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Introduction: Gender representation among orthopaedic surgery applicants and residents has increased over the past two decades. The aims of this study were to evaluate trends of female fellows in ACGME-accredited orthopaedic subspecialties between 2007 and 2021, and to compare the fellowship trends of female representation to those of ACGME-accredited orthopaedic residencies.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of publicly available ACGME-accredited fellowship demographic data from 2007 to 2021. The distribution of genders (male vs. female) across subspecialties and orthopaedic surgery residency programs was compared. Chi-square, Spearman correlation, and logistic regression tests were performed to analyze the relationships between year, gender, and fellowship.

Results: Chi-square analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between gender and year for orthopaedic residency (p < 0.001), but not for any fellowship. There was a significant negative Spearman correlation between the two variables for hand (r(1844) = -0.06, p = 0.02) and sports medicine (r(2804) = -0.05, p = 0.01) fellowships. The negative Spearman correlation for pediatrics (r(499) = -0.09, p = 0.054) approached but did not reach statistical significance. Logistic regression analysis revealed that, holding year constant and comparing to orthopaedic residency, the odds of male participation increased by 173% (95% CI, 1.8-4.1) in spine, increased by 138% (95% CI, 1.7-3.3) in adult reconstruction, increased by 51% (95% CI, 1.3-1.7) in sports medicine, decreased by 41% (95% CI, 0.5-0.7) in hand, decreased by 36% (95% CI, 0.5-0.9) in foot and ankle, decreased by 48% (95% CI, 0.4-0.7) in musculoskeletal oncology, and decreased by 68% (95% CI, 0.3-0.4) in pediatrics.

Conclusion: Although the percentage of female orthopaedic residents in ACGME-accredited programs increased significantly from 2007 to 2021, this has not translated to ACGME-accredited fellowship positions. Future research optimizing methods to improve the representation of females in orthopaedic surgery should be considered.

Level of evidence: III.

Introduction: The role of elective rotations in the orthopaedic residency selection process varies between programs. Our study aims to identify factors associated with residency programs that interview and match a greater proportion of applicants who have completed an elective rotation with their program.

Methods: Data were collected through the American Orthopaedic Association's Orthopaedic Residency Information Network database. Bivariate correlations and multivariate regression models were used to identify independent predictors of programs with a greater proportion of interviewees or residents who completed an elective rotation at the respective program.

Results: One hundred seventy-eight of the 218 existing residency programs were included in this study. Programs that offered fewer interviews and more away rotation positions per year were associated with a greater odds of its interviewees (OR = 0.36, p = 0.01; OR = 4.55, p < 0.001, respectively) and residents (OR = 0.44, p = 0.04; OR = 4.23, p < 0.001, respectively) having completed an elective rotation with the program. In addition, programs with fewer attendings (OR = 0.39, p = 0.03) and in-person interviews (OR = 3.04, p = 0.04) matched a greater proportion of their rotators. However, programs that interviewed applicants during the elective rotation were less likely to match their rotators (OR = 0.35, p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Certain program characteristics independently predict the likelihood of a program interviewing and matching their rotators. These findings may provide information for applicants and programs regarding the rotation process.

Level of evidence: III.

Introduction: The orthopaedic surgery match has experienced a consistent increase in both the number of applicants and applications submitted per applicant. Preference signaling was implemented during the 2022 to 2023 application cycle in part to curtail the rising application burden on both applicants and residency programs. Our aim was to explore the impact of the preference signaling system on applicant and residency program leader attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes.

Methods: We distributed surveys to American Orthopaedic Association/Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors member program leaders (program directors, assistant program directors, and program coordinators) and applicants registered for the Electronic Standardized Letter of Recommendation after Universal Interview Offer Day 2022 (Fall Survey) and Match Day 2023 (Spring Survey). The surveys contained multiple-choice and numeric response questions on attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes that were analyzed and reported as percentages and medians, respectively. Open-text responses were reviewed for dominant themes.

