OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the incidence of anterolateral tibial plafond involvement in pronation-abduction (PAB) ankle fractures and analyze the accuracy of radiographs in detecting anterolateral tibial plafond involvement, impaction, and predicting the need for direct visualization and an articular reduction. METHODS: DESIGN:A multi-institutional retrospective chart review. SETTING:Five Level 1 trauma centers in the United States. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA:Adult patients with PAB ankle fractures (OTA/AO 44B2.3, 44C2.2, 44C2.3) from 2020 to 2022 were reviewed by 7 fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons. They were queried about the presence of anterolateral tibial plafond involvement and impaction, and whether they would need direct visualization and an articular reduction using both radiographs and CT. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND COMPARISONS:The presence of anterolateral tibial plafond impaction was tabulated separately using radiographs and CT scans. The accuracy of radiographs and changes in surgical plan after CT review were calculated using CT as the gold standard. RESULTS:Sixty-one fractures in 61 patients were evaluated using CT and/or plain radiographs. Using plain radiographs, anterolateral tibial plafond involvement and impaction were identified in 61% and 36% of cases, respectively. In the 38 fractures with both plain radiographs and CT scans, anterolateral tibial plafond involvement was identified in 66% of radiographs and 74% of CT scans ( P = 0.4). Plafond impaction was identified in 42% of plain radiographs and 37% of CT scans ( P = 0.62). There was no difference in the rate of involvement between radiographs and CT scan. The diagnosis of anterolateral tibial plafond impaction using plain radiographs was correct in 74% of fractures when compared with using CT imaging, resulting in a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 75%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 62%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 82%. Plain radiographs correctly predicted the need for direct visualization and an articular reduction in 74% of cases and had a PPV of 59% and an NPV of 86%. CONCLUSIONS:Anterolateral tibial plafond involvement and impaction were present on CT in 74% and 37% of pronation-abduction (PAB) ankle fractures, respectively. Plain radiographs had higher NPV for identifying impaction and the need for articular reduction than they did sensitivity, specificity, or PPV. CT is an important tool for preoperative planning that should be considered when planning for operative fixation of PAB ankle fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
BackgroundThe role of biceps tenodesis (BT) during open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) remains unclear. A subset of patients undergoing ORIF have persistent pain with unclear etiology. The purpose of our study was to compare outcomes of ORIF of proximal humerus fractures with and without concomitant biceps tenodesis (BT). We hypothesize patients undergoing biceps tenodesis at the time of ORIF will have improved patient-reported outcome scores with fewer secondary procedures related to treatment of the biceps.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, all patients undergoing ORIF for a PHF at a single level one trauma center from January 2019 to June 2022 were reviewed. Patients under the age of 18 were excluded. Primary outcomes were PROMIS physical function, depression, and pain interference scores at 5 time points up to final follow-up. Secondary outcomes included total operative time, complications, subsequent procedures, steroid injections, and range of motion. Chi-square tests were performed for categorical values and paired t-tests for continuous variables.Results71 patients met inclusion criteria: 41 undergoing ORIF without BT, and 30 undergoing ORIF with BT. Average follow-up was 11 months. There were no statistically significant differences in patient demographics between groups. There were no differences in PROMIS scores at any time point postoperatively. At final follow-up patients in the ORIF with BT group had higher forward flexion than those who did not undergo BT (142 vs. 123 degrees, respectively, p < .02). There were no differences in surgical time, revision rates, postsurgical complications, or postoperative injections between groups.ConclusionBiceps tenodesis performed during ORIF of PHFs did not result in significantly different functional or patient-reported outcomes between groups, except for greater forward flexion at final follow-up. Although BT was done more commonly in severe PHFs, patients in both groups had similar rates of subsequent biceps-related procedures and revision surgery.
