Fantasy football points capture performance declines in National Football League offensive skill players following an ankle injury

Background

The ankle is one of the anatomic sites most frequently injured in National Football League (NFL) players. Ankle injuries have previously been shown to have long-lasting negative impacts, and have been associated with impaired athletic performance. The aim of this study was to use fantasy football points as a metric to evaluate the impact of ankle injuries on NFL offensive skill player performance.

Methods

An open-access online database was used to identify NFL players who sustained ankle injuries from 2009 to 2020. Another public online database was used to determine fantasy points and other performance metrics for injured offensive skill players in the seasons before and after their ankle injury. Injured players were matched to a healthy control by position, age, and BMI. Paired T-tests were performed to evaluate performance metrics before and after the ankle injury. An ANCOVA was performed to assess the effect of return to play (RTP) time and injury type on fantasy performance.

Results

303 players with ankle injuries were included. Fantasy output, including average points per game (PPG) and total fantasy points accrued in one season, significantly decreased in the season following a player's ankle injury (p < 0.0001). In running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers, performance significantly decreased in every metric evaluated (p < 0.0001). In quarterbacks, there was no significant change in performance, except for a decrease in the number of games played (p = 0.0033) and in the number of interceptions thrown (p = 0.029).

Conclusion

Assessing fantasy football output revealed a decrease in player performance in the season following an ankle injury, especially in route-running players. These results can be used to inform injury prevention and rehabilitation practices in the NFL.

The Impact of Posterior Intervertebral Osteophytes on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

(1) To develop a reliable grading system to assess the severity of posterior intervertebral osteophytes and (2) to investigate the impact of posterior intervertebral osteophytes on clinical outcomes after L5-S1 decompression and fusion through anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and minimally-invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF).

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence regarding the clinical implications of posterior lumbar vertebral body osteophytes for ALIF and MIS-TLIF surgeries and there are no established grading systems that define the severity of these posterior lumbar intervertebral osteophytes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing L5-S1 ALIF or MIS-TLIF was performed. Preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome measures of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and leg Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 2-week, 6-week, 12-week, and 6-month follow-up time points were assessed. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for ODI of 14.9 and VAS leg of 2.8 were utilized. Osteophyte grade was based on the ratio of osteophyte length to foraminal width. "High-grade" osteophytes were defined as a maximal osteophyte length >50% of the total foraminal width.

RESULTS

A total of 70 consecutive patients (32 ALIF and 38 MIS-TLIF) were included in the study. There were no significant differences between the two cohorts in patient-reported outcome measures or achievement of MCID for Leg VAS or ODI preoperatively or at any follow-ups. On multivariate analysis, neither the surgical approach nor the presence of high-grade foraminal osteophytes was associated with leg VAS or ODI scores at any follow-up time point. In addition, neither the surgical approach nor the presence of high-grade foraminal osteophytes was associated with the achievement of MCID for leg VAS or ODI at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

ALIF and MIS-TLIF are both valid options for treating degenerative spine conditions and lumbar radiculopathy, even in the presence of high-grade osteophytes that significantly occupy the intervertebral foramen.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Ninety Percent of Patients Are Satisfied With Their Decision to Undergo Spine Surgery for Degenerative Conditions

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey and retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

OBJECTIVE

To explore how patients perceive their decision to pursue spine surgery for degenerative conditions and evaluate factors correlated with decisional regret.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Prior research shows that one-in-five older adults regret their decision to undergo spinal deformity surgery. However, no studies have investigated decisional regret in patients with degenerative conditions.

METHODS

Patients who underwent cervical or lumbar spine surgery for degenerative conditions (decompression, fusion, or disk replacement) between April 2017 and December 2020 were included. The Ottawa Decisional Regret Questionnaire was implemented to assess prevalence of decisional regret. Questionnaire scores were used to categorize patients into low (<40) or medium/high (≥40) decisional regret cohorts. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the Oswestry Disability Index, Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Back/Leg/Arm, and Neck Disability Index at preoperative, early postoperative (<6 mo), and late postoperative (≥6 mo) timepoints. Differences in demographics, operative variables, and PROMs between low and medium/high decisional regret groups were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 295 patients were included (mean follow-up: 18.2 mo). Overall, 92% of patients agreed that having surgery was the right decision, and 90% would make the same decision again. In contrast, 6% of patients regretted the decision to undergo surgery, and 7% noted that surgery caused them harm. In-hospital complications (P=0.02) and revision fusion (P=0.026) were significantly associated with higher regret. The medium/high decisional regret group also exhibited significantly worse PROMs at long-term follow-up for all metrics except VAS-Arm, and worse achievement of minimum clinically important difference for Oswestry Disability Index (P=0.007), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (P<0.0001), and VAS-Leg (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher decisional regret was encountered in the setting of need for revision fusion, increased in-hospital complications, and worse PROMs. However, 90% of patients overall were satisfied with their decision to undergo spine surgery for degenerative conditions. Current tools for assessing patient improvement postoperatively may not adequately capture the psychosocial values and patient expectations implicated in decisional regret.

