Gender Disparities in Endowed Professorships Within Orthopaedic Surgery

Background Orthopaedic surgery has the lowest number of full-time faculty positions held by women, at 19%, with endowed chairs among the most coveted and advantageous. We examined the characteristics of endowed professors from the US top 100 orthopaedic academic centers and highest-funded musculoskeletal (MSK) researchers to determine if gender is associated with endowed professorship. Additionally, we sought to determine if gender is associated with increased NIH funding for top-performing musculoskeletal researchers.  Methods Our primary study group included the top 100 orthopaedic academic centers defined by US News World Report and Doximity's rankings. Our secondary study group examined the top MSK researchers, defined as principal investigators, who received >$400,000 in annual NIH funding from 2018 to 2021. Orthopaedic departments included MSK researchers and subspecialties within orthopaedics and medicine. Publicly available sources were used to compile institutional, gender, H-index, citation number, and subspecialty data on endowed professors; statistical comparisons were calculated. Results Within the top 100 orthopaedic academic departments, 4674 faculty were identified. Seven hundred and thirty-three (15.68%) were identified as women, 3941 as men (84.32%). One hundred and ninety-four held endowed professorships; 13 were awarded to women (6.7%), and 185 (95.3%) were awarded to men, with a significant odds ratio (OR) of 2.95, favoring men. For MSK researchers, the OR increases to 11.4. Arthroplasty and sports had the highest numbers of endowments. Significant differences in H-index, publications, and graduation year were identified between men and women for top MSK researchers and orthopaedic-trained surgeons; however, these differences disappeared when considering heterogenous orthopaedic departments that included medicine subspecialties, plastic surgery, hand surgery, and neurosurgery. Additional gender differences were observed in endowment names, with awards commemorating 51.5% men, 7.2% women, and 34% families or groups. Conclusion Gender inequities at the endowment level are substantial, and there are very few women in musculoskeletal medicine to achieve endowments. Differences in H-index, publications, and graduation year between men and women MSK researchers and orthopaedic-trained surgeons, but not combined orthopaedic, PM&R, and medical subspecialty departments, suggest unique challenges in orthopaedic surgery environments and histories that may contribute to endowment disparity. Gender was not found to be associated with funding bias for top-performing musculoskeletal researchers.

Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship opportunities for Pediatrics-trained physicians in the United States

OBJECTIVES

To characterize Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) fellowship opportunities for Pediatrics-trained physicians across all programs in the United States.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study using data from publicly-available online sources. Data were collected from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) online listings of PCSM programs and cross-referenced with individual program websites. Variables such as program location, departmental sponsor, and eligibility criteria specific to pediatricians were collected.

RESULTS

202 programs were identified. 196 (97.0%) were ACGME-accredited, of which 75.0% were sponsored by Family Medicine (FM), 9.7% by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), 9.2% by Pediatrics, and 5.1% by Emergency Medicine (EM) departments. Pediatrics-trained physicians were eligible for 133 of 196 (67.9%) programs and 241 of 350 (68.9%) total positions. Eligibility for pediatricians was highest in Pediatrics-sponsored programs (18/18, 100.0%), followed by EM (7/10, 70.0%), FM (98/147, 66.7%), and PMR (9/19, 47.4%). 49 of 133 (36.8%) programs accepting pediatricians had discrepancies regarding eligibility criteria (e.g. did not confirm eligibility criteria on their website, listed conflicting eligibility criteria within or between their website and AMSSM listing, or did not have a website available to cross-reference).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatricians are eligible for more than two-thirds of PCSM fellowship programs across the United States, including programs that are not sponsored by Pediatrics departments. Applicants may not be aware of these opportunities given discrepancies regarding eligibility in over one-third of programs. In a field underrepresented by Pediatrics-trained physicians, accurate online information and transparency of eligibility criteria are critical to raise awareness about fellowship opportunities and foster equity with regards to career opportunities for pediatricians in PCSM.

