Forte, Mary L.

Introduction. Acute pain is a common ailment in the U.S. often treated with opioids. This technical brief maps the current evidence on pain treatments for select acute pain conditions (postdischarge postoperative pain, musculoskeletal pain, acute migraine, dental pain, renal colic, and acute pain associated with sickle cell disease).

 Methods. We conducted Key Informant discussions to develop the context around the acute pain conditions, settings, and current clinical practice. We then conducted a systematic literature search to identify recent systematic reviews of sufficient quality that evaluated pain treatments for select acute pain conditions. We screened results and extracted relevant data into evidence tables. We subsequently searched for original research published after systematic review search dates. 

Results. Key Informant discussions identified important issues regarding common acute pain conditions and treatments. Certain acute pain conditions have not received sufficient attention in rigorous comprehensive systematic review; for most types of acute pain, pain etiology is critical to selecting appropriate treatment; the value of acute pain assessments in guiding treatment decisions is unclear; and regional and health system level policies play a large role in treatment decisions. Our search for systematic reviews for pain treatments for priority acute pain conditions identified 1226 potentially relevant references, of which 527 underwent full text review. After supplemental searching and full text review, 110 systematic reviews met basic eligibility criteria. Most acute pain conditions had systematic reviews that met eligibility criteria, but few reviews were sufficiently rigorous and comprehensive. Few eligible reviews focused on specific settings except emergency departments for several acute pain conditions. Eligible reviews rarely addressed specific subpopulations such as racial and ethnic groups, rural residents, pregnant women, individuals with comorbidities, or those with a history of substance use disorder, overdose, or mental illness. Comparisons addressed by many systematic reviews often included opioids. 

Discussion. Our discussions with Key Informants and review of the literature show that additional original research and up-do-date comprehensive systematic reviews would help inform treatment decisions for a wide variety of acute pain conditions.

Objective. To summarize evidence on: (1) the accuracy of brief cognitive tests for identifying clinical Alzheimer’s-type dementia (CATD) in individuals with suspected cognitive impairment; (2) the accuracy of biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in individuals with dementia; and (3) the benefits and harms of prescription drugs and supplements for cognition, function, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in patients with CATD. 

Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare functional limitations and comorbidity prevalence between older adult users and nonusers of chiropractic and osteopathic (DC/DO) manipulation to inform provider training.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey data. Adults age 65 or older who responded to the survey were included. Descriptive statistics are reported for adults who used DC/DO manipulation (vs nonusers) regarding function, comorbidities, musculoskeletal complaints, and medical services. Weighted percentages were derived using SAS and compared with χ2 tests.

Results: The DC/DO users were more often female, overweight or obese, and of white race than nonusers. More DC/DO users reported arthritis (55.3% vs 47.0%, <0.01) or asthma (15.0% vs 10.0%, P < .01) than nonusers; hypertension (61.9% vs 55.5%, P = .02) and diabetes (20.3% vs 15.7%, P = .02) were more prevalent in nonusers; and other comorbidities were comparable. The DC/DO users reported more joint pain/stiffness (55.7% vs 44.8%), chronic pain (19.8% vs 14.2%), low back pain (27.8% vs 18.4%), low back with leg pain (18.8% vs 10.6%), and neck pain (24.2% vs 13.1%) than nonusers (all P < .01). Functional limitations affected two-thirds overall, but DC/DO users reported more difficulties stooping and bending; other limitations were comparable. One in 9 reported activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living limitations; nonusers were more affected. Surgery was more common among DC/DO users (26.1% vs 19.3%, <0.01); emergency room visits were comparable.

Conclusion: Differences existed between older adult manipulation users and nonusers, especially surgical utilization, musculoskeletal complaints, and comorbidities; functional differences were modest. Our findings highlight areas for provider training and awareness regarding comorbidity burden and management needs in older patients who may simultaneously use manipulation and medical care for musculoskeletal complaints.

Purpose:  To summarize evidence on the effects of prescription drugs and supplements for CATD treatment.

Conclusion:  Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine slightly reduced short-term cognitive decline, and cholinesterase inhibitors slightly reduced reported functional decline, but differences versus placebo were of uncertain clinical importance. Evidence was mostly insufficient on drug treatment of BPSD and on supplements for all outcomes.

