Lower socioeconomic status linked with poor NSCLC prognosis in those with pretreatment weight loss

Article Type
Changed
Fri, 01/04/2019 - 14:14

 

Socioeconomic status, as measured by insurance status, was associated with survival among patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss, in a retrospective review of medical records.

SOURCE: Lau S et al. J Oncol Pract. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2017.025239

Publications
Topics
Sections

 

Socioeconomic status, as measured by insurance status, was associated with survival among patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss, in a retrospective review of medical records.

SOURCE: Lau S et al. J Oncol Pract. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2017.025239

 

Socioeconomic status, as measured by insurance status, was associated with survival among patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pretreatment cancer-associated weight loss, in a retrospective review of medical records.

SOURCE: Lau S et al. J Oncol Pract. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2017.025239

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Article Source

FROM JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY PRACTICE

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Vitals

 

Key clinical point: Early recognition and management of cancer-associated weight loss in patients with NSCLC and low socioeconomic status may improve outcomes.

Major finding: Lack of insurance was significantly prognostic among patients with NSCLC and pretreatment weight loss (hazard ratio, 1.63 95% CI, 1.14-2.35).

Study details: 1,366 adult patients with NSCLC consecutively treated at a tertiary care health system between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2013.

Disclosures: The study was supported in part by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences grants TL1TR001104 and UL1TR001105. Dr. Lau reported employment with LabCorp by an immediate family member. Coauthors reported financial ties to Advenchen Laboratories, Macrogen, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, and DFINE.

Source: Lau S et al. J Oncol Pract. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2017.025239.

Disqus Comments
Default

Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques

Article Type
Changed
Thu, 09/19/2019 - 13:19
Display Headline
Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques

ABSTRACT

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty facilitates surgical treatment of primary and revision shoulder with rotator cuff and bone deficiencies. Wear pattern classifications and a logical treatment approach for glenoid bone loss enable the surgeon to address a difficult series of problems in the reconstructions where the glenoid might not otherwise be able to support the implants. Bone grafting using the native humeral head in primary cases, and in revision cases, iliac crest are the most reliable sources for structural grafts for the worn or deficient glenoid vault.

Continue to: The reverse shoulder arthroplasty...

 

 

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) technique was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and introduced to the US market in 2004. It has been a successful addition to the treatment of shoulder pathologies with bone and rotator cuff loss. Its indications have expanded from treatment of very elderly patients with rotator cuff deficiencies to now include younger patients with humeral and glenoid bone loss, arthritis, soft-tissue losses, fractures, instability, and revision arthroplasty. Many of these conditions, when not adequately addressed with anatomic arthroplasty, now have viable treatment options for newer complex and successful reconstructions.

Glenoid bone deficiencies offer unique challenges for successful arthroplasty management. Basing treatment on bone loss classifications permits meaningful evaluation of these surgical options and whether they might be carried out in 1- or 2-stage reconstructions. An underlying premise is that restoration of the glenoid joint line and version assist in final stability, power, and functional results. For this purpose, bone graft options, or augmented implants are beneficial. This review covers the bone grafting options for autografts and allografts for deficient glenoids in reverse shoulder arthroplasty reconstructions.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES

For patients without prior arthroplasty, the humeral head is available for bone grafting the glenoid bone deficits. Favard and Hamada have described vertical glenoid classifications for uneven glenoid bone loss applicable to cuff tear arthropathy and inflammatory arthritis patients.1,2 The more severe E3 superior and medial bone loss is ideally addressed with the humeral head. An early example in 2004 confirmed that this was a good indication for glenoid bone grafting and using the reverse shoulder in these advanced cases (Figures 1A-1E).

Revision shoulder arthroplasty with superior medial glenoid erosion and humeral calcar wear from inferior glenoid

In this case, it was noted that with bone grafts the base plate post did not engage the native scapula glenoid vault. Given that the on-growth central post was the strongest part of the fixation, it was fortunate that this healed. The need for a longer post with bone grafts was recognized. Laurent Comtat with the Wright Medical company accommodated the author’s request to develop the first 25- and 30-mm-long posts to allow better fixation and on-growth potential when used with bone grafts.

Gilles Walch’s classification addresses arthritic central and horizontal bone loss.3,4 Considerations relevant in RSA include the severe A2 central bone loss found in inflammatory arthritis and the B2, B3, and C patterns with posterior bone loss seen in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and congenital dysplasia5,6 as seen in Figures 2A, 2B. The 3-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) scan is considered the most accurate method of assessment when compared with axial radiographs.7 The glenoid vault model as a measurement of glenoid bone loss has great promise in designing prosthetic replacements and bone graft techniques.8

(A) A B2 posteriorly eroded biconcave glenoid. (B) A B3 progressive posteriorly eroded glenoid with more medial wear and less fixed posterior subluxation.

Continue to: Modern methods for determining glenoid version...

