Scoliosis is a medical condition where the spine curves sideways, and it can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. In severe cases, surgery is usually recommended to avoid health complications further down the road. Fortunately, advancements in scoliosis surgery mean minimally invasive techniques are on the rise.
In this article, we’ll explore these innovative methods and how they’re transforming scoliosis care.
Understanding Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for scoliosis marks a shift from traditional open surgery to methods that involve smaller incisions and less disruption to the body’s tissue. Surgeons use specialized tools and technology to perform precision surgery with less physical impact, leading to faster recovery and less post-surgery discomfort. (more…)
Whether planning a surgery or recovering from one, it is always important to take ample rest and prepare for a smooth experience. Preoperative preparation andpost operative home care can, in fact, help minimize potential risks and ensure satisfactory outcomes.Proactively optimizing physical and emotional well-being can help improve a patient’s overall health and increase their chances of a successful recovery. This may cover pre-surgery guidance and advice based on the patient’s medical history, dietary modifications, level and need of emotional support, and other practical considerations.This article explores the various aspects of pre-surgery preparation to equip patients with the information and resources they need. The importance of pre-surgery care cannot be overstated, and patients must play an active role in their own healthcare for faster recovery.(more…)
Medical professionals often inquire about dental crowns before surgery due to potential complications linked to anesthesia and medical equipment. Crowns can interfere with certain procedures, such as the use of airway management tools, requiring extra precautions in the operating room.
Patients with dental crowns may face risks like dislodgment or damage during intubation, highlighting the need for careful planning. This ensures both the safety and effectiveness of the surgery, minimizing unexpected issues.
Understanding these considerations can ease concerns and foster better communication between patient and doctor. By informing the surgical team about dental work, individuals can help ensure their procedure goes smoothly.
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Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular, offering individuals the opportunity to enhance their appearance and, by extension, their self-esteem. However, as the demand for these procedures grows, so does the importance of understanding the safety protocols involved. Whether considering a simple cosmetic enhancement or multiple complex procedures, the priority must always be on ensuring the highest safety standards.
Understanding the Risks Associated with Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery, like any surgical intervention, comes with its set of risks and complications. Common concerns include infection, adverse reactions to anesthesia, and scarring, which can vary in severity from minor to life-altering. However, these risks can escalate when multiple surgeries are performed in a single session. For instance, longer operative times increase the risk of complications such as deep vein thrombosis or excessive blood loss. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these risks is crucial not only for the patient but also for the surgical team preparing for the operation.
Patients must undergo a comprehensive health assessment prior to surgery. This evaluation helps to identify any underlying conditions that could complicate the surgery or the healing process. It is also a time for the surgeon to discuss with the patient the realistic outcomes and potential risks involved in their specific case.
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These days, more and more people want to look good without looking “done.” Plastic surgeons recognize this shift and now aim to help patients achieve a natural look with popular procedures like rhinoplasty and skin tightening. According to a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, about 70% of people prefer subtle enhancements rather than over-the-top changes, which tells you that patients desire to maintain their original charm while enhancing their features.
Natural Rhinoplasty
When it comes to rhinoplasty, many individuals worry about getting a nose that looks fake. To address this concern, surgeons now prioritize an anatomical approach. Plastic surgeons plan to work closely with patients before the procedure to discuss how to achieve a more natural appearance. They use advanced imaging technology, such as 3D modeling, to let patients visualize potential results. This technology provides patients with clearer expectations, and helps them feel confident that their new nose will complement their face without changing their identity.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Matthew Magruder, MD PGY3
Orthopaedic Residency Program
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Maimonides Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?Response: The prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions. Approximately 37.3 million people in the United States, accounting for 11.3% of the total population, have diabetes, and 100.1 million, or 41.9%, of all US citizens are obese. Furthermore, these numbers are only projected to increase in the coming decades. This is an issue for orthopaedic surgeons because diabetes and obesity have consistently been demonstrated to be risk factors for complications following total joint replacements, especially total hip replacements. Therefore, we are in desperate need of new and more effective tools in mitigating the risk of poor outcomes in our joint replacement patients.
