In both trials combined, of the 30 patients initially assigned to in-person rehabilitation, 24 (80%) completed the final follow-up survey and none reported crossover to telerehabilitation. Of the 18 patients initially assigned to telerehabilitation, 12 (67%) completed the final follow-up survey. Of these 12 patients, 11 (92%) reported crossover; 9 patients completed in-person rehabilitation and 2 patients completed hybrid in-person and tele-rehabilitation. Conclusions: Though overall satisfaction with both modalities was high, patients preferred in-person rehabilitation to telerehabilitation after undergoing ACLR and ARCR as evidenced by nearly ubiquitous crossover from telerehabilitation to in-person rehabilitation in both studies. However, a hybrid model combining in-person and tele-visits may be acceptable to most patients.

Poster 373: Perceptions &amp; Opinions on Cannabidiol Among Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeons

Objectives: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a known pain modulator which is beginning to garner increased attention in the orthopaedic world, with many patients now presenting to clinics having tried CBD for pain relief. However, there may be a considerable knowledge gap with particular reference to orthopedic sports medicine surgeons and how they perceive the use of this therapeutic agent in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to (1) examine the knowledge and beliefs of sports medicine orthopaedic surgeons with respect to the role of cannabidiol (CBD) in a multi-modal post-operative pain management regimen (2) deliver an educational component regarding CBD to practicing surgeons, and to (3) elucidate potential future barriers to the widespread use of this treatment modality by providing an anonymous forum for surgeons to voice their opinions. Methods: A three-component, 25-question online survey was distributed to fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopaedic surgeons. The first 20 questions were designed to assess baseline knowledge and opinions of sports surgeons regarding cannabidiol. These were followed by a 1-page summary sheet detailing the current legal status of CBD, as well as a brief literature review of its potential role in pain management within the field of orthopaedics. Lastly, 5 additional questions assessed whether the respondents’ opinions had shifted after learning more about CBD. A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used for one question (“Please indicate the likelihood you would recommend CBD as part of a pain management regimen.”), which was repeated before and after the summary sheet to see if respondents modified their answer after completing the educational component. Results: One hundred responses were collected from sports medicine surgeons. Most surgeons (76.2%) believe there is a role for CBD in post-operative pain management. While only 62.4% of respondents believe that CBD could be effective in managing acute pain and inflammation following injury, an overwhelming majority (94.1%) believed that CBD has a role in chronic pain management. A large majority stated that CBD would have no effect on soft tissue (89.1%) or bony (90.1%) healing post- operatively. Most surgeons admitted they were not knowledgeable about the mechanism (84.2%), modes of administration (73.3%), or their states’ laws (66.3%) concerning CBD. A minority (24.8%) believe that CBD has psychoactive properties and 18.8% believe CBD has addictive potential. While most surgeons (76.2%) did not believe they would be stigmatized if they were to suggest CBD to a patient, only 47.5% have ever suggested CBD to a patient. Notably, 94.1% of surgeons have encountered patients who reported trying CBD to treat pain. In the optional open-response section, 32 respondents elaborated on their concerns with most sentiments falling into three predominant themes: a) more evidence is required (10, 31.3%); b) stigmatization from patients (8, 25.0%); c) more regulation is required (5, 15.6%). After reading through the fact sheet, 51.4% of the survey respondents stated that their opinion on CBD had changed, and 62.9% stated they felt inclined to investigate the topic further on their own. Conclusions: A majority of sports medicine surgeons believe that CBD has a role in post-operative and chronic pain management. Surgeons are somewhat familiar with CBD, in part due to its remarkable prevalence among their patient populations, however there is clearly a knowledge gap, suggesting more education is necessary involving what is currently known about the subject and that more research should be targeted toward this developing industry. Current barriers to its routine use in clinical practice include unfamiliarity of the mechanism and dosing, limited evidence and regulation, and patient concerns or patient/surgeon stigmatization.