 

 

Modern methods for determining glenoid version, medialization, and eccentric bone wear include 3-D reconstruction and patient-specific instruments. For many years, version determination has been confirmed at surgery with subscapularis elevation, palpating the glenoid center point along Friedman’s line, and then inserting a Steinmann pin as a guide to restore version and the lateral joint line at the time of bone grafting. An example of this is demonstrated in Figures 3A-3E.9

Friedman's line for a scpula with normal version

All grafts are harvested with a hole saw from the humeral head. The inner diameter is 29 mm, the same as that of the base plate. Originally, the hole saw and mandrel were obtained from the hardware store, but Pascal Boileau upgraded the hole saw quality when he had industry develop a stainless-steel hole saw and published his results with the BIO-RSA (Wright Medical).10 In an unpublished study, Harmsen reviewed our 220 consecutive humeral head bone grafts for use of this technique with successful and reproducible results. In a separate evaluation, 29 shaped humeral head bone grafts for B2, B3, and C glenoid bone deficits showed 100% healing.11 This technique has good reproducibility when performed with an autogenous bone graft from a local donor source.

The more challenging cases involve glenoid bone loss from polyethylene osteolysis and, in some revision cases, concomitant sepsis.12 The humeral head is no longer available, and the distal clavicle or humeral metaphysis are often insufficient to restore the glenoid vault and joint line. Gunther and associates at the UC Berkeley biomaterials laboratory have made many contributions to our understanding of polyethylene wear and the factors leading to its loosening that result in massive glenoid bone loss.13

Antuna and colleagues14 classified these cases as having a central vault cavitary defect, or one combined with a peripheral glenoid wall bone loss of either the anterior or posterior glenoid. Newton and colleagues15 described the structural tricortical iliac crest bone graft as a 2-stage reconstruction. The second stage could be performed 4 to 6 months later after graft incorporation. With the excellent Association for Osteosynthesis (AO) type fixation using the base plate with compression and locking screws, it was reasonable to perform this in 1 stage, assuming that adequate fixation could be obtained with the iliac bone graft to the glenoid.16 This worked well with the cavitary glenoid defects and those in which either the anterior or posterior wall was absent.17-19

EXCEPTIONS TO THE 1-STAGE FIXATION TECHNIQUE

Fixation could still be obtained medially, but more severe cases were encountered with loss of both the anterior and posterior walls. In these more advanced cases, the vault was no longer present after removal of the polyethylene, cement, and rubbery osteolytic tissue that replaced the bone. To account for this, a simplified 3-stage classification was proposed.20 The cavitary vault defect is designated as type 1 bone loss. Type 2A includes the cavitary central defect plus loss of the anterior glenoid wall, and 2B is similar with loss of the posterior wall (Figures 4A-4F). Type 3 involves loss of the glenoid vault and both anterior and posterior walls with erosion down to the medial juncture of the base of the scapular spine, coracoid, and pillar of the scapula.

Glenoid bone loss (GBL) in revision total shoulder arthroplasty

Continue to: The tricortical iliac crest bone graft...

 

 

The tricortical iliac crest bone graft (TICBG) offered a structural graft that worked well for these cases of bone loss. When the graft is performed in 1 stage, the glenoid is exposed, and the defect measured after removing the osteolytic, polyethylene-laden tissue from the glenoid. The iliac graft is harvested and placed with the long post base plate engaging the native scapula medially (Figures 5A-5C).

Preparation of the iliac crest with a 29-mm reamer and a central hole for the base plate post

This technique worked well with the type 1 and 2 defects, but when attempted with the type 3 glenoid defect with global glenoid bone loss, adequate fixation for a single-stage reconstruction could not be predictably obtained with type 3 loss of the vault and both walls. In this situation, the base plate post is wider than the remaining medialized glenoid vault (Figures 6A-6C). The iliac crest provides better bone for this global loss when harvested sideways, fixed with screws, and after secure healing, the second-stage base plate is placed (Figures 7A-7F).

Type 3 glenoid bone loss with remaining scapular diameter less the base plate post diameter

An alternative to the iliac crest as a bone graft donor site is the femoral neck allograft.21 It avoids the additional surgery and pain at the donor site, but healing is less assured. Scalise and Iannotti22 have had good clinical results but noted substantial graft resorption when revising a total shoulder to a humeral head arthroplasty. In a recent report by Ozgur and colleagues,23 64% of femoral neck allografts were still intact at 1-year follow-up. The technique involved harvesting the graft with a hole saw, shaping and affixing it to the deficient glenoid, and gaining central fixation with a threaded or solid post base plate and peripheral screws. Poor results were obtained with the use of the femoral shaft, as it is brittle. Angled peripheral screws caused the allograft shaft to fracture. Low-grade sepsis remained an unanswered problem in the patient group, which averaged 6 prior procedures, and often led to another revision. Less favorable results were found using the 1-piece threaded post base plate with grafts.24 It is assumed that the allograft has less healing potential, and micro motion plays a role when the long central screw has no on-growth healing potential in the native scapula. This graft choice is the author’s least favorite, but is available in desperate situations. Jones and colleagues25 report promising results with bulk allografts and autografts for large glenoid defects with good clinical results. The results in the graft cohort were inferior to those in a matched group not requiring grafts. Their complications were consistent with the revision setting for shoulders having multiple operations. It is well known that preoperative factors are strong predictors of postoperative outcomes.26

Scapular type 3 wall loss and medialization

CONCLUSION

The author’s current technique is to use the native humeral head when available, or iliac crest for structural support to the base plate and glenosphere. Secure fixation to the native scapula is necessary if the operation is to be done in 1-stage. Incorporation with calcium orthophosphate bone substitution does not replace the need for structural support as shown in Figures 8A-8D.