The Reverse Fragility Index for Mortality End Points in Randomized Trials Comparing Uncemented and Cemented Hemiarthroplasty for Intracapsular Hip Fractures

BACKGROUND

Interpreting clinical relevance of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is challenging when P-values are marginally above or below the P = .05 threshold. This study examined the robustness of statistically insignificant mortality events from RCTs comparing hemiarthroplasty femoral fixation for displaced intracapsular hip fractures through the reverse fragility index (RFI).

METHODS

RCTs were identified using Pubmed, OVID/Medline, and Cochrane databases. Mortality endpoints were stratified into 3 categories: (1) within 30-days, (2) within 90-days, and (3) at latest follow-up. The RFI was derived by manipulating reported mortality events utilizing a contingency table while maintaining a constant number of participants. The reverse fragility quotient (RFQ) was quantified by dividing the RFI by the study sample.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs (2,494 participants) were included. The median RFI and RFQ within 30-days was 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.0 to 6.0) and 0.016 (IQR: 0.015 to 0.021), suggesting nonsignificant findings were contingent on 1.6 mortality events/100 participants. The median RFI and RFQ within 90-days was 6.0 (IQR: 4.0 to 7.0) and 0.028 (IQR: 0.024 to 0.038), suggesting nonsignificant findings were contingent on 2.8 mortality events/100 participants. At latest follow-up, the median RFI and RFQ was 7.0 (IQR: 6.0 to 12.0) and 0.038 (IQR: 0.029 to 0.054), suggesting nonsignificant findings were contingent on only 3.8 mortality events/100 participants. Median loss to follow-up was 16.0 (IQR: 11.0 to 58.0; 228% greater than RFI), and exceeded the RFI in 6/7(85.7%) studies.

CONCLUSIONS

A small number of events (median of 7) was required to convert a statistically nonsignificant finding to one that is significant for the endpoint of mortality. The median loss to follow-up exceeded the median RFI by greater than 200%, suggesting methodological limitations such as patient allocation could alter conclusions.

Limited Improvement with Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression Alone for Degenerative Scoliosis with Cobb Angle over 20 Degrees: The Impact of Decompression Location

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected multi-surgeon registry.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive (MI) decompression in patients with severe degenerative scoliosis (DS) and identify factors associated with poorer outcomes.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND CONTEXT

MI decompression has gained widespread acceptance as a treatment option for patients with lumbar canal stenosis and DS. However, there is a lack of research regarding the clinical outcomes and the impact of MI decompression location in patients with severe DS exhibiting a Cobb angle exceeding 20 degrees.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent MI decompression alone were included and categorized into the DS or control groups based on Cobb angle (>20 degrees). Decompression location was labeled as "scoliosis-related" when the decompression levels were across or between end vertebrae, and "outside" when the operative levels did not include the end vertebrae. The outcomes including Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were compared between the propensity score-matched groups for improvement and minimal clinical importance difference (MCID) achievement at ≥1 year postoperatively. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to identify factors contributing to the non-achievement of MCID in ODI of the DS group at the ≥1 year timepoint.

RESULTS

A total of 253 patients (41 DS) were included in the study. Following matching for age, gender, osteoporosis status, psoas muscle area, and preoperative ODI, the DS groups exhibited a significantly lower rate of MCID achievement in ODI (DS: 45.5% vs. control 69.0%, P=0.047). The "scoliosis-related" decompression (Odds ratio: 9.9, P=0.028) was an independent factor of non-achievement of MCID in ODI within the DS group.

CONCLUSION

In patients with a Cobb angle>20 degrees, lumbar decompression surgery, even in the MI approach, may result in limited improvement of disability and physical function. Caution should be exercised when determining a surgical plan, especially when decompression involves the level between or across the end vertebrae.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Robot-navigated pedicle screw insertion can reduce intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay: analysis of 1,633 patients utilizing propensity score matching

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Navigation and robotic technologies have emerged as an alternative option to conventional freehand techniques for pedicle screw insertion. However, the effectiveness of these technologies in reducing the perioperative complications of spinal fusion surgery remains limited due to the small cohort size in the existing literature.