Improved Outcomes After Reinforced Radial Meniscus Repair Augmented With Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate

To assess clinical outcomes of patients who have undergone surgical repair of radial meniscal tears with reinforced suture bar (rebar) technique augmented with bone marrow aspirate concentrate. This is a retrospective study of a single fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon's experience on all patients who underwent a reinforced repair (rebar) of a radial meniscus tear from November 2016 to 2018, with a minimum of 12-month follow-up. Lysholm scores, IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) Subjective Knee Form scores, and Tegner scalewere collected postoperatively at periods for at least 1 year and retrospectively studied. Patients were followed for an average of 36.3 ± 25.0 months [range: 12.0-69.0 months]. Pain scores improved from 6.1 ± 2.1 to 0.4 ± 1.4 at 1 year (P < .001). IKDC Subjective Knee Form scores improved from 63 ± 26 to 90 ± 13 (P= .021). Lysholm scores improved from 64 ± 28 to 94 ± 9 (P= .025). Based on a calculated minimal clinical important difference (MCID) of 1.5, 100% of patients had improvement above the MCID. In addition, 88% of patients had a 1-year IKDC Subjective Knee Form score above the patient acceptable symptomatic state. Preoperative Tegner activity scale improved from 3 ± 1.5 to 8 ± 2.6 (P= .007). Patients returned to their preinjury activity with little difference in the Tegner activity scale when we compared preinjury and 1-year postoperative (8.1 ± 1.3 vs 8.0 ± 2.6 respectively, P= .317). The rebar repair technique for radial meniscus tears, with bone marrow aspirate concentrate augmentation, showed improved outcomes in both pain and function at minimum follow-up of 12 months. Patients were able to return to a high preinjury activity level by 1 year, and 100% of patients had improvement above the MCID and 88% met patient acceptable symptomatic state. Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Use of Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Anterior Shoulder Instability: Possible Effect on Surgical Management

Background: Glenoid bone loss is a critical factor in the management of anterior shoulder instability (ASI). Computed tomography (CT) is often considered the gold standard to evaluate glenoid bone loss, but it is associated with negative factors such as radiation. Thus, interest exists as to when orthopaedic surgeons need a CT scan to guide decision-making when treating ASI. Purpose: To determine whether information gained from a shoulder CT scan alters orthopaedic surgeons’ management plan for ASI and, secondarily, to determine whether surgeon- and patient-specific factors affect whether a CT scan changes treatment and which clinical factors are most important in surgical decision-making. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A questionnaire composed of 24 ASI vignettes was administered to Herodicus Society members, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Neer Circle members, and sports medicine fellowship–trained orthopaedic surgeons. Participants chose their recommended surgical treatment from the options of arthroscopic Bankart repair, open Bankart repair, bony reconstruction procedure, or other based on patient history, radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were then shown CT images and asked whether their treatment plan changed and, if not, whether the CT scan was not necessary or had reinforced their decision. Generalized linear mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was performed to assess the influence of vignette and respondent characteristics on treatment decisions. Results: A total of 74 orthopaedic surgeons completed the survey; 96% were fellowship trained (sports medicine, 50%; shoulder and elbow surgery, 41%), and 66% practiced in academic settings. CT imaging did not change the selected treatment strategy in 75.6% of responses. In cases when management did not change, surgeons reported that the CT scan reinforced their decision in 53.4% of responses and was not necessary for decision-making in 22.2% of responses. Decision-making was more likely to be changed after CT in male patients and those with off-track lesions. Conclusion: Information gained from a CT scan did not alter treatment decision-making in three-quarters of vignettes among surgeons experienced in the management of ASI. The finding that CT scans did alter the treatment plan in nearly a quarter of cases is not insignificant, and it appears that in patients with borderline glenoid track status and few other risk factors for recurrence after arthroscopic stabilization, CT imaging is more likely to change management.