A contained type 1 cavitary defect

For the type 2 vault and 1 wall glenoid bone loss defects, the TICBG is still the most useful option. For the type 3 global bone loss defects, a 2-stage approach is the safer option. Additional options that may replace some of these grafting techniques are the introduction of the metallic augmented ingrowth base plates to correct for superior, anterior, and posterior glenoid bone losses. The early unpublished experiences by Wright and colleagues are very promising. All of the above options should be available in the operating room for a busy arthroplasty surgeon.

References

1. Hamada K, Fukuda H, Mikasa M, Kobay Y. Roentgenographic findings in massive rotator cuff tears. A long-term observation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;254:92-96.

2. Favard L, Alami G. The glenoid in the frontal plane: The Favard and Hamada radiographic classifications of cuff tear osteoarthritis. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:53-58.

3. Rouleau DM, Kidder JF, Pons-Villanueva J, Dynamidis S, Walch G. The glenoid in the horizontal plane: Walch classification revisited humeral subluxation and glenoid retroversion. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:45-51.

4. Walch G, Badet R, Boulahia A, Khoury A. Morphological study of the glenoid in primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Arthroplasty. 1999;14(6):756-760.

5. Iannotti JP, Ricchetti E. Walch classification: adding two new glenoid types. Orthopaedic Insights Cleveland Clinic. 2017:6-7.

6. Mizuno N, Denard PJ, Raiss P, Walch G. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with a biconcave glenoid. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(14):1297-1304.

7. Nyffeler RW, Jost B, Pfirrmann CW, Gerber C. Measurement of glenoid version: conventional radiographs verses computed tomography scans. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003;12(5):493-496.

8. Scalise JJ, Bryan J, Polster J, Brems JJ, Iannotti JP. Quantitative analysis of glenoid bone loss in osteoarthritis using three-dimensional compute tomography scans. [published online ahead of print January 22, 2008]. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008;17(2):328-335.

9. Friedman RJ, Hawthorne KB, Genez BM. The use of computerized tomography in the measurement of glenoid version. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1992;74(7):1032-1037.

10. Boileau P, Moineau G, Roussanne Y, O’Shea K. Bony increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty: minimizing scapular impingement while maximizing glenoid fixation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2558-2567.

11. Harmsen S, Casagrande D, Norris T: “Shaped” humeral head autograft reverse shoulder arthroplasty: Treatment for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with significant posterior glenoid bone loss (B2, B3, and C-type). Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1045-1054.

12. Norris TR, Phipatanakul WP. Treatment of glenoid loosening and bone loss due to osteolysis with glenoid bone grafting. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(1):84-87.

13. Farzana F, Lee T, Malito L, et al. Analysis of severely fractured glenoid components: clinical consequences of biomechanics, design, and materials selection on implant performance. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(7):1041-1050.

14. Antuña SA, Sperling JW, Cofield RH, Rowland CM. Glenoid revision surgery after total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001;10(3):217-224.

15. Newton L, Walch G, Nove-Josserand L, Edwards TB. Glenoid cortical cancellous bone grafting after glenoid component removal in the treatment of glenoid loosening. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(2):173-179.

16. Norris TR, Kelly JD, Humphrey CS. Management of glenoid bone defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty: a new application of the reverse total shoulder prosthesis. Techniques Shoulder Elbow Surgery. 2007;8(1):37-46.

17. Kelly JD II, Zhao JX, Hobgood ER, Norris TR. Clinical results of revision shoulder arthroplasty using the reverse prosthesis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(11):1516-1525.

18. Norris TR. Reconstruction of glenoid bone loss in total shoulder arthroplasty. In: Boileau P, ed. Shoulder Concepts 2008-Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2008:397-404.

19. Humphrey CS, Kelly JD, Norris TR. Management of glenoid deficiency in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. In: Fealy S, Warren RF, Craig EV, Sperling JW, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty. New York, NY: Thieme; 2006.

20. Norris TR, Abdus-Salaam S. Lessons learned from the Hylamer experience and technical salvage for glenoid reconstruction. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:265-278.

21. Bateman E, Donald SM. Reconstruction of massive uncontained glenoid defects using a combined autograft-allograft construct with reverse shoulder arthroplasty: preliminary results. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(7):925-934.

22. Scalise JJ, Iannotti JP. Bone grafting severe glenoid defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 2008;466(1):139-145.

23. Ozgur S, Sadeghpour R, Norris TR. Revision shoulder arthroplasty with a reverse shoulder prosthesis. Use of structural allograft for glenoid bone loss. Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1055-1062.

24. Sadeghpour R, Ozgur S, Norris TR. Threaded post baseplate failures in RSA. In: Hardy PH, Valenti PH, Scheibel M, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty, Current Concepts. Paris International Shoulder Course 2017. 2017:148-157.

25. Jones RB, Wright TW, Zuckerman JD. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with structural bone grafting of large glenoid defects. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(9):1425-1432.

26. Iannotti JP, Norris TR. Influence of preoperative factors on outcome of shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;85(2):251-258.