PURPOSE

To investigate whether utilization of robotically navigated pedicle screw insertion can reduce the perioperative complications of spinal fusion surgery-including reoperations-with a sizeable cohort.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Patients who underwent primary lumbar fusion surgery between 2019 and 2022.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Perioperative complications including readmission, reoperation, its reasons, estimated blood loss, operative time, and length of hospital stay.

METHODS

Patients' data were collected including age, sex, race, body mass index, upper-instrumented vertebra, lower-instrumented vertebra, number of screws inserted, and primary procedure name. Patients were classified into the following two groups: freehand group and robot group. The variable-ratio greedy matching was utilized to create the matched cohorts by propensity score and compared the outcomes between the two group.

RESULTS

A total of 1,633 patients who underwent primary instrumented spinal lumbar fusion surgery were initially identified (freehand 1,286; robot 347). After variable ratio matching was performed with age, sex, body mass index, fused levels, and upper instrumented vertebrae level, 694 patients in the freehand group and 347 patients in robot groups were selected. The robot group showed less estimated blood loss (418.9±398.9 vs 199.2±239.6 ml; p<.001), shorter LOS (4.1±3.1 vs 3.2±3.0 days; p<.001) and similar operative time (212.5 vs 222.0 minutes; p=.151). Otherwise, there was no significant difference in readmission rate (3.6% vs 2.6%; p=.498), reoperation rate (3.2% vs 2.6%; p=.498), and screw malposition requiring reoperation (five cases, 0.7% vs one case, 0.3%; p=1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative complications requiring readmission and reoperation were similar between fluoroscopy guided freehand and robotic surgery. Robot-guided pedicle screw insertion can enhance surgical efficiency by reducing intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay without extending operative time.

Improvement in predominant back pain following minimally invasive decompression for spinal stenosis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients with predominant back pain (pBP) undergoing minimally invasive decompression surgery compared with patients with nonpredominant back pain (npBP).

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presenting complaint: 1) pBP, defined as visual analog scale (VAS) back pain score > VAS leg pain score; and 2) npBP. Changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared at the early (< 6 months) and late (≥ 6 months) postoperative time points. Outcomes measures were: 1) PROMs (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], VAS back and leg pain scores, 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey Physical Component Score [SF-12 PCS], and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function [PROMIS PF]), and 2) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement rate and time. For the late MCID achievement point, a second analysis was conducted restricting VAS back and leg pain scores only to patients with preoperative scores ≥ 5.

RESULTS

Three hundred ninety patients were included (126 with pBP and 264 with npBP). There were no differences in patient demographics and operated levels. There were no differences in preoperative ODI, SF-12 PCS, and PROMIS PF scores. The pBP cohort had a significantly greater preoperative VAS back pain score than the npBP cohort, whereas the npBP cohort had a significantly greater preoperative VAS leg pain score than the pBP cohort. There were no differences in the absolute values or changes in ODI, VAS back pain, SF-12 PCS, and PROMIS PF scores at any time point. There was a significant difference in the early VAS leg pain scores (greater in npBP) that disappeared by the late postoperative time point. There was no difference in the MCID achievement rate in the ODI, SF-12 PCS, or PROMIS PF scores. By the late postoperative time point, 51.2% and 55.3% achieved an MCID on the ODI, 58.1% and 62.7% on the SF-12 PCS, 60% and 67.6% on the PROMIS PF, 81.1% and 73.2% on VAS back pain scores for those with preoperative scores ≥ 5, and 72% and 83.6% on VAS leg pain scores for those with preoperative scores ≥ 5 for the pBP and npBP cohorts, respectively. Additionally, there were no differences in time to MCID achievement for any PROMs.

CONCLUSIONS

The pBP and npBP cohorts showed similar improvement in PROMs and MCID achievement rates. This result shows that minimally invasive laminectomy is equally effective for patients presenting with pBP or npBP.

Differential pericyte marker expression in craniofacial benign and malignant vascular tumors

BACKGROUND

Vascular anomalies and tumors are common in the head, neck, and craniofacial areas and are associated with abnormalities in the angiomatous architecture. However, the etiology and molecular basis for the pathogenesis of most vascular lesions are still unknown. Pericytes are mural cells that surround endothelial cells. Besides angiogenesis and other physiological functions, pericytes play an important role in vascularized tissue repair and as resident mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells. Perivascular cells demonstrate a distinct immunohistochemical profile, including expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD146, CD105, and PDGFRβ, without endothelial differentiation (absence of CD31 and CD34 immunoreactivity). These pericyte markers have been shown to be expressed in soft tissue hemangiomas. However, they have not been fully examined in intraosseous hemangiomas.