INTRODUCTION:Tibial malrotation can occur with medullary nailing of diaphyseal tibial fractures. Fibular alignment has been proposed as a surrogate for axial plane reduction intraoperatively. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fibular alignment is a reliable marker of accurate tibial rotation. METHODS:Deidentified CT scans of 50 patients with normal tibial anatomy were selected. Using ImageJ software, we simulated osteotomies at three sites (proximal third, mid-diaphysis, and distal third). We overlaid adjacent CT slices and rotated them around the central axis of the tibia in 5° increments of external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR). At each increment, measurements of fibular overlap (%) were obtained from anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views. To simulate fixation of the fibula, we repeated rotation around the axis of the fibula with and without a simulated medullary implant in the tibia. RESULTS:A total of 50 patients were included. The mean age was 62 years, average BMI was 25.8, and 28 of 50 patients (56%) were male. Earliest loss of fibular contact occurred at 24° ER and 22° IR at the proximal site. Contact was lost at 26° ER and 28° IR on the AP view and 42° ER and 29° IR on the lateral view. The mean fibular contact at each 5° increment was similar for ER and IR. Fibular contact was reduced to 50% at 10 to 15° of rotation in ER and IR at all sites. Tibial canal contact was lost at 24° in both ER and IR around the fibula. With a virtual medullary implant, the mean maximal rotation was 6°. DISCUSSION:Surgeons should be aware that 20° or more of malrotation is likely present when fibular contact is lost during medullary nailing of the tibia. Greater than 50% loss of contact should raise suspicion for malrotation. A fixed fibula and medullary tibial implant theoretically preclude significant tibial malrotation.
To understand patterns of use and interest in quitting different types of tobacco products among youth experiencing homelessness, a RAND team surveyed these youth in Los Angeles County to inform efforts to reduce their use of tobacco products.
To describe patterns of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use risk and adolescent reported primary care (PC) screening and intervention, and examine associations of AOD risk and mental health with reported care received.
Bullying and homophobic teasing behaviors affect the lives of many school aged children, often co-occur, and tend to peak in middle school. While bullying and homophobic teasing behaviors are known to be peer group phenomena, studies typically examine the associations at the individual or school levels. An examination of these behaviors at the peer group level can aid in our understanding of the formation and maintenance of peer groups that engage in these forms of aggressive behavior (selection), and the extent to which friends and the peer group impact individual rates of these aggressive behaviors (influence). In this longitudinal study, we assess the co-evolution of friendship networks, bullying perpetration, and homophobic teasing among middle school students (n = 190) using a Stochastic Actor-Based Model (SABM) for longitudinal networks. Data were collected from 6–8th-grade students (Baseline age 12–15; 53% Female; 47% Male) across three waves of data. The sample was diverse with 58% African American, 31% White, and 11% Hispanic. Since bullying and homophobic teasing behaviors are related yet distinct forms of peer aggression, to capture the unique and combined effects of these behaviors we ran models separately and then together in a competing model. Results indicated that on average individuals with higher rates of bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing were associated with becoming increasingly popular as a friend. However, the effects were not linear, and individuals with the highest rates of bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing were less likely to receive friendship nominations. There was no evidence that bullying perpetration or homophobic teasing were associated with the number of friendship nominations made. Further, there was a preference for individuals to form or maintain friendships with peers who engaged in similar rates of homophobic name-calling; however, this effect was not found for bullying perpetration. Additionally, changes in individual rates of bullying perpetration were not found to be predicted by the bullying perpetration of their friends; however, changes in adolescent homophobic teasing were predicted by the homophobic teasing behaviors of their friends. In a competing model that combined bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing, we found no evidence that these behaviors were associated with popularity. These findings are likely due to the high association between bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing combined with the small sample size. However, friendship selection was based on homophobic name-calling, such that, there was a preference to befriend individuals with similar rates of homophobic teasing. We also examined several risk factors (dominance, traditional masculinity, impulsivity, femininity, positive attitudes of bullying, and neighborhood violence), although, impulsivity was the only covariate that was associated with higher levels of bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing. More specifically, youth with higher rates of impulsivity engaged in higher rates of bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing over time. The findings suggest bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing have important influences on friendship formation, and close friendships influence youth’s engagement in homophobic teasing. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts are discussed in terms of targeting peer groups and popular peers to help reduce rates of these aggressive behaviors.