Author and Disclosure Information

Author’s Disclosure Statement: Dr. Norris reports that he is a prosthetic designer and consultant for Wright Medical.

Dr. Norris is the Fellowship Director for the Shoulder and Elbow fellowship; and an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California.

Address correspondence to: Tom R. Norris, MD, California Pacific Medical Center, 3838 California Street, Suite 715, San Francisco, CA 94118 (tel, 415-722-6835; fax, 415-928-1035; email, trnorris@tomnorris.com).

Am J Orthop. 2018;47(3). Copyright Frontline Medical Communications Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.

Tom R. Norris, MD . Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques. Am J Orthop. March 23, 2018

Publications
Topics
Sections
Author and Disclosure Information

Author’s Disclosure Statement: Dr. Norris reports that he is a prosthetic designer and consultant for Wright Medical.

Dr. Norris is the Fellowship Director for the Shoulder and Elbow fellowship; and an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California.

Address correspondence to: Tom R. Norris, MD, California Pacific Medical Center, 3838 California Street, Suite 715, San Francisco, CA 94118 (tel, 415-722-6835; fax, 415-928-1035; email, trnorris@tomnorris.com).

Am J Orthop. 2018;47(3). Copyright Frontline Medical Communications Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.

Tom R. Norris, MD . Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques. Am J Orthop. March 23, 2018

Author and Disclosure Information

Author’s Disclosure Statement: Dr. Norris reports that he is a prosthetic designer and consultant for Wright Medical.

Dr. Norris is the Fellowship Director for the Shoulder and Elbow fellowship; and an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California.

Address correspondence to: Tom R. Norris, MD, California Pacific Medical Center, 3838 California Street, Suite 715, San Francisco, CA 94118 (tel, 415-722-6835; fax, 415-928-1035; email, trnorris@tomnorris.com).

Am J Orthop. 2018;47(3). Copyright Frontline Medical Communications Inc. 2018. All rights reserved.

Tom R. Norris, MD . Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques. Am J Orthop. March 23, 2018

ABSTRACT

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty facilitates surgical treatment of primary and revision shoulder with rotator cuff and bone deficiencies. Wear pattern classifications and a logical treatment approach for glenoid bone loss enable the surgeon to address a difficult series of problems in the reconstructions where the glenoid might not otherwise be able to support the implants. Bone grafting using the native humeral head in primary cases, and in revision cases, iliac crest are the most reliable sources for structural grafts for the worn or deficient glenoid vault.

Continue to: The reverse shoulder arthroplasty...

 

 

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) technique was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and introduced to the US market in 2004. It has been a successful addition to the treatment of shoulder pathologies with bone and rotator cuff loss. Its indications have expanded from treatment of very elderly patients with rotator cuff deficiencies to now include younger patients with humeral and glenoid bone loss, arthritis, soft-tissue losses, fractures, instability, and revision arthroplasty. Many of these conditions, when not adequately addressed with anatomic arthroplasty, now have viable treatment options for newer complex and successful reconstructions.

Glenoid bone deficiencies offer unique challenges for successful arthroplasty management. Basing treatment on bone loss classifications permits meaningful evaluation of these surgical options and whether they might be carried out in 1- or 2-stage reconstructions. An underlying premise is that restoration of the glenoid joint line and version assist in final stability, power, and functional results. For this purpose, bone graft options, or augmented implants are beneficial. This review covers the bone grafting options for autografts and allografts for deficient glenoids in reverse shoulder arthroplasty reconstructions.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES

For patients without prior arthroplasty, the humeral head is available for bone grafting the glenoid bone deficits. Favard and Hamada have described vertical glenoid classifications for uneven glenoid bone loss applicable to cuff tear arthropathy and inflammatory arthritis patients.1,2 The more severe E3 superior and medial bone loss is ideally addressed with the humeral head. An early example in 2004 confirmed that this was a good indication for glenoid bone grafting and using the reverse shoulder in these advanced cases (Figures 1A-1E).

Revision shoulder arthroplasty with superior medial glenoid erosion and humeral calcar wear from inferior glenoid

In this case, it was noted that with bone grafts the base plate post did not engage the native scapula glenoid vault. Given that the on-growth central post was the strongest part of the fixation, it was fortunate that this healed. The need for a longer post with bone grafts was recognized. Laurent Comtat with the Wright Medical company accommodated the author’s request to develop the first 25- and 30-mm-long posts to allow better fixation and on-growth potential when used with bone grafts.

Gilles Walch’s classification addresses arthritic central and horizontal bone loss.3,4 Considerations relevant in RSA include the severe A2 central bone loss found in inflammatory arthritis and the B2, B3, and C patterns with posterior bone loss seen in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and congenital dysplasia5,6 as seen in Figures 2A, 2B. The 3-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) scan is considered the most accurate method of assessment when compared with axial radiographs.7 The glenoid vault model as a measurement of glenoid bone loss has great promise in designing prosthetic replacements and bone graft techniques.8

(A) A B2 posteriorly eroded biconcave glenoid. (B) A B3 progressive posteriorly eroded glenoid with more medial wear and less fixed posterior subluxation.

Continue to: Modern methods for determining glenoid version...