Semaglutide, and other GLP-1 agonists, are potentially a new tool that can be used to help decrease the risks following joint replacement surgery. Initially a medication to treat diabetes, semaglutide has recently been approved by the FDA to treat obesity as well, as randomized controlled trials have consistently demonstrated significant weight loss with minimal side effects. The purpose of our study was to see what effect the use of semaglutide had on total hip arthroplasty patient outcomes.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Christopher Wallis, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Urology
Department of Surgery
University of Toronto and Urologic Oncologist
Mount Sinai Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: Could you give a little context - what was the question you were looking at?
We have been studying how the primary treating surgeons sociocultural characteristics impact the recovery of patients they are looking after.
Specifically, we have been studying the effect of surgeon sex on outcomes such as death, complications and readmission after common and complex surgeries. These are outcomes that are important to patients and the health system.
Previously, we showed that patients with a female surgeon had better short term (30 day) outcomes than similar patients having surgery with a man. This study asked the question of whether the sex of a patient’s surgeon affects patients’ longer term outcomes at 90 days and 1 year, after surgery.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Paul Potnuru, MD
Assistant Professor
Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine
The John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
UTHealthMedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?Response: The use of cannabis is on the rise in the United States, as it becomes increasingly legally accepted and is viewed as harmless. Furthermore, the potency of cannabis is steadily increasing over time.
There is some evidence from previous studies that compared to non-users, cannabis users require more anesthetics, have higher pain after surgery that requires more opioids, and have an increased risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Given this context of increased usage and potential risks during surgery, we conducted a study to examine the impact of cannabis use on patients undergoing surgery.
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One way to achieve natural-looking results with minimal bruising and swelling is to choose a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon who can perform the procedure with precision and care. Additionally, certain surgical techniques, such as using smaller incisions or utilizing advanced technology like lasers or ultrasound, can help reduce trauma to the skin and underlying tissues, leading to less bruising and swelling.
Another approach is to follow a customized postoperative plan that includes proper aftercare, such as avoiding certain medications and activities that can increase the risk of bruising or swelling. Finally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise can also contribute to a faster and smoother recovery process. By taking these steps, you can help ensure natural-looking results with minimal side effects.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Michael Bailey Ph.D.
Senior Principal Engineer, Applied Physics Laboratory
Associate Professor. Mechanical Engineering
Adjunct Associate Professor Urology
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?Response: Small (< 6 mm) kidney stones are common and often are asymptomatic. Do you do surgery or wait for them to cause a problem? Or specifically here if you are getting surgery already for other stones that are causing a problem do you take the time and possibly extra risk of cleaning out the small stone in the kidney or in the other kidney?
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Professor Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, MD, FRCOG
Chair in Gynaecology
Consultant Gynaecologist & Sub-specialist Urogynaecologist
School Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
University Of Aberdeen
Co-Director Aberdeen Centre For Women’s Health Research
Lead – MBChB intercalated degree programme
Chief Investigator – CATHETER II, FUTURE, and SIMS RCTsMedicalResearch.com: Why was this study necessary?Response:At the time of study design, the main surgical option for treating stress urinary incontinence was the insertion of a standard mid-urethral sling, usually using a general anaesthetic. However, single incision mini-slings were introduced to clinical practice without robust assessment. They were considered promising due to several potential advantages including using less mesh more possibility to be performed under local anaesthetic.