Results: One hundred program leaders and 378 applicants (47%) completed the Fall Survey, and 146 program leaders and 290 applicants (36%) completed the Spring Survey. A majority of applicants (71%) and program leadership (91%) support the continued use of signaling. Applicants reported a 16% reduction in the number of programs to which they applied. Program directors largely used signaling as a tool for screening applications (75%), with few programs using signaling in the ranking process (20%). Applicants reported that 81% of their interviews were from programs they signaled. Slightly more than half of programs (53%) reported filling their last slot at a higher rank order position than the average of the previous 5 years. Qualitative analysis suggests a need for more transparency in the use of signals, consideration of application and/or interview caps, and reconsideration of the other components of the application.

Conclusion: Preference signaling in the orthopaedic surgery match was met with positive feedback and led to a reduction in the number of applications. Future research will examine the continued impact of preference signaling and assess alterations for optimizing the match process.

Background: To effectively counsel patients prior to shoulder arthroplasty, surgeons should understand the overall life trajectory and life expectancy of patients in the context of the patient's shoulder pathology and medical comorbidities. Such an understanding can influence both operative and nonoperative decision-making and implant choices. This study evaluated 5-year mortality following shoulder arthroplasty in patients ≥65 years old and identified associated risk factors.

Methods: We utilized Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Fee-for-Service inpatient and outpatient claims data to investigate the 5-year mortality rate following shoulder arthroplasty procedures performed from 2014 to 2016. The impact of patient demographics, including fracture diagnosis, year fixed effects, and state fixed effects; patient comorbidities; and hospital-level characteristics on 5-year mortality rates were assessed with use of a Cox proportional hazards regression model. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: A total of 108,667 shoulder arthroplasty cases (96,104 nonfracture and 12,563 fracture) were examined. The cohort was 62.7% female and 5.8% non-White and had a mean age at surgery of 74.3 years. The mean 5-year mortality rate was 16.6% across all shoulder arthroplasty cases, 14.9% for nonfracture cases, and 29.9% for fracture cases. The trend toward higher mortality in the fracture group compared with the nonfracture group was sustained throughout the 5-year postoperative period, with a fracture diagnosis being associated with a hazard ratio of 1.63 for mortality (p < 0.001). Medical comorbidities were associated with an increased risk of mortality, with liver disease bearing the highest hazard ratio (3.07; p < 0.001), followed by chronic kidney disease (2.59; p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.92; p < 0.001), and congestive heart failure (1.90; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The mean 5-year mortality following shoulder arthroplasty was 16.6%. Patients with a fracture diagnosis had a significantly higher 5-year mortality risk (29.9%) than those with a nonfracture diagnosis (14.9%). Medical comorbidities had the greatest impact on mortality risk, with chronic liver and kidney disease being the most noteworthy. This novel longer-term data can help with patient education and risk stratification prior to undergoing shoulder replacement.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Academic medical centers greatly benefit from retaining their physicians; that ensures continuity in patient care, enhances resident education, and maintains a pool of experienced clinicians and researchers. Despite its importance, little research has been published on the retainment of academic faculty in orthopaedics. To address this gap, this study investigates the demographic trends of academic orthopaedic surgeons from 2016 to 2022. By analyzing data pertaining to gender distribution, years of practice, research productivity, and institutional rankings, we aimed to gain insights into the factors influencing faculty retainment, institution changes, and new entrants into academic orthopaedics.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of U.S. academic orthopaedic surgeons affiliated with programs under the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2016 and 2022 was performed. Faculty present in both the 2016 and the 2022 data were classified as being "retained" in academia; those present only in 2016, as having "left" academia; and those present only in 2022, as being "new" to academia. The retained group was then divided into movers (those who moved to other institutions) and non-movers.

Results: Retained orthopaedists had fewer years of practice, a higher h-index (Hirsch index), and more publications. Non-fellowship-trained orthopaedists had less retainment in academia, and orthopaedists with fellowships in oncology had more retainment in academia. Additionally, movers also had fewer years in practice but an equal level of scholarly productivity when compared with non-movers. Lastly, higher-ranked academic programs retained a greater proportion of orthopaedic surgeons.