There are substantial research knowledge gaps regarding orthopaedic outcomes after surgical procedures to treat hip fractures in vulnerable elderly patients. The article by Heng et al. serves to remind us that treating hip fractures must be done thoughtfully. Given the risks related to surgical hip fracture treatment, attention should be paid to treatment decisions for subgroups of high-risk patients. Not all older patients are equally likely to benefit from standard orthopaedic care. Some older adults are at high risk for inpatient hospital complications such as delirium, particularly those with prefracture cognitive impairment. Geriatric hip fractures are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and prolonged functional impairment. At least one-third of patients die within 1 year after a hip fracture and less than one-half ever regain their prefracture level of function. Given this trajectory, efforts such as cognitive screening and other measures of frailty can provide useful insights in planning treatment.

Background: No systematic review has examined the collective randomized and nonrandomized evidence for fecal incontinence treatment effectiveness across the range of surgical treatments.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, comparative effectiveness, and harms of surgical treatments for fecal incontinence in adults.

Data sources: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, as well as hand searches of systematic reviews, were used as data sources.

Study selection: Two investigators screened abstracts for eligibility (surgical treatment of fecal incontinence in adults, published 1980-2015, randomized controlled trial or observational study with comparator; case series were included for adverse effects). Full-text articles were reviewed for patient-reported outcomes. We extracted data, assessed study risk of bias, and evaluated strength of evidence for each treatment-outcome combination.

Interventions: Surgical treatments for fecal incontinence were included interventions.

Main outcome measures: Fecal incontinence episodes/severity, quality of life, urgency, and pain were measured.

Results: Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria (13 randomized trials and 9 observational trials); 53 case series were included for harms. Most patients were middle-aged women with mixed FI etiologies. Intervention and outcome heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Evidence was insufficient for all of the surgical comparisons. Few studies examined the same comparisons; no studies were high quality. Functional improvements varied; some authors excluded those patients with complications or lost to follow-up from analyses. Complications ranged from minor to major (infection, bowel obstruction, perforation, and fistula) and were most frequent after the artificial bowel sphincter (22%-100%). Major surgical complications often required reoperation; few required permanent colostomy.

Limitations: Most evidence is intermediate term, with small patient samples and substantial methodologic limitations.

Conclusions: Evidence was insufficient to support clinical or policy decisions for any surgical treatments for fecal incontinence in adults. More invasive surgical procedures had substantial complications. The lack of compliance with study reporting standards is a modifiable impediment in the field. Future studies should focus on longer-term outcomes and attempt to identify subgroups of adults who might benefit from specific procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the 2013 implementation of ACGME minimum case requirements was associated with increased documented case volume of closed manipulation of forearm and wrist fractures (CMFWF) for graduating orthopedic surgery residents.

DESIGN: We reviewed ACGME case log data for CMFWF among graduating orthopedic surgery residents from 2007 to 2016. Annual national mean, and median number of CMFWF performed by residents in the 10th, 30th, 50th, and 90th case volume percentile were evaluated. Preminimum (2007-2010) data was compared to postminimum (2013-2016) values to assess the impact of ACGME minimum requirements on resident case volume.

SETTING: Review of publically available ACMGE Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program case log data.

PARTICIPANTS: ACGME case log data for orthopedic surgery residents graduating between 2007 and 2016.

RESULTS: National mean number of CMFWF increased significantly pre- to postminimum requirement (30.0 ± 2.84 to 45.0 ± 3.36, p < 0.001). Between 2010 and 2016 there was a 1100%, 300%, 83%, and 9% increase in the median number of CMFWF within the 10th, 30th, 50th, and 90th percentiles, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: ACGME's 2013 case minimum requirement corresponded to an increase in case counts for CMFWF; the greatest increase occurred in residents below the 50th percentile of case volume. Implementation of case minimum requirements may allow for more accurate depiction of resident experience and program strengths with regards to procedural exposure. However, the current case log system measures only case quantity, which may inaccurately depict mastery of given procedures. Future work should focus not only on improving case counts in underperforming residents and training sites, but also on refining metrics that ensure accurate assessment of resident skill for essential orthopedic procedures prior to graduation.