METHODS

In this study, we compared mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) expression of CD146 and α-SMA markers in pericytes from hemangiomas from different tissues and malignant vascular tumors.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated an increased expression of pericyte markers in perivascular cells of benign hemangiomas, especially intraosseous hemangiomas and a significantly reduced expression of pericyte markers in malignant angiosarcomas.

CONCLUSION

The evidence provides insight into the function of pericytes in vascular tumors and suggests their role in vascular tumor disease types.

TIAM1 acts as an actin organization regulator to control adipose-derived pericyte cell fate

Pericytes are multipotent mesenchymal precursor cells that demonstrate tissue-specific properties. In this study, by comparing human adipose and periosteal-derived pericyte microarrays, we identified TIAM1 as a key regulator of cell morphology and differentiation decisions. TIAM1 represents a tissue-specific determinant between predispositions for adipocytic versus osteoblastic differentiation in human pericytes. TIAM1 overexpression promotes an adipogenic phenotype, whereas its downregulation amplifies osteogenic differentiation. These results were replicated in vivo xenograft animal model, in which TIAM1 misexpression altered bone or adipose tissue generation in an intramuscular xenograft animal model. Changes in pericyte differentiation potential induced by TIAM1 misexpression correlated with actin organization and altered cytoskeletal morphology. Small molecule inhibitors of either Rac1 or RhoA/ROCK signaling reversed TIAM1-induced morphology and differentiation in pericytes. Finally, pericytes within calcified vessels demonstrated decreased TIAM1 expression in the diseased area compared to the healthy tissue. In summary, our results demonstrate that TIAM1 regulates the cellular morphology and differentiation potential of human pericytes, representing a molecular switch between osteogenic and adipogenic cell fates.

Prevalence, management, and outcomes of nerve injury after shoulder arthroplasty: a case-control study and review of the literature

Background

Neurologic injury is a rare and potentially devastating complication of shoulder arthroplasty. Patients typically present with a mixed plexopathy or mononeuropathy, most commonly affecting the axillary and radial nerves. Given the paucity of studies available on the topic, our goal was to elucidate the prevalence of nerve injury after shoulder arthroplasty and to describe the treatment course and outcomes of neurologic injuries.

Methods

This is a retrospective case-control study performed at a single, urban, academic institution. Consecutive patients who underwent anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) by a single surgeon from 2014 to 2020 were reviewed, and patients with a documented nerve injury were identified. A control group of patients without nerve injury were selected in a 2:1 ratio controlling for age and procedure type (TSA vs. RSA; primary vs. revision). Data collected included demographics, comorbidities as per the Charlson Comorbidity Index, radiographic evaluations, surgical and implant details, patient-reported outcome measures, and perioperative complications.

Results

Of 923 patients, 33 (3.6%) sustained an iatrogenic nerve injury: 10 (2.1%) after TSA, 23 (5.0%) after RSA, and 3 (7.8%) after revision arthroplasty. Axillary mononeuropathy was most common (42%), followed by brachial plexopathies (18%). There was no significant difference in age, sex, race, body mass index, and preoperative diagnoses between groups. Patients with nerve injury had fewer comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index <3, 33 vs. 65%, P<.001). Patients with nerve injury had higher rates of cervical spine pathology (15 vs. 6%; P = .15) and increased postoperative lateralization (8.9 mm [7.2] vs. 5.5 mm [7.3]; P<.06). The majority (91%) were managed with observation alone. Three (9%) underwent an additional procedure: carpal tunnel release (1, 3%), ulnar nerve decompression (1, 3%), and ulnar nerve transposition (1, 3%) for peripheral compressive neuropathies. At the final follow-up, 19 (57%) nerves fully recovered, and 14 (43%) showed mild residual sensorimotor dysfunction. The mean time to first sign of recovery and ultimate recovery were 11 (7.2) and 36 (23.5) weeks, respectively. At the final follow-up, patients with nerve injury performed worse on patient-reported outcomes, including visual analog score pain (2.2 vs. 1.0, P<.001), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (67.8 vs. 84.8, P<.001), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores (62 vs. 77, P = .009).

Discussion

Nerve injury after shoulder arthroplasty is rare, occurring in 3.6% of our patient population. Axillary mononeuropathy and brachial plexopathies are the most common. Most patients can be managed expectantly with observation and will recover at least partial nerve function, although clinical outcomes remain inferior to those without nerve complication.