Conclusions: Over the study period, a majority of orthopaedists (56.99%) chose to remain in academia. Those retained tended to be in the earlier stages of their careers, yet demonstrated higher research output. Notably, the representation of female orthopaedists in academic orthopaedics is on the rise. Conversely, lower-ranked programs faced higher turnover rates, highlighting the challenges that they encounter in retaining faculty members.

Clinical relevance: Academic medical centers benefit from retaining orthopaedic surgeons by maintaining patient relationships, having consistency in resident education, and building on clinical and research expertise. Likewise, orthopaedists benefit from understanding the trends in current academic employment, in order to optimize career planning decisions.

Background: Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) provides an attractive alternative to total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the management of osteoarthritis in younger, more active patients; however, concerns persist over complications specific to HRA. The aims of this systematic review were to assess the documented long-term survival rates of the metal-on-metal BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System at a follow-up of at least 10 years and to analyze the functional outcomes and cause of failures.

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken of all published cohort studies available in the MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed research databases up to December 2021, as recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data extraction was focused on survival rates, causes of failure, and functional outcomes. Survival estimates at 10 years were pooled in a meta-analysis, with each series weighted by its variance. Causes of failure were presented as a percentage of the pooled revisions.

Results: A total of 11 studies were identified, encompassing 3,129 cases. Across the 9 studies that had reported a mean follow-up, the mean follow-up was 11.7 years (range, 9.55 to 13.7 years). We found a pooled 10-year survival rate of 95.5% (95% confidence interval, 93.4% to 97.1%). There were 149 revisions among the studies (range, 4 to 38 revisions per study), a rate of 4.8% of the total procedures performed. The 2 main causes of revision were aseptic loosening (20.1% of revisions) and adverse reactions to metal debris (20.1%). There were no revisions for dislocation. Of the studies that reported preoperative functional scores, all reported significant improvement in mean scores postoperatively except for 1 study in which the mean Tegner activity score did not significantly improve.

Conclusions: When performed for appropriate indications, patients undergoing an HRA with use of the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System can expect good implant survivorship at 10 years with acceptable functional results and low rates of dislocation and infection. This systematic review, however, confirms concerns regarding adverse reactions to metal debris as a leading cause of revision.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: The growth of the American academic orthopaedic community over the last 53 years has been accompanied by an expanding need for academic leadership education.

Methods: The transition of the Association of Orthopaedic Chairmen, to the Academic Orthopaedic Society, to the American Orthopaedic Association through its Academic Leadership Committee and American Orthopaedic Association Council of Residency Directors is reviewed.

Results: Academic orthopaedic community members recognized that the evolving leadership needs of the academic community could be better addressed by transitioning to a new organization, the Academic Orthopaedic Society and eventually by creating a new structure within a well aligned and well-resourced existing organization, the American Orthopaedic Association.

Conclusion: Organizational and leadership flexibility has been vital to serving the evolving need of the American academic orthopaedic community for leadership education.

Background: The demonstrated benefits of virtual reality (VR) in orthopaedic surgical training are numerous. However, it is relatively unknown how best to implement VR into an already established orthopaedic resident education curriculum and how trainees will engage and use these technologies longitudinally.

Methods: This was an exploratory, qualitative research study performed in accordance with Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Orthopaedic surgery residents at a single institution were recruited during the 2022 to 2023 academic year. Semistructured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed through grounded theory methodology, beginning with open coding, followed by axial coding, and concluding with selective coding that describes orthopaedic surgery residents' current perceptions of VR as a training tool.

Results: Six residents participated in interviews before thematic saturation was achieved. Average interview length was 13:27 (±2:59) minutes. Residents felt that currently, VR is most useful for interns and junior residents as an educational adjunct for learning anatomy, surgical exposures, and the steps of a procedure in a risk- and judgment-free arena. There seems to be a "ceiling effect" with VR given current technological limitations, and residents remarked that there is an associated "opportunity cost" with using VR technology. Some residents may find it more time-efficient to study texts, videos, or surgical guides rather than use VR. Cost (limited number of headsets) and technological barriers (i.e., hardware, software, and Wi-Fi issues) were some of the described barriers to VR utilization. Residents felt that there needs to be dedicated technological support to help with these issues. At this time, given these limitations of VR, many preferred VR as an optional educational adjunct rather than as a required curricular tool or assessment of surgical competency.