Exploring Individual Mental Health Issues: A Qualitative Study among Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine Physicians

The mental health of fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians (FTSMPs) around the United States is a subject that needs additional exploration. Currently, there is little research exploring how FTSMPs address their mental health on a routine basis. Using the theory of secondary trauma stress to help navigate this study, the purpose of this expressive, all-purpose qualitative study is to improve the understanding of FTSMPs' perceptions of their mental health and the kinds of strategies used to manage these issues. This is a general qualitative study. All interviews were conducted via video communication platforms such as Zoom. The final sample included 35 FTSMPs: 25 men and 10 women. Data collection used a semi-structured interview approach. Data analysis was carried out using NVivo 12 qualitative data analysis software. Four themes emerged: mental health matters affect individual daily lives of FTSMPs; FTSMPs correlate mental health struggles with stress and anxiety; FTSMPs experience barricades when seeking support for mental health issues; and FTSMPs have poor mental health support-seeking behaviors. Results highlight openings for hospitals and private practice institutions, including producing a maintainable work-life equilibrium for FTSMPs and offering these FTSMPs access to mental health services. These recommendations may diminish exhaustion amongst several FTSMPs, a product detrimental to patients, providers, and hospitals.

Despite Equivalent Clinical Outcomes, Patients Report Less Satisfaction With Telerehabilitation Versus Standard In-Office Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Meniscectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate functional outcomes and satisfaction in patients who underwent telerehabilitation (telerehab) compared with in-person rehabilitation after arthroscopic meniscectomy. A randomized-controlled trial was conducted including patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic meniscectomy for meniscal injury by 1 of 5 fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons between September 2020 and October 2021. Patients were randomized to receive telerehab, defined as exercises and stretches provided by trained physical therapists over a synchronous face-to-face video visit or in-person rehabilitation for their postoperative course. International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) score and satisfaction metrics were collected at baseline and 3 months postoperatively. Analysis was conducted on 60 patients with 3-month follow-up outcomes. There were no significant differences in IKDC scores between groups at baseline (P= .211) and 3 months' postoperatively (P= .065). Patients were more likely to report being satisfied with their rehabilitation group 73% vs. 100% (P= .044) if there were in the in-person group. Satisfaction differed significantly between the 2 groups at the end of their rehabilitation course, and only 64% of those in the telerehab group would elect to undergo telerehab again for future indications. Furthermore, they believed that future rehabilitation would benefit from a hybrid model. Telerehab showed no difference versus traditional in-person rehabilitation in terms of functional outcomes up to 3 months after arthroscopic meniscectomy. However, patients were less satisfied with telerehab. I, randomized controlled trial.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Reported Case Volume of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellows in the United States.

The impact of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on reported case volume during orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship training remains poorly understood from a national perspective. It was hypothesized that reported case volume during orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship training would decrease during the 2019-2020 academic year, which corresponded to the COVID-19 outbreak. It was also hypothesized that there would be a subsequent rebound in case volume during the 2020-2021 academic year. Cohort study. Reported mean case volumes were extracted for 4 academic years (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021), and year-over-year percentage changes were calculated. Parametric tests were used for interyear comparisons. There was a 7% decrease in mean ± SD case volume between the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years (339 ± 123 vs 316 ± 108; P = .042). Case categories with the greatest percentage declines were foot and ankle (-20%), knee instability (-11%), meniscus (-8%), and glenohumeral instability (-7%). There was a 13% year-over-year increase in case volume between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years (316 ± 108 vs 357 ± 117; P < .001). There was a slight decrease in total orthopaedic sports medicine case volume during the 2019-2020 academic year, corresponding to widespread lockdowns during the COVID-19 outbreak. Certain case categories experienced the greatest negative impact. Results from this study may inform accrediting bodies and surgical educators on the impact of future disruptions to health care delivery.

Trends in the Sports Medicine Match: An Analysis of the National Resident Matching Program Data from 2010 to 2021.

Sports medicine (SM) fellowship training has become popular among residents. Thus, an analysis was undertaken to assess data on matching rates from 2010 to 2021. The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in SM fellowship applications using National Resident Matching Program data. Retrospective study with analysis of applicants applying into accredited SM fellowships between 2010 and 2021. The number of accredited programs and fellowship positions have more than doubled from 2010 to 2021. There was a significant increase in match rates over time (P < 0.001); match rates were at 70% or below prior to 2015 and above 70% after 2015. The average number of applicants per position stayed consistent. The number of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine applicants increased 110% whereas the number of U.S. born foreign and non-U.S. citizen applicants decreased 20.8%. SM fellowship training has increased since 2010. Acceptance rates and number of applicants have increased over time because of the growth in fellowship programs and accredited positions.