Optimizing Health and Athletic Performance for Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The exponential growth of women participating in competitive sports throughout the years was made possible through several initiatives by the International Olympic Committee and the passage and implementation of Title IX as a federal law in the United States. However, this positive trend towards gender equity in sports has not transpired for women in medicine, especially in fields that care for elite athletes. This current review will discuss specific areas that can be tailored to help female athletes prevent injuries and optimize their athletic performance. We will also highlight how increased female team physician representation in sports may help optimize care for female athletes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Female athletes are considered high risk for certain conditions such as ACL tears, patellofemoral pain syndrome, bone stress injuries, sport-related concussions, and sexual violence in sport. Addressing factors specific to female athletes has been found to be valuable in preventing injuries. Strength and conditioning can optimize athletic performance but remains underutilized among female athletes. Although diversity in healthcare workforce has been found to be beneficial for multiple reasons, women remain underrepresented in sports medicine. Increasing female team physician representation may positively impact care for female athletes. Team physicians must understand the physiologic, biomechanical, and anatomic factors that are unique to female athletes in order to tailor injury prevention programs and optimize their athletic performance. Advocating for gender equity in sports medicine to advance representation of women in the field will increase workforce diversity and promote excellence in sports medicine care.

Recommended Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residency Training

ABSTRACT

Patients present to primary care physicians with musculoskeletal complaints more often than they do for upper respiratory infections, hypertension, or diabetes. Despite this, instruction in musculoskeletal medicine for internal medicine residents represents less than 1% of their total didactic and clinical education time. We recognize the immense breadth of knowledge and skill required to train residents in the practice of internal medicine. This curriculum guideline defines a recommended training strategy, and supplies relevant resources, to improve musculoskeletal education among internal medicine residents to optimize patient care. This curriculum guideline was created by internists who are sports medicine specialists. Sports medicine physicians promote overall health and well-being while providing expertise in acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as how disease affects exercise and using exercise as medicine for people with chronic disease.

The Rise of Concussions in the Adolescent Population

Background:

Concussion injuries have been highlighted to the American public through media and research. While recent studies have shown increased traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) diagnosed in emergency departments across the United States, no studies have evaluated trends in concussion diagnoses across the general US population in various age groups.

Purpose:

To evaluate the current incidence and trends in concussions diagnosed across varying age groups and health care settings in a large cross-sectional population.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

Administrative health records of 8,828,248 members of a large private-payer insurance group in the United States were queried. Patients diagnosed with concussion from years 2007 through 2014 were stratified by year of diagnosis, age group, sex, classification of concussion, and health care setting of diagnosis (eg, emergency department vs physician’s office). Chi-square testing was used for statistical analysis.

Results:

From a cohort of 8,828,248 patients, 43,884 patients were diagnosed with a concussion. Of these patients, 55% were male and over 32% were in the adolescent age group (10-19 years old). The highest incidence of concussion was seen in patients aged 15 to 19 years (16.5/1000 patients), followed by those aged 10 to 14 years (10.5/1000 patients), 20 to 24 years (5.2/1000 patients), and 5 to 9 years (3.5/1000 patients). Overall, there was a 60% increase in concussion incidence from 2007 to 2014. The largest increases were in the 10- to 14-year (143%) and 15- to 19-year (87%) age groups. Based on International Classification of Disease–9th Revision classification, 29% of concussions were associated with some form of loss of consciousness. Finally, 56% of concussions were diagnosed in the emergency department and 29% in a physician’s office, with the remainder in urgent care clinics or inpatient settings.

Conclusion:

The incidence of concussion diagnosed in the general US population is increasing, driven largely by a substantial rise in the adolescent age group. The youth population should be prioritized for ongoing work in concussion education, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Clinical Relevance:

The rise of concussions in the adolescent age group across the general population is concerning, and clinical efforts to prevent these injuries are needed.