A number of small studies with short-term follow-up (i.e. low quality evidence) showed mini-slings to have similar success rates to standard mid-urethral slings, but required shorter hospital stay and was less painful immediately after surgery. Several systematic reviews at the time recommended an adequately powered robust randomised trial to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of mini-slings to standard mid-urethral slings with adequate term follow-up.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ali M. Fazlollahi, MSc, McGill Medicine Class of 2025
Neurosurgical Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: COVID-19 disrupted hands on surgical exposure of medical students and academic centres around the world had to quickly adapt to teaching technical skills remotely. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) allowed researchers at the Neurosurgical Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre to develop an intelligent tutoring system that evaluates performance and provides high-quality personalized feedback to students. Because this is the first AI system capable of providing surgical instructions in simulation, we sought to evaluate its effectiveness compared with learning from expert human instructors who provided coaching remotely.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Christopher J. D. Wallis, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Division of Urology
University of Toronto
Urologic Oncologist, Division of Urology
Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Previous research has shown that female and male physicians communicate differently with patients. Further, there is evidence that female physicians, including surgeons, spend more time with patients. This, coupled with evidence that female patients may experience disparities in the management of their pain, led us to consider that communication differences may underpin differences in surgical outcomes previously noted (eg. Wallis et al, BMJ 2017) between male and female physicians. We postulated that there may be a differential association between surgeon sex and patient sex in behaviours that would translate into clinically important outcomes. (more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Joel S. Weissman, PhD
Deputy Director/Chief Scientific Officer
Center for Surgery and Public Health
Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Professor of Surgery (Health Policy)
Harvard Medical School
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Over time, the military health system has been shifting care for its soldiers and their families away from big military treatment facilities (MTFs), allowing soldiers and their families to get care from civilian hospitals. But this has had an unintended consequence. Unfortunately, it means that military surgeons are getting fewer cases, and they are worried about maintaining their skills as surgeons. But some surgeries count more than others to help prepare the surgeon for battlefield casualties. (more…)
Medicine is ever evolving, but it might surprise you to hear how far we’ve come even since the turn of the century. Advancements in technology have allowed for some amazing upgrades in medicine that could only be imagined in sci-fi movies before, and new developments in drugs have vastly increased the average life expectancy, from 77.74 in 2000 to a high of 81.3 in 2014. Read on to find out more about our top picks for the most influential advancements in medicine.
Information technology
An often overlooked but greatly impactful aspect of medicine, information technology has allowed for the smooth and faster running of hospitals. Like every other aspect of life, technology has infiltrated hospitals and GPs at a basic and far-reaching level, allowing for safer and more secure running of hospitals as well as aiding diagnosis earlier and minimally invasive procedures to create less pain and quicker healing.
Rather than sifting through filing rooms for that one patient, staff can access a patient’s file on cloud storage, where it is free from other prying eyes. Remote consultations allow for neither patient or doctor to travel to do a consultation, and an encyclopedia of symptoms and treatments are available at doctors’ fingertips.
Technology has taken the routine and tedious aspects of patient care out of the equation, or at least streamlined it, so that doctors can focus on their patients. Filing, record maintenance and other routine tasks, are all done quickly with the help of apps and cloud storage. Streamlining processes like no exam life insurance allows for doctors to focus on the care of their patients while you offer other evidence like family history and pre-existing conditions.
Doctors are working faster, patients get seen quicker, their prescriptions are issued sooner.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Codie Primeau, MSc
Physical Therapy Student & Ph.D. Candidate (Combined MPT/Ph.D.)
Wolf Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic
Western University
London, ON, Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgery for patients with varus alignment (bowed legs) and earlier-stage knee osteoarthritis. By correcting alignment, HTO shifts load to less diseased parts of the knee. One of the goals of HTO is to delay or even prevent the need for knee replacement surgery later.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Pascual Sánchez-Juan, MD, PhD
Servicio de Neurología Hospital Universitario "Marqués de Valdecilla"
Unidad de Deterioro Cognitivo
https://www.facebook.com/deteriorocognitivovaldecilla
Director científico Biobanco Valdecilla
Avda Marqués de Valdecilla s/nMedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest public health challenges. From the moment the first lesions appear in the brain to the clinical manifestations, up to 20 years can pass. Today we can detect the presence of these initial lesions through biochemical markers such as amyloid-β, which is one of the main proteins accumulated in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The prevalence of cerebral amyloid-β pathology in cognitively asymptomatic individuals increases with age. It has been estimated that 21.1% of the population at the age of 65 will have a positive amyloid scan or a pathological cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-β determination, and which will double by the age of 90.