 

 

Modern methods for determining glenoid version, medialization, and eccentric bone wear include 3-D reconstruction and patient-specific instruments. For many years, version determination has been confirmed at surgery with subscapularis elevation, palpating the glenoid center point along Friedman’s line, and then inserting a Steinmann pin as a guide to restore version and the lateral joint line at the time of bone grafting. An example of this is demonstrated in Figures 3A-3E.9

Friedman's line for a scpula with normal version

All grafts are harvested with a hole saw from the humeral head. The inner diameter is 29 mm, the same as that of the base plate. Originally, the hole saw and mandrel were obtained from the hardware store, but Pascal Boileau upgraded the hole saw quality when he had industry develop a stainless-steel hole saw and published his results with the BIO-RSA (Wright Medical).10 In an unpublished study, Harmsen reviewed our 220 consecutive humeral head bone grafts for use of this technique with successful and reproducible results. In a separate evaluation, 29 shaped humeral head bone grafts for B2, B3, and C glenoid bone deficits showed 100% healing.11 This technique has good reproducibility when performed with an autogenous bone graft from a local donor source.

The more challenging cases involve glenoid bone loss from polyethylene osteolysis and, in some revision cases, concomitant sepsis.12 The humeral head is no longer available, and the distal clavicle or humeral metaphysis are often insufficient to restore the glenoid vault and joint line. Gunther and associates at the UC Berkeley biomaterials laboratory have made many contributions to our understanding of polyethylene wear and the factors leading to its loosening that result in massive glenoid bone loss.13

Antuna and colleagues14 classified these cases as having a central vault cavitary defect, or one combined with a peripheral glenoid wall bone loss of either the anterior or posterior glenoid. Newton and colleagues15 described the structural tricortical iliac crest bone graft as a 2-stage reconstruction. The second stage could be performed 4 to 6 months later after graft incorporation. With the excellent Association for Osteosynthesis (AO) type fixation using the base plate with compression and locking screws, it was reasonable to perform this in 1 stage, assuming that adequate fixation could be obtained with the iliac bone graft to the glenoid.16 This worked well with the cavitary glenoid defects and those in which either the anterior or posterior wall was absent.17-19

EXCEPTIONS TO THE 1-STAGE FIXATION TECHNIQUE

Fixation could still be obtained medially, but more severe cases were encountered with loss of both the anterior and posterior walls. In these more advanced cases, the vault was no longer present after removal of the polyethylene, cement, and rubbery osteolytic tissue that replaced the bone. To account for this, a simplified 3-stage classification was proposed.20 The cavitary vault defect is designated as type 1 bone loss. Type 2A includes the cavitary central defect plus loss of the anterior glenoid wall, and 2B is similar with loss of the posterior wall (Figures 4A-4F). Type 3 involves loss of the glenoid vault and both anterior and posterior walls with erosion down to the medial juncture of the base of the scapular spine, coracoid, and pillar of the scapula.

Glenoid bone loss (GBL) in revision total shoulder arthroplasty

Continue to: The tricortical iliac crest bone graft...

 

 

The tricortical iliac crest bone graft (TICBG) offered a structural graft that worked well for these cases of bone loss. When the graft is performed in 1 stage, the glenoid is exposed, and the defect measured after removing the osteolytic, polyethylene-laden tissue from the glenoid. The iliac graft is harvested and placed with the long post base plate engaging the native scapula medially (Figures 5A-5C).

Preparation of the iliac crest with a 29-mm reamer and a central hole for the base plate post

This technique worked well with the type 1 and 2 defects, but when attempted with the type 3 glenoid defect with global glenoid bone loss, adequate fixation for a single-stage reconstruction could not be predictably obtained with type 3 loss of the vault and both walls. In this situation, the base plate post is wider than the remaining medialized glenoid vault (Figures 6A-6C). The iliac crest provides better bone for this global loss when harvested sideways, fixed with screws, and after secure healing, the second-stage base plate is placed (Figures 7A-7F).

Type 3 glenoid bone loss with remaining scapular diameter less the base plate post diameter

An alternative to the iliac crest as a bone graft donor site is the femoral neck allograft.21 It avoids the additional surgery and pain at the donor site, but healing is less assured. Scalise and Iannotti22 have had good clinical results but noted substantial graft resorption when revising a total shoulder to a humeral head arthroplasty. In a recent report by Ozgur and colleagues,23 64% of femoral neck allografts were still intact at 1-year follow-up. The technique involved harvesting the graft with a hole saw, shaping and affixing it to the deficient glenoid, and gaining central fixation with a threaded or solid post base plate and peripheral screws. Poor results were obtained with the use of the femoral shaft, as it is brittle. Angled peripheral screws caused the allograft shaft to fracture. Low-grade sepsis remained an unanswered problem in the patient group, which averaged 6 prior procedures, and often led to another revision. Less favorable results were found using the 1-piece threaded post base plate with grafts.24 It is assumed that the allograft has less healing potential, and micro motion plays a role when the long central screw has no on-growth healing potential in the native scapula. This graft choice is the author’s least favorite, but is available in desperate situations. Jones and colleagues25 report promising results with bulk allografts and autografts for large glenoid defects with good clinical results. The results in the graft cohort were inferior to those in a matched group not requiring grafts. Their complications were consistent with the revision setting for shoulders having multiple operations. It is well known that preoperative factors are strong predictors of postoperative outcomes.26

Scapular type 3 wall loss and medialization

CONCLUSION

The author’s current technique is to use the native humeral head when available, or iliac crest for structural support to the base plate and glenosphere. Secure fixation to the native scapula is necessary if the operation is to be done in 1-stage. Incorporation with calcium orthophosphate bone substitution does not replace the need for structural support as shown in Figures 8A-8D.