Conclusions: There is current utility for VR in orthopaedic surgical training. Future technological advances may make VR more central to resident education. This study describes resident perceptions about the technology and best use practices for the technology.

Level of evidence: Qualitative Study, Level V Evidence.

Background: Shaft fractures of the femur are commonly treated with intramedullary nailing, which can release bone marrow emboli into the bloodstream. Emboli can travel to the lungs, impairing gas exchange and causing inflammation. Occasionally, emboli traverse from the pulmonary to the systemic circulation, hindering perfusion and resulting in injuries such as heart and brain infarctions, known as fat embolism syndrome. We studied the extent of systemic bone marrow embolization in a pig model.

Methods: Twelve anesthetized pigs underwent bilateral intramedullary nailing of the femur, while 3 animals served as sham controls. Monitoring included transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), pulse oximetry, electrocardiography, arterial blood pressure measurement, and blood gas and troponin-I analysis. After surgery, animals were monitored for 240 minutes before euthanasia. Post mortem, the heart, lungs, and brain were biopsied.

Results: Bone marrow emboli were found in the heart and lungs of all 12 of the pigs that underwent intramedullary nailing and in the brains of 11 of them. No emboli were found in the sham group. The pigs subjected to intramedullary nailing exhibited significant hypoxia (PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio, 410 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI), 310 to 510) compared with the sham group (594 mm Hg [95% CI, 528 to 660]). The nailing group exhibited ST-segment alterations consistent with myocardial ischemia and a significant increase in the troponin-I level compared with the sham group (1,580 ng/L [95% CI, 0 to 3,456] versus 241 ng/L [95% CI, 0 to 625] at the 240-minute time point; p = 0.005). TEE detected emboli in the right ventricular outflow tract, but not systemically, in the nailing group.

Conclusions: Bilateral intramedullary nailing caused bone marrow emboli in the lungs and systemic emboli in the heart and brain in this pig model. The observed clinical manifestations were consistent with coronary and pulmonary emboli. TEE detected pulmonary but not systemic embolization.

Clinical relevance: Femoral intramedullary nailing in humans is likely to result in embolization as described in our pig model. Focused monitoring is necessary for detection of fat embolism syndrome. Absence of visual emboli in the left ventricle on TEE does not exclude the occurrence of systemic bone marrow emboli.

Background: The role of physician credentialing has been widely considered in quality and outcome improvement studies. However, the association between surgeon characteristics and health-care costs remains unclear.

Methods: Our objective was to determine the association of orthopaedic surgeon characteristics with health outcomes and costs, utilizing Medicare data. We used 100% Fee-for-Service Medicare data from 2015 to 2019 to identify all patients ≥65 years of age who underwent 2 common orthopaedic surgical procedures, total hip and knee replacement. After determining whether the patients had been readmitted after discharge from their initial admission for surgery, we computed 3 metrics of total medical expenditure: the costs of the initial surgery admission and 30-day and 180-day episode-based bundles of care. Hierarchical linear regression and logistic regression models were used to evaluate patient and surgeon characteristics associated with care costs and the likelihood of readmission.

Results: We identified 2,269 surgeons who performed total knee replacements on 298,934 patients and 1,426 surgeons who performed total hip replacements on 204,721 patients. Patient characteristics associated with higher initial surgery costs included increasing age, female sex, racial minority status, and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. Surgeon characteristics associated with lower readmission rates included practice in the Northeast region and a higher patient volume; having malpractice claims was associated with higher readmission rates.

Conclusions: A higher volume of patients treated by the orthopaedic surgeon was associated with lower overall costs and readmission rates. Information on surgeons' malpractice claims and annual volume should be made publicly available to assist patients, payer networks, and hospitals in surgeon selection and oversight. These results could also inform the guidelines of physician credentialing organizations.

Level of evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.