Background Although the association between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour has been well-documented, there is little understanding of whether marijuana use alone or combining marijuana with alcohol use contributes to sexual risk behaviour among adolescents. METHODS:A diverse sample of sexually active adolescents (n = 616) aged 12-18 years (50.32% Hispanic; 31.17% Black) completed a survey on alcohol use, marijuana use and sexual risk behaviour during a visit to a primary care clinic. RESULTS:Adolescents were more likely to report having had two or more sexual partners in the past 3 months if they reported using both alcohol and marijuana (OR=3.90, P<0.0001), alcohol alone (OR=2.51, P<0.0001) or marijuana alone (OR=1.89, P<0.001) compared with adolescents who reported no use during the past month. Adolescents were more likely to report having both two or more partners and condomless sex if they used both alcohol and marijuana (OR=3.19, P<0.001) or alcohol alone (OR=3.41, P<0.01) in the past month compared with adolescents who reported using marijuana alone or had no use of either. CONCLUSIONS:Providers should screen for both alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents and discuss how use of alcohol or alcohol in conjunction with marijuana may be associated with sexual risk behaviours.
Homeless young adults are at risk for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and risky sexual behavior. Interventions are needed to help these young people reduce their risky behavior, but this population is often difficult to engage and retain in services. We offered a four-session AOD and risky sex reduction program to 100 participants and examined if retention in the program was predicted by a number of factors: demographics, homelessness severity, other service use, AOD behaviors, mental health symptoms, sexual risk behaviors, and readiness to change AOD and condom use. Nearly half (48%) of participants completed all sessions. In bivariate analyses, participants were significantly less likely to be retained in the program if they had slept outdoors in the past month, engaged in more alcohol and marijuana use, experienced more alcohol-related consequences, and received the program in an urban drop-in center (as opposed to a drop-in center near the beach). When controlling for all significant bivariate relationships, only sleeping outdoors and receipt of the program in the urban setting predicted fewer sessions completed. The most endorsed reasons for program non-completion were being too busy to attend and inconvenient day/time of the program. Findings can help outreach staff and researchers better prepare methods to engage higher risk homeless youth and retain them in services. Finding unique ways to help youth overcome barriers related to location of services appears especially necessary, perhaps by bringing services to youth where they temporarily reside or offering meaningful incentives for program attendance.
This study examines the association between use of energy drinks or products (EP), EP expectancies, and the association between EP use and sleep in a racially and ethnically diverse sample (N = 2,485) of adolescents. Prevalence of EP use was approximately 18%, with no statistically significant racial or ethnic differences in prevalence. There were significant racial and ethnic differences in EP expectancies; Hispanic and Multiracial or Other groups endorsed less positive expectancies than Whites and Asians. EP use was significantly associated with later weekend bedtimes, shorter weekend total sleep time (TST), a smaller weekend-weekday difference in TST, and more trouble sleeping, even after adjusting for covariates. There were no significant race or ethnicity interactions between EP use and sleep. EP use is an independent correlate of sleep problems in adolescents across racial or ethnic groups.
Background: Little is known about internalized stigma among primary care patients, and whether the presence of internalized stigma is related to the severity of substance use problems independent of substance use-related variables. We sought to examine the relationship between internalized stigma and substance use problems among primary care patients with opioid or alcohol use disorders (OAUDs). Methods: We present baseline data from 393 primary care patients who were enrolled in a study of collaborative care for OAUDs. Regression analyses examined the relationship between internalized stigma and substance use problems, controlling for demographics, psychiatric comorbidity, and quantity/frequency of use. Results: The majority of participants reported thinking, at least sometimes, that they "have permanently screwed up" their lives (60%), and felt "ashamed" (60%), and "out of place in the world" (51%) as a result of their opioid or alcohol use. Higher internalized stigma was significantly related to more substance use problems (beta = 2.68, p < 0.01), even after the effects of covariates were accounted for. Stigma added 22%, out of 51% total variance explained, leading to a significant improvement in prediction of substance use problems. Conclusions: Among this group of primary care patients with OAUDs, rates of internalized stigma were comparable to those reported in specialty substance use treatment settings. Consistent with extant specialty care literature, our results suggest that internalized stigma may be a unique contributor that is associated with treatment outcomes, such as substance use problems, among primary care patients with OAUDs.
Purpose: Neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage and lower individual-level socioeconomic status are associated with poorer sleep health in adults. However, few studies have examined the association between neighborhood-level disadvantage and sleep in adolescents, a population at high-risk for sleep disturbances.Methods: The current study is the first to examine how objective (i.e. via census tract-level data) and subjective measures of neighborhood disadvantage are associated with sleep in a racially/ ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of 2493 youth [Non-Hispanic White (20%), Hispanic (46%), Asian (21%), and Multiracial/ Other (13%)].Results: Findings indicated that greater perceived neighborhood-level social cohesion and lower neighborhood level poverty were associated with better sleep outcomes in adolescents. However, there was some evidence that the magnitude of the associations differed according to family-level socioeconomic status and race/ ethnicity.Conclusions: Findings suggest that subjective and objective neighborhood characteristics may affect the sleep health of older adolescents, with certain demographic subgroups being particularly vulnerable.
