Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society orthopedic surgeons in the United States:An analysis of geographical distribution,academic,leadership,and demographic characteristics

BACKGROUND The Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society(LLRS)is a premier orthopedic specialty organization that promotes limb reconstruction for all ages.LLRS membership characteristics,however,are poorly reported.This study delineates orthopedic surgeon LLRS members’demographic traits,academic achievement,leadership attainment,and geographical distribution across the United States.AIM To inform aspiring orthopedic professionals,as well as to promote growth and diversity in both the LLRS organization and overarching field.METHODS This cross-sectional study examined United States LLRS members’academic,leadership,demographic,and geographical attributes.After reviewing the 2023 LLRS member directory,Google search results were matched to the listings and appended to the compiled data.Sex and ethnicity were evaluated visually utilizing retrieved images.The Hirsch index(H-index)of academic activity,residency and fellowship training,other graduate degrees,leadership positions,practice type(academic or non-academic),and spoken languages were categorized.LLRS members per state and capita determined geographic distribution.The Mann Whitney U test was applied to compare H-index between males and females,as well as to assess member differences pertaining to affiliation with academic vs non-academic practice facilities.RESULTS The study included 101 orthopedic surgeons,78(77.23%)Caucasian and 23(22.77%)non-Caucasian,79(78.22%)male and 22(21.78%)female.Surgeons with DO degrees comprised only 3.96%(4)of the cohort,while the vast majority held MDs[96.04%(97)].Mean H-index was 10.55,with male surgeons having a significantly higher score(P=0.002).Most orthopedic surgeons(88.12%,)practiced in academic centers.Of those professionals who occupied leadership positions,14%were women,while 86%were men.Additionally,19(37.25%)United States regions and the District of Columbia lacked an LLRS-member orthopedic surgeon.Total per capita rate across the United States was 0.30 LLRS orthopedic surgeons per 1 million people.CONCLUSION Over 21%of LLRS members are women,surpassing prior benchmarks noted in orthopedic faculty reporting.LLRS members’high research productivity scores imply field dedication that can refine expertise in the limb lengthening and reconstruction space.Gender disparities in leadership remain,however,necessitating greater equity efforts.A low rate of LLRS representation per capita must be addressed geographically as well,to affect improvements in regional care access.This study can serve to support aspiring orthopedic professionals,inform diversity,leadership,and field advancement strategies,and maintain the continued goal of enhanced patient care worldwide.

Unhappy triad of the knee:What are the current concepts and opinions?

The association between injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament,medial collateral ligament,and medial meniscus(MM)has been known to orthopedic surgeons since 1936;O’Donoghue first used the term"unhappy triad"of the knee to describe this condition in 1950.Later studies revealed that involvement of the lateral meniscus is more common than MM in these cases,leading to a change in the definition.Recent studies have revealed that this triad may be primarily linked to knee anterolateral complex injuries.Although there is not a definite management protocol for this triad,we try to mention the most recent concepts about it in addition to expert opinions.

Combined medial patellofemoral ligament and medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction in recurrent patellar instability:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The medial patellofemoral ligament(MPFL),along with the medial patellotibial ligament(MPTL)and medial patellomeniscal ligament,aid in the stabilization of the patellofemoral joint.Although the MPFL is the primary stabilizer and the MPTL is a secondary limiter,this ligament is critical in maintaining joint stability.There have been few studies on the combined MPFL and MPTL reconstruction and its benefits.AIM To look into the outcomes of combined MPFL and MPTL reconstruction in frequent patellar instability.METHODS By May 8,2022,four electronic databases were searched:Medline(PubMed),Scopus,Web of Science,and Google Scholar.General keywords such as"patellar instability,""patellar dislocation,""MPFL,""medial patellofemoral ligament,""MPTL,"and"medial patellotibial ligament"were co-searched to increase the sensitivity of the search.RESULTS The pooled effects of combined MPFL and MPTL reconstruction for Kujala score(12-mo followup)and Kujala score(24-mo follow-up)were positive and incremental,according to the findings of this meta-analysis.The mean difference between the Cincinnati scores was also positive,but not statistically significant.The combination of the two surgeries reduces pain.According to cumulative meta-analysis,the trend of pain reduction in various studies is declining over time.CONCLUSION The combined MPFL and MPTL reconstruction has good clinical results in knee function and,in addition to providing good control to maintain patellofemoral joint balance,the patient's pain level decreases over time,making it a valid surgical method for patella stabilization.

Aging: A cell source limiting factor in tissue engineering

Tissue engineering has yet to reach its ideal goal,i.e.creating profitable off-theshelf tissues and organs,designing scaffolds and three-dimensional tissue architectures that can maintain the blood supply,proper biomaterial selection,and identifying the most efficient cell source for use in cell therapy and tissue engineering.These are still the major challenges in this field.Regarding the identification of the most appropriate cell source,aging as a factor that affects both somatic and stem cells and limits their function and applications is a preventable and,at least to some extents,a reversible phenomenon.Here,we reviewed different stem cell types,namely embryonic stem cells,adult stem cells,induced pluripotent stem cells,and genetically modified stem cells,as well as their sources,i.e.autologous,allogeneic,and xenogeneic sources.Afterward,we approached aging by discussing the functional decline of aged stem cells and different intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are involved in stem cell aging including replicative senescence and Hayflick limit,autophagy,epigenetic changes,miRNAs,mTOR and AMPK pathways,and the role of mitochondria in stem cell senescence.Finally,various interventions for rejuvenation and geroprotection of stem cells are discussed.These interventions can be applied in cell therapy and tissue engineering methods to conquer aging as a limiting factor,both in original cell source and in the in vitro proliferated cells.

Impacts of radiation therapy on quality of life and pain relief in patients with bone metastases

Bone metastases(BM)are a common complication in advanced cancer patients,significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality due to their ability to cause pain,fractures,and spinal cord compression.Radiation therapy(RT)is vital in managing these complications by targeting metastatic lesions to ease pain,improve mobility,and reduce the risk of skeletal-related events such as fractures.Evidence supports the effectiveness of RT in pain relief,showing its ability to provide significant palliation and lessen the need for opioid painkillers,thereby enhancing the overall quality of life(QoL)for patients with BM.However,optimizing RT outcomes involves considerations such as the choice of radiation technique,dose fractionation schedules,and the integration of supportive care measures to mitigate treatment-related side effects like fatigue and skin reactions.These factors highlight the importance of personalized treatment planning tailored to individual patient needs and tumor characteristics.This mini-review aims to provide comprehensive insights into the multifaceted impacts of RT on pain management and QoL enhancement in BM patients,with implications for refining clinical practices and advancing patient care through the synthesis of findings from various studies.