Due to the aging of our societies and advances made in medical care, an increasing number of elderly and more fragile people are considered candidates for major surgery. In preoperative screenings, respiratory and cardiovascular functions are routinely checked; however, it is not commonly assessed how the brain is going to cope with the intervention.
In the clinic, the patient’s relatives frequently tell us that the memory problems began after a surgical procedure or a hospital admission. This posed us the following question: is this just a recall bias or has surgery triggered the appearance of the symptoms in a previously affected brain?” (more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS, FAHA
Colin G. Thomas Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7050
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?Response: Fluoroquinolones are a commonly prescribed antibiotic. Recent data from Taiwan, Sweden, and Canada suggests that the use of fluoroquinolones increase the short-term risk of aneurysm formation in certain older patient populations. As such, the FDA issued a warning in 2018 regarding the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics suggesting that this class of antibiotics should not be used in patients at increased risk.
The FDA defined the high risk population as those with a history of aneurysms or blockages, high blood pressure, certain genetic disorders related to blood vessels, and the elderly. However, we hypothesized that this risk of taking fluoroquinolones extends to all patient populations and not just high risk patient populations.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Pravesh S. Gadjradj, MD
Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center,
University Neurosurgical Center Holland
Leiden, Netherlands
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?Response: Many healthcare professionals throughout the world face issues surrounding medical malpractice at some point in their careers. Unfortunately, a number of these cases turn into medical malpractice lawsuits. As a specialty that treats acute pathology and refractory pain, neurosurgery is at risk for high liability. By the means of a survey among members of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), we aimed to illustrate how malpractice lawsuits affect neurosurgeons professionally, emotionally and financially.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?Response: Some 490 members of the CNS shared their experiences with us. Among these members, 81% faced a medical malpractice lawsuit. The main concerns expressed about being sued included losing confidence and practicing defensive medicine, personal assets being at risk, and being named in the National Practitioner Data Bank. Of the respondents, 40% stated they were frequently or always concerned about being sued, and 77 % stated their fear had led to a change in how they practice medicine. For 58 %, this change led to the practice of defensive medicine, while for others it led to more extensive documentation (14%) and/or to referring or dropping complex cases (12%). Given the medical malpractice environment, 59% of respondents considered referring complex patient cases, whereas 37% considered leaving the practice of medicine.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sebastian Straube, BM BCh, MA (Oxon), DPhil
Professor and Director, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine
University of Alberta
Zone Section Chief, Occupational Medicine Edmonton Zone, Alberta Health Services
Director, Foundation Course in Occupational Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical procedures that generate aerosols require a higher grade of personal protective equipment, typically including filtering facepiece respirators (e.g. N95 masks). We wanted to know which procedures were aerosol-generating and would require such enhanced precautions.
MedicalResearch.com: How did you approach that question?Response: We conducted a systematic review of the literature and aimed to find those procedures for which there is widespread agreement that they are aerosol-generating. We assembled a team of researchers with expertise in the subject matter as well as in systematic review methodology, and we searched widely for relevant guidelines, policy documents, and academic papers.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Cassandra M. Kelleher, MD, FACS
Surgical Director, Fetal Care ProgramSurgical Director, NICUQuality and Safety Chair, Pediatric SurgeryMGH eCare Clinical InformaticistPediatric SurgeryMassGeneral Hospital for ChildrenBoston, MA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Only about one in five surgeons practicing in U.S. is female. Unemployment is virtually nonexistent among surgeons, but many female surgeons, as well as professional women in other fields, experience underemployment—the underuse of skills—according to the Federal Reserve Bank. Women in surgery talk among themselves about how they may be perceived as less confident or competent, and for those reasons they may have less opportunity to do exciting and challenging cases. We wondered if this was true, and if so, why? (more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jane Daniels PhD
Professor of Clinical Trials, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
School of Medicine
University of Nottingham
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?Response: Uterine fibroids are the most common non-cancerous tumour in women of childbearing age. They are associated with heavy bleeding, lower chances of having children and reduced quality of life. Traditional surgical options were either to remove the fibroids (myomectomy) or completely remove the womb. A newer approach, known as uterine artery embolization, involves blocking the blood supply to the fibroids in the womb.