A contained type 1 cavitary defect

For the type 2 vault and 1 wall glenoid bone loss defects, the TICBG is still the most useful option. For the type 3 global bone loss defects, a 2-stage approach is the safer option. Additional options that may replace some of these grafting techniques are the introduction of the metallic augmented ingrowth base plates to correct for superior, anterior, and posterior glenoid bone losses. The early unpublished experiences by Wright and colleagues are very promising. All of the above options should be available in the operating room for a busy arthroplasty surgeon.

ABSTRACT

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty facilitates surgical treatment of primary and revision shoulder with rotator cuff and bone deficiencies. Wear pattern classifications and a logical treatment approach for glenoid bone loss enable the surgeon to address a difficult series of problems in the reconstructions where the glenoid might not otherwise be able to support the implants. Bone grafting using the native humeral head in primary cases, and in revision cases, iliac crest are the most reliable sources for structural grafts for the worn or deficient glenoid vault.

Continue to: The reverse shoulder arthroplasty...

 

 

The reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) technique was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and introduced to the US market in 2004. It has been a successful addition to the treatment of shoulder pathologies with bone and rotator cuff loss. Its indications have expanded from treatment of very elderly patients with rotator cuff deficiencies to now include younger patients with humeral and glenoid bone loss, arthritis, soft-tissue losses, fractures, instability, and revision arthroplasty. Many of these conditions, when not adequately addressed with anatomic arthroplasty, now have viable treatment options for newer complex and successful reconstructions.

Glenoid bone deficiencies offer unique challenges for successful arthroplasty management. Basing treatment on bone loss classifications permits meaningful evaluation of these surgical options and whether they might be carried out in 1- or 2-stage reconstructions. An underlying premise is that restoration of the glenoid joint line and version assist in final stability, power, and functional results. For this purpose, bone graft options, or augmented implants are beneficial. This review covers the bone grafting options for autografts and allografts for deficient glenoids in reverse shoulder arthroplasty reconstructions.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES

For patients without prior arthroplasty, the humeral head is available for bone grafting the glenoid bone deficits. Favard and Hamada have described vertical glenoid classifications for uneven glenoid bone loss applicable to cuff tear arthropathy and inflammatory arthritis patients.1,2 The more severe E3 superior and medial bone loss is ideally addressed with the humeral head. An early example in 2004 confirmed that this was a good indication for glenoid bone grafting and using the reverse shoulder in these advanced cases (Figures 1A-1E).

Revision shoulder arthroplasty with superior medial glenoid erosion and humeral calcar wear from inferior glenoid

In this case, it was noted that with bone grafts the base plate post did not engage the native scapula glenoid vault. Given that the on-growth central post was the strongest part of the fixation, it was fortunate that this healed. The need for a longer post with bone grafts was recognized. Laurent Comtat with the Wright Medical company accommodated the author’s request to develop the first 25- and 30-mm-long posts to allow better fixation and on-growth potential when used with bone grafts.

Gilles Walch’s classification addresses arthritic central and horizontal bone loss.3,4 Considerations relevant in RSA include the severe A2 central bone loss found in inflammatory arthritis and the B2, B3, and C patterns with posterior bone loss seen in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and congenital dysplasia5,6 as seen in Figures 2A, 2B. The 3-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) scan is considered the most accurate method of assessment when compared with axial radiographs.7 The glenoid vault model as a measurement of glenoid bone loss has great promise in designing prosthetic replacements and bone graft techniques.8

(A) A B2 posteriorly eroded biconcave glenoid. (B) A B3 progressive posteriorly eroded glenoid with more medial wear and less fixed posterior subluxation.

Continue to: Modern methods for determining glenoid version...

 

 

Modern methods for determining glenoid version, medialization, and eccentric bone wear include 3-D reconstruction and patient-specific instruments. For many years, version determination has been confirmed at surgery with subscapularis elevation, palpating the glenoid center point along Friedman’s line, and then inserting a Steinmann pin as a guide to restore version and the lateral joint line at the time of bone grafting. An example of this is demonstrated in Figures 3A-3E.9

Friedman's line for a scpula with normal version

All grafts are harvested with a hole saw from the humeral head. The inner diameter is 29 mm, the same as that of the base plate. Originally, the hole saw and mandrel were obtained from the hardware store, but Pascal Boileau upgraded the hole saw quality when he had industry develop a stainless-steel hole saw and published his results with the BIO-RSA (Wright Medical).10 In an unpublished study, Harmsen reviewed our 220 consecutive humeral head bone grafts for use of this technique with successful and reproducible results. In a separate evaluation, 29 shaped humeral head bone grafts for B2, B3, and C glenoid bone deficits showed 100% healing.11 This technique has good reproducibility when performed with an autogenous bone graft from a local donor source.