BACKGROUND:Millions of people who need treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) do not receive it. Evidence-based practices for treating SUD exist, and some are appropriate for delivery outside of specialty care settings. Primary care is an opportune setting in which to deliver SUD treatment because many individuals see their primary care providers at least once a year. Further, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) increases coverage for SUD treatment and is increasing the number of individuals seeking primary care services. In this article, we present the protocol for a study testing the effects of an organizational readiness and service delivery intervention on increasing the uptake of SUD treatment in primary care and on patient outcomes.METHODS/DESIGN:In a randomized controlled trial, we test the combined effects of an organizational readiness intervention consisting of implementation tools and activities and an integrated collaborative care service delivery intervention based on the Chronic Care Model on service system (patient-centered care, utilization of substance use disorder treatment, utilization of health care services and adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices) and patient (substance use, consequences of use, health and mental health, and satisfaction with care) outcomes. We also use a repeated measures design to test organizational changes throughout the study, such as acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the practices to providers, and provider intention to adopt the practices. We use provider focus groups, provider and patient surveys, and administrative data to measure outcomes.DISCUSSION:The present study responds to critical gaps in health care services for people with substance use disorders, including the need for greater access to SUD treatment and greater uptake of evidence-based practices in primary care. We designed a multi-level study that combines implementation tools to increase organizational readiness to adopt and sustain evidence-based practices (EBPs) and tests the effectiveness of a service delivery intervention on service system and patient outcomes related to SUD services.TRIAL REGISTRATION:Current controlled trials: NCT01810159.
Despite suggestions that there are gender differences in the association between conduct disorder (CD) and risky sexual behavior, limited empirical research has examined this question. Youth (N = 616) were recruited from four primary care clinics and completed questions related to risky sexual behavior, alcohol and marijuana use, and CD. Results of stratified multivariate models indicated that the association between CD and having four or more lifetime partners, having two or more partners in the last 3 months, and engaging in condomless sex was stronger among female youth. However, the association between CD and alcohol and other drug use before sex was stronger in male youth. This is an important contribution to our understanding of gender-specific manifestations of conduct disorder, and has the potential to inform screening and brief intervention efforts for this population.
Homeless young adults ages 18-25 exhibit high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, and sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sex. Yet few programs exist for this population that are both effective and can be easily incorporated into settings serving this population. This pilot cluster cross-over randomized controlled trial evaluates AWARE, a voluntary four session group-based motivational interviewing (MI) intervention to reduce AOD use and sexual risk behavior. We evaluated AWARE with 200 homeless young adults using drop-in center services in Los Angeles County (mean age=21.8years; 73% male; 79% heterosexual; 31% non-Hispanic White, 25% African American, 24% Hispanic, 21% multiracial/other). Surveys were completed at baseline and three months after program completion. Retention in the AWARE program was excellent (79% attended multiple sessions) and participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program. AWARE participants self-reported positive change in their past 3month and past 30day alcohol use (ps≤0.05), motivation to change drug use (ps<0.05), and condom use self-efficacy (p=0.05) compared to the control group. Among those with multiple sex partners, AWARE participants showed a decrease in unprotected sexual events (p<0.05), whereas the control group did not. Results from this pilot evaluation are promising, suggesting that a brief group-MI risk reduction intervention can be effective in helping homeless young adults make positive changes in their alcohol and condom use. Further work is needed to more fully evaluate the efficacy of AWARE on AOD behavior and sexual risk behavior outcomes.