Fibroids may be associated with infertility and problems during pregnancy, including miscarriage and preterm birth. As more women are having children at a later age, fibroids are becoming more of an issue for them and safe and effective fertility sparing treatments are needed.
Both treatments improve quality of life, but myomectomy will provide greater benefit to women on average.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?Response: This study is the largest to date comparing women treated with either myomectomy or uterine-artery embolization for their fibroids. It was completed in hospitals across the UK, and included a substantial number of women of African-Caribbean ethnicity, who are more likely have bothersome fibroids, so we can be confident that the findings are important and relevant.
Women, including those desiring a future pregnancy, should be provided with the evidence generated by the FEMME trial to enable to make a fully informed decision regarding their fibroid treatment.
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Rhinoplasty is a common plastic surgery procedure for people who want to alter the look of their nose. There are several versions of the procedure, including one that augments the nose by adding an implant.
Some surgeons prefer to use human cartilage from the septum, ears, or ribs. But, other surgeons prefer to use synthetic implants made of either Gore-Tex or silicone. Before you get a nose job from the best rhinoplasty surgeons, it is important to know which material is best for you. Before you choose Gore-Tex or silicone, you should take time to talk to your surgeon and work together to pick the material that will give you the look you want. An augmentation rhinoplasty takes about 90 minutes, but the change to your face will last a lifetime.
What is a silicone implant?
The silicone implant is easy to insert and easy to shape. It can also be removed if there are any problems. Surgeons like them as they offer a more noticeable lift to the bridge of the nose. Silicone implants need very small incisions, if they are done from the outside.
What is a Gore-Tex implant?
Gore-Tex is porous, so it gives a less noticeable lift to the bridge as it merges with the tissues in the nose. Surgeons like to use Gore-Tex because it provides a natural look. Because Gore-Tex integrates with nasal tissue, it is more difficult to remove than a silicone implant.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Leonardo Mattos, PhD
Head of Biomedical Robotics Lab
Advanced Robotics Department
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Genova, Italy
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?Response: We have been working on robotic microsurgery for several years, and have developed robotic technology for it that is getting ready for use on humans. Then, 5G started to become a reality here in Italy, and we wanted to test if it could be used to enable remote telesurgery. So we joined forces with Vodafone Italia to realize this study and proof of concept demonstration.
Telesurgery has been a dream for over 20 years, and has been demonstrated already back in 2001. However, the wide scale adoption of the technology has been limited by many factors, including the limited availability of surgical robots and the lack of a telecommunication network that is fast and reliable enough for such operation. Recent technological progress is changing this scenario, with surgical robots being used in hospitals around the world and high-performance telecommunications system becoming widely available. This study shows that telesurgery is now feasible using the newest 5G telecommunication networks, enabling us to consider a large scale adoption of the technology.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Charles-de-SáM.D., Ph.D.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?Response: Our clinical trial was based on our clinical skin observations in areas submitted to a lipotransfer previously, an ordinary practice in plastic surgery. These clinical observations lead us to investigate what will be the key element played in these findings. Our scientific support investigation addressed the Dardick1and Zuk, P2 studies, that demonstrated fibroblastic-like cells in adipose tissue with regenerative ability. Our clinical trial proposal is to investigate the adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) role in the photoaged skin. The direct endpoint of the study was to assess the histological benefits provided by the subdermal ADSC injection. Mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from lipoaspirates, expanded in vitro, and introduced into the facial skin of 20 patients submitted after three to four months to a face-lifting surgery. In the retrieved skin, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural analysis quantified elastic matrix components, cathepsin-K, metalloprotease MMP-12, and the macrophage M2 markers: CD68, CD206 and heme-oxygenase-1.An overview of the trial steps is described in the infographic.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sara P. Myers, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Compared to other fields, medicine, and especially academic surgery and its subspecialties, trail with respect to gender diversity. Considering that these fields were traditionally male-dominated, two issues that may present ongoing challenges to the retention and promotion of women are pro-male bias and negative stereotypes about women. Training specific to pursuing a surgical career begins in residency, so it is important to understand how these issues affect motivation and achievement during this formative period.