The more challenging cases involve glenoid bone loss from polyethylene osteolysis and, in some revision cases, concomitant sepsis.12 The humeral head is no longer available, and the distal clavicle or humeral metaphysis are often insufficient to restore the glenoid vault and joint line. Gunther and associates at the UC Berkeley biomaterials laboratory have made many contributions to our understanding of polyethylene wear and the factors leading to its loosening that result in massive glenoid bone loss.13

Antuna and colleagues14 classified these cases as having a central vault cavitary defect, or one combined with a peripheral glenoid wall bone loss of either the anterior or posterior glenoid. Newton and colleagues15 described the structural tricortical iliac crest bone graft as a 2-stage reconstruction. The second stage could be performed 4 to 6 months later after graft incorporation. With the excellent Association for Osteosynthesis (AO) type fixation using the base plate with compression and locking screws, it was reasonable to perform this in 1 stage, assuming that adequate fixation could be obtained with the iliac bone graft to the glenoid.16 This worked well with the cavitary glenoid defects and those in which either the anterior or posterior wall was absent.17-19

EXCEPTIONS TO THE 1-STAGE FIXATION TECHNIQUE

Fixation could still be obtained medially, but more severe cases were encountered with loss of both the anterior and posterior walls. In these more advanced cases, the vault was no longer present after removal of the polyethylene, cement, and rubbery osteolytic tissue that replaced the bone. To account for this, a simplified 3-stage classification was proposed.20 The cavitary vault defect is designated as type 1 bone loss. Type 2A includes the cavitary central defect plus loss of the anterior glenoid wall, and 2B is similar with loss of the posterior wall (Figures 4A-4F). Type 3 involves loss of the glenoid vault and both anterior and posterior walls with erosion down to the medial juncture of the base of the scapular spine, coracoid, and pillar of the scapula.

Glenoid bone loss (GBL) in revision total shoulder arthroplasty

Continue to: The tricortical iliac crest bone graft...

 

 

The tricortical iliac crest bone graft (TICBG) offered a structural graft that worked well for these cases of bone loss. When the graft is performed in 1 stage, the glenoid is exposed, and the defect measured after removing the osteolytic, polyethylene-laden tissue from the glenoid. The iliac graft is harvested and placed with the long post base plate engaging the native scapula medially (Figures 5A-5C).

Preparation of the iliac crest with a 29-mm reamer and a central hole for the base plate post

This technique worked well with the type 1 and 2 defects, but when attempted with the type 3 glenoid defect with global glenoid bone loss, adequate fixation for a single-stage reconstruction could not be predictably obtained with type 3 loss of the vault and both walls. In this situation, the base plate post is wider than the remaining medialized glenoid vault (Figures 6A-6C). The iliac crest provides better bone for this global loss when harvested sideways, fixed with screws, and after secure healing, the second-stage base plate is placed (Figures 7A-7F).

Type 3 glenoid bone loss with remaining scapular diameter less the base plate post diameter

An alternative to the iliac crest as a bone graft donor site is the femoral neck allograft.21 It avoids the additional surgery and pain at the donor site, but healing is less assured. Scalise and Iannotti22 have had good clinical results but noted substantial graft resorption when revising a total shoulder to a humeral head arthroplasty. In a recent report by Ozgur and colleagues,23 64% of femoral neck allografts were still intact at 1-year follow-up. The technique involved harvesting the graft with a hole saw, shaping and affixing it to the deficient glenoid, and gaining central fixation with a threaded or solid post base plate and peripheral screws. Poor results were obtained with the use of the femoral shaft, as it is brittle. Angled peripheral screws caused the allograft shaft to fracture. Low-grade sepsis remained an unanswered problem in the patient group, which averaged 6 prior procedures, and often led to another revision. Less favorable results were found using the 1-piece threaded post base plate with grafts.24 It is assumed that the allograft has less healing potential, and micro motion plays a role when the long central screw has no on-growth healing potential in the native scapula. This graft choice is the author’s least favorite, but is available in desperate situations. Jones and colleagues25 report promising results with bulk allografts and autografts for large glenoid defects with good clinical results. The results in the graft cohort were inferior to those in a matched group not requiring grafts. Their complications were consistent with the revision setting for shoulders having multiple operations. It is well known that preoperative factors are strong predictors of postoperative outcomes.26

Scapular type 3 wall loss and medialization

CONCLUSION

The author’s current technique is to use the native humeral head when available, or iliac crest for structural support to the base plate and glenosphere. Secure fixation to the native scapula is necessary if the operation is to be done in 1-stage. Incorporation with calcium orthophosphate bone substitution does not replace the need for structural support as shown in Figures 8A-8D.

A contained type 1 cavitary defect

For the type 2 vault and 1 wall glenoid bone loss defects, the TICBG is still the most useful option. For the type 3 global bone loss defects, a 2-stage approach is the safer option. Additional options that may replace some of these grafting techniques are the introduction of the metallic augmented ingrowth base plates to correct for superior, anterior, and posterior glenoid bone losses. The early unpublished experiences by Wright and colleagues are very promising. All of the above options should be available in the operating room for a busy arthroplasty surgeon.

References

1. Hamada K, Fukuda H, Mikasa M, Kobay Y. Roentgenographic findings in massive rotator cuff tears. A long-term observation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;254:92-96.