Peers have a major influence on youth during adolescence, and perceptions about peer alcohol use (perceived norms) are often associated with personal drinking behavior among youth. Most of the research on perceived norms among adolescents focuses on perceived descriptive norms only, or perceptions about peers' behavior, and correcting these perceptions are a major focus of many prevention programs with adolescents. In contrast, perceived injunctive norms, which are personal perceptions about peers' attitudes regarding the acceptability of behaviors, have been minimally examined in the adolescent drinking literature. Yet correcting perceptions about these perceived peer attitudes may be an important component to include in prevention programs with youth. Using a sample of 2493 high school-aged youth (mean age = 17.3), we assessed drinking behavior (past year use; past month frequency, quantity, and peak drinks), drinking consequences, and perceived descriptive and injunctive norms to examine the relationships of perceived injunctive and descriptive norms on adolescent drinking behavior. Findings indicated that although perceived descriptive norms were associated with some drinking outcomes (past year use; past month frequency; past month quantity; peak drinks), perceived injunctive norms were associated with all drinking outcomes, including outcomes of consequences, even after controlling for perceived descriptive norms. Findings suggest that consideration of perceived injunctive norms may be important in models of adolescent drinking. Prevention programs that do not include injunctive norms feedback may miss an important opportunity to enhance effectiveness of such prevention programs targeting adolescent alcohol use.
Conducting intervention studies with homeless populations can be difficult, particularly in terms of retaining participants across multiple sessions and locating them for subsequent follow-up assessments. Homeless youth are even more challenging to engage due to substance use, mental health problems, wariness of authority figures, and frequent relocations. This article describes methods used to successfully recruit a sample of 200 homeless youth from two drop-in centers in Los Angeles, engage them in a four-session substance use and sexual risk reduction program (79% of youth attended multiple sessions), and retain 91% of the full sample at a three-month follow-up assessment. Our experience indicates that utilizing structured project materials and having a small dedicated staff are essential to recruitment and retention efforts for intervention studies with homeless youth. Using these and other nontraditional methods are likely necessary to engage this at-risk yet hard-to-reach population.
BACKGROUND:Smokers increasingly seek alternative interventions to assist in cessation or reduction efforts. Mindfulness meditation, which facilitates detached observation and paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity, and acceptance, has recently been studied as a smoking cessation intervention.AIMS:This review synthesizes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mindfulness meditation (MM) interventions for smoking cessation.METHODS:Five electronic databases were searched from inception to October 2016 to identify English-language RCTs evaluating the efficacy and safety of MM interventions for smoking cessation, reduction, or a decrease in nicotine cravings. Two independent reviewers screened literature using predetermined eligibility criteria, abstracted study-level information, and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analyses used the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method for random-effects models. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.FINDINGS:Ten RCTs of MM interventions for tobacco use met inclusion criteria. Intervention duration, intensity, and comparison conditions varied considerably. Studies used diverse comparators such as the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking (FFS) program, quitline counseling, interactive learning, or treatment as usual (TAU). Only one RCT was rated as good quality and reported power calculations indicating sufficient statistical power. Publication bias was detected. Overall, mindfulness meditation did not have significant effects on abstinence or cigarettes per day, relative to comparator groups. The small number of studies and heterogeneity in interventions, comparators, and outcomes precluded detecting systematic differences between adjunctive and monotherapy interventions. No serious adverse events were reported.CONCLUSIONS:MM did not differ significantly from comparator interventions in their effects on tobacco use. Low-quality evidence, variability in study design among the small number of existing studies, and publication bias suggest that additional, high-quality adequately powered RCTs should be conducted.
Homeless young adults exhibit high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and sexual risk behaviors. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized clinical trial of AWARE, a new 4 session group motivational interviewing intervention. AWARE mainly focused on alcohol use and sexual risk behavior given focus group feedback. We used sequential coding to analyze how the group process affected both AOD use and sexual risk behavior at 3-month follow up among homeless young adults by examining facilitator behavior and participant change talk (CT) and sustain talk (ST). We analyzed 57 group session digital recordings of 100 youth (69% male, 74% heterosexual, 28% non-Hispanic white, 23% African American, 26% Hispanic, 23% multiracial/other; mean age 21.75). Outcomes included importance and readiness to change AOD use and risky sexual behavior, AOD use and consequences, number of partners and unprotected sex, and condom self-efficacy. Sequential analysis indicated that facilitator open-ended questions and reflections of CT increased Group CT. Group CT was associated with a lower likelihood of being a heavy drinker 3 months later; Group ST was associated with decreased readiness and confidence to change alcohol use. There were no associations with CT or ST for drug use or risky sexual behavior. Facilitator speech and peer responses were related to CT and ST during the group sessions with this high risk population, which were then associated with individual changes for alcohol use. Further research is needed to explore associations with drug use and sexual risk behavior.