The Legal Landscape of Concussion: Implications for Sports Medicine Providers

Context:

Concussion legislation has been enacted in all 50 of the United States, aiming to prevent mild traumatic brain injuries and the potential long-term sequelae of these injuries in youth athletics. Sports medicine providers, in addressing this major public health concern, are tasked with adhering to the established standards of medical care while also considering the legal implications.

Evidence Acquisition:

The PubMed (2011-2016) database was searched using the following search terms: concussion, sports concussion, legislation, and concussion legislation. References from consensus statements, review articles, and book chapters were also utilized.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Results:

The Lystedt law and its progeny have increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of sports concussion, but adherence to state legislation can pose some challenges.

Conclusion:

The presence of concussion legislation places a responsibility on the sports medicine provider to have a firm understanding of the legality of concussion management in the state(s) in which they practice.

Referring wisely: orthopedic referral guidelines at an academic institution

OBJECTIVES

To develop local orthopedic guidelines for use in referral decision support and electronic consultation programs at University of California, San Francisco Health.

STUDY DESIGN

Modified Delphi method.

METHODS

We performed a 2-phase modified Delphi study to identify consensus between primary care and orthopedic clinicians for common musculoskeletal problems.

RESULTS

Clinicians agreed that confirming patient interest in an orthopedic procedure should be completed prior to referral in 81% of clinical scenarios, as well as conservative management in 80%, physical therapy in 60%, and x-ray prior to referral in 42% of scenarios. Clinicians agreed an MRI should not be performed prior to referral in most (58%) clinical scenarios.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of national guidelines, a process for local guideline generation is needed in order to provide nuanced and detailed decision support at the point of referral. The Delphi method proved an effective process to achieve this end.

The effects of CO2 pressure and pH on the Suzuki coupling of basic nitrogen containing substrates

The Suzuki coupling reaction of basic nitrogen containing substrates (2-bromo- and 2-chloro-4-aminopyridine, and 2-bromo and 2-chloropyridine) with phenylboronic acid using Pd(TPP)₂Cl₂/K₃PO₄ in acetonitrile–water biphasic solvent systems under a CO₂ or a N₂ atmosphere is discussed.

Prescribing exercise for women

One- half of women in the United States do not meet the weekly dose of physical activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Many women could benefit tremendously if they were to adopt a more active lifestyle. Health benefits from exercise include lowering the risk for cardiovascular disease, slowing the rate of bone loss in osteoporosis, and improving mood during pregnancy. In this article, we review the health benefits that women may gain from physical activity and the recommendations for physical activity for adults in the United States. We offer evidence supporting use of the exercise prescription, discuss how to write an exercise prescription, and how to tailor the exercise prescription for women with particular medical problems.

Biomechanical Analysis of Tibial Torque and Knee Flexion Angle

Knee injuries are common in sports activities. Understanding the mechanisms of injury allows for better treatment of these injuries and for the development of effective prevention programmes. Tibial torque and knee flexion angle have been associated with several mechanisms of injury in the knee. This article focuses on the injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the meniscus of the knee as they relate to knee flexion angle and tibial torque. Hyperflexion and hyperextension with the application of tibial torque have both been implicated in the mechanism of ACL injury. A combination of anterior tibial force and internal tibial torque near full extension puts the ACL at high risk for injury. Hyperflexion also increases ACL force; however, in this position, internal and external tibial torque only minimally increase ACL force. Several successful prevention programmes have been based on these biomechanical factors. Injury to the PCL typically occurs in a flexed or hyperflexed knee position. The effects of application of a tibial torque, both internally and externally, remains controversial. Biomechanical studies have shown an increase in PCL force with knee flexion and the application of internal tibial torque, while others have shown that PCL-deficient knees have greater external tibial rotation. The meniscus must endure greater compressive loads at higher flexion angles of the knee and, as a result, are more prone to injury in these positions. In addition, ACL deficiency puts the meniscus at greater risk for injury. Reducing the forces on the ACL, PCL and meniscus during athletic activity through training, the use of appropriate equipment and safe surfaces will help to reduce injury to these structures.