Ivan Yun-Kuen Luu

Purpose: To compare the proximity of rafting screws to the articular surface in lateral split-depression (LSD) tibial plateau fractures using mini-fragment (MF) and pre-contoured anterolateral (AL) proximal tibia plates. Secondary aims included comparing patient-reported outcome scores and rates of hardware failure and reoperation. Methods: Design Retrospective review. Setting : Multi-center Level I Tertiary Academic Center. Patient Selection Criteria : Adult patients with AO/OTA 41B3.1 LSD tibial plateau fractures treated over 30 months by a single surgeon were identified. Patients were included when their fractures were treated with either a MF T-plate (2.7 mm in thickness) or a pre-contoured anatomic AL plate. Main Outcome Measures : The primary outcome was the distance from the lateral joint line to the most proximal screw (screw-to-joint distance [SJD]) as measured on intraoperative fluoroscopy. Results: Twenty-four patients were included with patients having received either a 2.7-mm MF T-plate (n = 14) or a standard AL proximal tibia plate (n = 10) and were followed for a median time of 29 weeks. Average SJD was 3.79 mm in the MF group and 8.67 mm in the AL group (p < 0.001). There was no difference in PROMIS scores between the groups. No patients experienced loss of reduction, implant loosening/failure, reoperation, or removal of tibial plateau hardware. Conclusions: Mini-fragment plates allow for a significantly shorter SJD compared to AL plates, allowing surgeons to provide more proximal rafting of LSD fractures while maintaining low rates of postoperative complications. No increase in fracture subsidence was observed when using mini-fragment fixation alone compared to AL plates.

Introduction: Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects approximately two-thirds of the global population under the age of 50 years. Although widely prevalent, the possible implications of HSV-1 in neurodegenerative diseases, especially dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, remain poorly understood. This review seeks to elucidate this association and explore the potential benefits of preventing or treating herpesvirus infections on dementia risk. The goal is to enhance our understanding of HSV-1’s potential role in dementia, which could inform the development of future therapeutic interventions for these conditions. Methods and analysis: PubMed, Embase (Elsevier/Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus, Global Health, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrials.gov will be searched from the inception of each respective database. Studies that have HSV-1 as an exposure and dementia, or its subtypes, as a primary outcome will be included. Two researchers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts, with discrepancies resolved by a third researcher. Systematic data extraction from eligible studies will be performed using a standardised template. Risk of bias of individual studies will be assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration approach. We will assess the overall quality of cumulative evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria. Statistical analysis will employ a random effects model, and heterogeneity will be determined with Cochrane’s Q test and assessed using I ² . Studies will be grouped by population subgroups and dementia subtypes when possible to explore nuances in results. We will consider performing meta-regression if heterogeneity remains after subgroup analyses. All statistical analyses will be conducted using Stata V.18 software (College Station, Texas, USA). Ethics and dissemination: No ethical approval is required since data will be collected from existing studies. The review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and at national and international conferences. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024516789.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between state Medicaid coverage of podiatry services and the outcomes of beneficiaries with new diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Methods: Medicaid beneficiaries who developed a DFU between 2010 and 2015 were identified using the PearlDiver claims database. The states were categorized into covered states (CS) and non-covered states (NCS) based on podiatric coverage during the study period. The outcomes included major amputation, minor amputation, and hospitalization due to foot infection within 12 months of index diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of state coverage type and outcomes, controlling for age, sex, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: Our study included 16,905 Medicaid beneficiaries who developed new DFUs: 14,748 in CS and 2157 in NCS. The overall major amputation rate was 2.6%. The risk of major amputation was 48% lower among Medicaid beneficiaries in CS (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31–0.90) than in NCS. The Medicaid beneficiaries in CS had a 24% lower risk of hospitalization for foot infection (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67–0.85) but had a 58% higher risk of minor amputation (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.22–2.07) than in NCS. Conclusions: Medicaid coverage of podiatry services might be associated with lower rates of major amputation and reduced risk of hospitalization for foot infection.