The Relative Citation Ratio: Evaluating a New Measure of Scientific Influence Among Academic Sports Medicine Surgeons.

Objective measures of research influence are being increasingly utilized to evaluate and compare academic faculty. However, traditional bibliometrics, such as the Hirsch index and article citation count, are biased by time-dependent factors and are limited by a lack of field normalization. The relative citation ratio (RCR) is a new field- and time-normalized article-level metric developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the RCR among fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgeons and to analyze physician factors associated with RCR values. We hypothesized that the mean RCR score for fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgery faculty will fall above the NIH standard. Cross-sectional study. A retrospective data analysis was performed using the iCite database for all fellowship-trained sports medicine surgery faculty associated with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs in December 2021. In eligible faculty, the mean RCR, weighted RCR, and total publication count were compared by sex, career duration, academic rank, and presence of additional degrees. A mean RCR value of 1.0 is the NIH-funded field-normalized standard. The data herein are presented as the median and interquartile range, in addition to the mean and standard deviation, to account for outliers of the mean and weighted RCR scores. A total of 624 fellowship-trained sports medicine surgery faculty members from 160 orthopaedic surgery residency programs were included in the analysis. Overall, faculty produced impactful research, with a median RCR of 1.6 (interquartile range, 1.0-2.2) and a median weighted RCR of 19.3 (interquartile range, 5.1-69.3). Advanced academic rank and career longevity were associated with increased weighted RCR and total publication count. All subgroups analyzed had an RCR value >1.0. Study findings indicate that fellowship-trained academic sports medicine surgery faculty are highly productive and produce impactful research, as evidenced by the high median RCR value relative to the benchmark NIH RCR value of 1.0.

Poster 236: There is No Difference in Early Functional Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Tele-Rehabilitation versus Standard in Office Rehab after Arthroscopic Meniscectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives:While a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that tele-rehabilitation is effective, the functional outcomes of patients undergoing tele-rehabilitation as compared to in-person rehabilitation after arthroscopic meniscectomy remains unclear. This is especially salient against the backdrop of COVID-19 and the Delta variant and the subsequent increased demand for remote care of these patients.Methods:A randomized-controlled trial was conducted including patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic meniscectomy for meniscal injury by one of five fellowship trained sports medicine surgeons between August 2020 and May 2021. Patients were randomized to receive tele-rehabilitation, defined as exercises and stretches provided by trained physical therapists over a synchronous face-to-face video visit, or in-person rehabilitation for their post-operative course. International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score were collected at timepoints of baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-operatively. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student T-test to assess for differences across the two groups.Results:An interim analysis was conducted on 60 patients with 6 month follow-up outcomes. There were no significant differences in VAS scores between groups at baseline (p =0.716) and 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.700). and 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.688). In addition, no significant differences in IKDC scores were seen between the groups at baseline (p = 0.146) and 3 months (p = 0.746). At 6 months, 24 patients were available with no significant differences observed across groups at this time point (IKDC; p = 0.633) (VAS; p = 0.688).Conclusions:Tele-rehabilitation is demonstrated to be as efficacious as traditional in-person rehabilitation following arthroscopic meniscectomy at up to 6 months post-op. This serves as a convenient and safe alternative for conventional patients during their post-operative course.

Early-Career Sports Medicine Surgeons Perform a Large Volume of Non-Sports Medicine Procedures: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part-II Data Regarding Orthopaedic Surgeons Specializing in Sports Medicine.

