Decreasing Trend in Medicare Physician Reimbursements for Flap and Microvascular Surgery Procedures From 2002 to 2023.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate how major US health care policy changes have influenced long-term Medicare reimbursement trends for upper-extremity flap and microvascular procedures from 2002 to 2023.

Methods: Reimbursement data for 28 common flap and microvascular procedures were extracted from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule database using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Adjustments for inflation were made using the Consumer Price Index.

Age-based prediction of non-routine discharge after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using machine learning.

Purpose: To examine factors influencing non-routine discharge in ACDF patients stratified by age utilizing machine learning.

Methods: A cohort of 219,380 weighted ACDF cases from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database spanning 2016-2020 was divided into three age groups: 50-64, 65-79, and 80 + years. Eight supervised machine learning models predicted non-routine discharge based on patient characteristics, including age, length of stay (LOS), and comorbidities.

A First Look at the Research Landscape of the Neurosurgery Match in a Pass/Fail Step 1 Era: A 2024 Match Analysis.

Objective The 2024 Residency Match was the first in recent history where most applicants did not report a numerical United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 score. This study will quantify the effects the scoring change had on the research productivity of successfully matched neurosurgery applicants. Methods Data on sex, MD/PhD status, medical school attended, and residency program were collected.

Postoperative complications, length of stay, and discharge disposition following single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion in elderly and octogenarian patients.

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has become a widely accepted treatment for degenerative lumbar spine pathologies, with increasing prevalence due to its effectiveness in restoring lumbar lordosis and improving spinal balance. This study aims to evaluate postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and discharge disposition following ALIF across different age groups.

Methods: A total of 92,800 weighted cases of patients aged 50 and older underwent single-level ALIF in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020.

Prediction of non-routine discharge following single-level cervical disc arthroplasty using machine learning.

Background: Non-routine discharge following single-level cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is associated with increased morbidity and healthcare burden. Identifying key predictors can improve perioperative planning and patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to predict non-routine discharge following single-level CDA and identify key discharge predictors.

Single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is associated with higher nonroutine discharge rates compared to cervical disc arthroplasty in obese patients.

Context: Obesity is a recognized risk factor for adverse outcomes in cervical spine surgery. While cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has emerged as an alternative to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), comparative outcomes among obese patients remain underexplored.

Aims: The aim of this study is to compare nonroutine discharge rates and other postoperative outcomes between obese patients undergoing single-level ACDF and CDA.

High Volume Hospitals are Associated With Decreased Rates of Non-Routine Discharge Following Single-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.

Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the impact of hospital volume on postoperative outcomes following single-level cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), focusing on non-routine discharge rates, length of stay (LOS), and hospital costs.MethodsAfter applying the appropriate exclusion criteria, the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried to identify 14,315 weighted cases of patients undergoing single-level CDA between 2016 and 2020.

Inequity of NIH cancer funding in the United States: an ecological study predicting funding based on disease burden from 2008 through 2023.

Background: Disease burden has been used to predict National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding but included diseases with little underlying relationship. Here we focus on cancers to create a more appropriate model to allow for more targeted scrutinization of funding allocation.

Methods: An ecological study using NIH funding data (2008-2023) was performed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Associated With Increased Rates of Acute Respiratory Failure, Length of Stay, and Hospital Costs in Patients Undergoing Elective Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study designRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesTo examine differences in postoperative complications, recovery course, and costs between patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).MethodsThe National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried to identify patients undergoing single-level ACDF between 2016 and 2022.

GPT-4 as a Source of Patient Information for Carpal Tunnel Surgery: A Comparative Analysis Against Google Web Search.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel surgery (CTS) accounts for approximately 577,000 surgeries in the United States annually. This high frequency raises concerns over the dissemination of medical information through artificial intelligence chatbots, Google, and healthcare professionals. The objectives of this study are to determine whether GPT-4 and Google differ in (1) the type of questions asked, (2) the readability of responses, and (3) the accuracy of numerical responses for the top 10 most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CTS.