In our study we first evaluated the association between pro-male bias and research-related career engagement using a survey methodology, and then looked at whether evoking negative stereotypes about women was associated with reduced performance on a simulated technical skill assessment called the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) assessment.(more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Alyson Cavanaugh, PT, PhD
Joint Doctoral Program in Epidemiology
University of California, San Diego/ San Diego State University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: More than 700,000 total knee replacements are performed annually in the United States, but there is a racial disparity in outcomes after the surgery. If the knee replacement procedure is considered a highly effective treatment, why don't black women present with the same outcomes as whites?
Physical function when going into surgery has a large impact on the potential functional outcomes after surgery. Our hypothesis was that black women were presenting to surgery with poorer physical function, which was contributing to poorer functional outcomes after surgery.
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Wei Bao, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology,
College of Public Health,
University of Iowa,
Iowa City, IA 52242 and
Dr. Yangbo Sun, PhD
(Former postdoc research scholar at University of Iowa)
Tenure-track Assistant Professor
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Obesity is a rising epidemic in the United States and worldwide. Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective and durable treatment for clinically morbid obesity which is difficult to reverse through traditional approaches such as lifestyle intervention. There has been long-standing uncertainty and debate regarding the value of pre-operative weight loss as a requirement for bariatric surgery. Meanwhile, one of the major indicators for surgery outcomes is 30-day mortality after surgery, which is especially important for bariatric surgery because the vast majority of the patients undergoing bariatric surgery are voluntary and if the surgery were not performed, they are not supposed to die in short term.
So far, the association of pre-operative weight loss with 30-day mortality after bariatric surgery remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we examined the associations of pre-operative BMI and weight loss with 30-day mortality following bariatric surgery using a large database among ~500,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the United States and Canada. (more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Katherine Moll Reitz, MD
General Surgery Resident
University of Pittsburgh
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Surgical interventions both save lives and improve the quality of those lives each day. However, these same interventions and the recovery thereafter are a major physiologic stressor. Younger, more resilient patients tend to recover faster, with fewer postoperative complications when compared to older, frailer patients undergoing the same surgical treatments. Therefore, investigators at University of Pittsburgh and UPMC have begun focusing on prehabilitation in order to optimize at risk patients preoperatively. Just as an athlete would train for an upcoming event, prehabilitation (including smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity increases) prepares or trains patients for their surgical intervention and can improve their postoperative outcomes.
Currently, there is no medication available to aid in this training process, improving patients’ response to the physiologic stress of surgery. Therefore, we are interested in exploring potential safe, well tolerated medical therapies which can optimize patients as pharmacologic prehabilitation. (more…)
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: PincusMD PhD
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery
University of Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Controversy exists among arthroplasty surgeons and patients about the best surgical approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) - one of the most common operations performed worldwide. In the last few years, the direct anterior approach has become increasingly popular compared to posterior and lateral approaches, partially as a result of advertising to patients. We sought to determine whether a direct anterior surgical approach was associated with lower surgical complications compared to lateral and posterior approaches.
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