The purpose of this study was to utilize the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part-II Case List database to (1) define the practice patterns of sports medicine-trained ABOS Part- II Oral Examination Candidates and (2) describe the frequency and practice patterns of individuals who are dual fellowship-trained sports medicine candidates. The ABOS Part-II Case List database was utilized to define all cases submitted by 3,298 applicants indicating completion of a sports medicine fellowship between January 1, 2003, and January 1, 2020. Cases were classified by subspecialty category and case type. The frequency and practice patterns of candidates pursuing additional fellowship training (i.e., "dual fellowship-trained") were recorded. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the annual and overall procedure volume and candidate case mix. Trends in the relative frequency of cases performed and fellowship training patterns were determined using linear regression analysis. On average, sports medicine-trained candidates submitted 100.6 cases for review during the 6-month case collection period: 59.0 (58.6%) sports medicine/arthroscopy cases, 29.3 (29.1%) trauma/general cases, 4.5 (4.5%) adult reconstruction cases, and 7.8 (7.8%) "other" cases per candidate. Although candidates performed fewer total (r 2 = 0.84, p < 0.001) and sports medicine/arthroscopy (r 2 = 0.85, p < 0.001) cases over the study period, the proportion of sports medicine/arthroscopy cases did not change over the study period (p = 0.18). Dual fellowship training was indicated by 333 individuals (10.1%). The number of dual fellowship-trained candidates pursuing additional fellowship training in pediatrics and adult reconstruction increased over the study period, and the number of dual fellowship-trained candidates pursuing additional fellowship training in trauma decreased over the study period. Early-career sports medicine candidates are likely to perform >40% of cases outside of the sports medicine subspecialty. Sports medicine trainees are increasingly likely to pursue a second fellowship in pediatrics or adult reconstruction. Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A Biomechanical Comparison of the LaPrade Technique Versus a Novel Technique for Reconstruction of Medial-Sided Knee Injuries

Background: Medial-sided knee injuries can lead to symptomatic valgus laxity or anteromedial rotatory instability and may require surgery, particularly in the setting of cruciate tears and tibial-sided medial collateral ligament (MCL) avulsions. The LaPrade (LP) technique utilizes 2 free grafts to reconstruct the superficial MCL (sMCL) and the posterior oblique ligament (POL). An alternative MCL reconstruction devised by the senior author comprises an anatomic single-bundle reconstruction using a free graft to reconstruct the sMCL with advancement and imbrication of the posteromedial capsule/POL (MCL anatomic reconstruction with capsular imbrication [MARCI] technique). These techniques have not been biomechanically compared with one another. Purpose: To identify if one of these reconstruction techniques better restores valgus and rotational medial knee stability throughout the range of motion. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 20 fresh-frozen, male (mean age, 43.7 years [range, 20-63 years]), midfemur-to-toe-matched cadaveric knees were utilized. All reconstructions were performed by a single fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon. Left and right specimens within matched pairs were randomized to 1 of the 2 treatment groups: LP or MARCI. Each specimen was tested in 3 phases: (1) intact knee, (2) destabilized (MCL and POL completely severed), and (3) reconstructed (post-LP or post-MARCI reconstruction). We quantified valgus angulation defined by medial joint line opening, as well as internal and external tibial rotation at 0°, 20°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of knee flexion under applied external moments/torques at each phase. Results: There were significant differences between the MARCI and LP reconstruction groups in valgus stability compared with the intact state (P = .021), with the MARCI reconstruction more closely approximating the intact knee. There was no overall difference between the MARCI and LP reconstruction techniques for internal rotation (P = .163), with both closely resembling the intact state. For external rotation, the effect of the reconstruction technique was dependent on the knee flexion angle (P < .001). At the highest angles, there were no differences between reconstructions; however, for lower knee flexion angles, the MARCI technique more closely resembled the intact state. Conclusion: Although both techniques improved knee stability compared with destabilized conditions, the MARCI technique better approximated intact stability during valgus at knee flexion angles from 0° to 90° and external rotation loads at knee flexion angles ≤30° in a cadaveric model. Clinical Relevance: The MARCI technique provides an alternative option to improve valgus stability throughout the range of motion. It utilizes a POL advancement without the potential limitations seen in the LP technique, such as multiple tunnel complexity and collision, particularly in the multiple ligament–injured knee.