2. Favard L, Alami G. The glenoid in the frontal plane: The Favard and Hamada radiographic classifications of cuff tear osteoarthritis. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:53-58.

3. Rouleau DM, Kidder JF, Pons-Villanueva J, Dynamidis S, Walch G. The glenoid in the horizontal plane: Walch classification revisited humeral subluxation and glenoid retroversion. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:45-51.

4. Walch G, Badet R, Boulahia A, Khoury A. Morphological study of the glenoid in primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Arthroplasty. 1999;14(6):756-760.

5. Iannotti JP, Ricchetti E. Walch classification: adding two new glenoid types. Orthopaedic Insights Cleveland Clinic. 2017:6-7.

6. Mizuno N, Denard PJ, Raiss P, Walch G. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with a biconcave glenoid. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(14):1297-1304.

7. Nyffeler RW, Jost B, Pfirrmann CW, Gerber C. Measurement of glenoid version: conventional radiographs verses computed tomography scans. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003;12(5):493-496.

8. Scalise JJ, Bryan J, Polster J, Brems JJ, Iannotti JP. Quantitative analysis of glenoid bone loss in osteoarthritis using three-dimensional compute tomography scans. [published online ahead of print January 22, 2008]. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008;17(2):328-335.

9. Friedman RJ, Hawthorne KB, Genez BM. The use of computerized tomography in the measurement of glenoid version. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1992;74(7):1032-1037.

10. Boileau P, Moineau G, Roussanne Y, O’Shea K. Bony increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty: minimizing scapular impingement while maximizing glenoid fixation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2558-2567.

11. Harmsen S, Casagrande D, Norris T: “Shaped” humeral head autograft reverse shoulder arthroplasty: Treatment for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with significant posterior glenoid bone loss (B2, B3, and C-type). Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1045-1054.

12. Norris TR, Phipatanakul WP. Treatment of glenoid loosening and bone loss due to osteolysis with glenoid bone grafting. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(1):84-87.

13. Farzana F, Lee T, Malito L, et al. Analysis of severely fractured glenoid components: clinical consequences of biomechanics, design, and materials selection on implant performance. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(7):1041-1050.

14. Antuña SA, Sperling JW, Cofield RH, Rowland CM. Glenoid revision surgery after total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001;10(3):217-224.

15. Newton L, Walch G, Nove-Josserand L, Edwards TB. Glenoid cortical cancellous bone grafting after glenoid component removal in the treatment of glenoid loosening. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(2):173-179.

16. Norris TR, Kelly JD, Humphrey CS. Management of glenoid bone defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty: a new application of the reverse total shoulder prosthesis. Techniques Shoulder Elbow Surgery. 2007;8(1):37-46.

17. Kelly JD II, Zhao JX, Hobgood ER, Norris TR. Clinical results of revision shoulder arthroplasty using the reverse prosthesis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(11):1516-1525.

18. Norris TR. Reconstruction of glenoid bone loss in total shoulder arthroplasty. In: Boileau P, ed. Shoulder Concepts 2008-Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2008:397-404.

19. Humphrey CS, Kelly JD, Norris TR. Management of glenoid deficiency in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. In: Fealy S, Warren RF, Craig EV, Sperling JW, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty. New York, NY: Thieme; 2006.

20. Norris TR, Abdus-Salaam S. Lessons learned from the Hylamer experience and technical salvage for glenoid reconstruction. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:265-278.

21. Bateman E, Donald SM. Reconstruction of massive uncontained glenoid defects using a combined autograft-allograft construct with reverse shoulder arthroplasty: preliminary results. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(7):925-934.

22. Scalise JJ, Iannotti JP. Bone grafting severe glenoid defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 2008;466(1):139-145.

23. Ozgur S, Sadeghpour R, Norris TR. Revision shoulder arthroplasty with a reverse shoulder prosthesis. Use of structural allograft for glenoid bone loss. Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1055-1062.

24. Sadeghpour R, Ozgur S, Norris TR. Threaded post baseplate failures in RSA. In: Hardy PH, Valenti PH, Scheibel M, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty, Current Concepts. Paris International Shoulder Course 2017. 2017:148-157.

25. Jones RB, Wright TW, Zuckerman JD. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with structural bone grafting of large glenoid defects. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(9):1425-1432.

26. Iannotti JP, Norris TR. Influence of preoperative factors on outcome of shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;85(2):251-258.

References

1. Hamada K, Fukuda H, Mikasa M, Kobay Y. Roentgenographic findings in massive rotator cuff tears. A long-term observation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;254:92-96.

2. Favard L, Alami G. The glenoid in the frontal plane: The Favard and Hamada radiographic classifications of cuff tear osteoarthritis. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:53-58.

3. Rouleau DM, Kidder JF, Pons-Villanueva J, Dynamidis S, Walch G. The glenoid in the horizontal plane: Walch classification revisited humeral subluxation and glenoid retroversion. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:45-51.

4. Walch G, Badet R, Boulahia A, Khoury A. Morphological study of the glenoid in primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Arthroplasty. 1999;14(6):756-760.

5. Iannotti JP, Ricchetti E. Walch classification: adding two new glenoid types. Orthopaedic Insights Cleveland Clinic. 2017:6-7.

6. Mizuno N, Denard PJ, Raiss P, Walch G. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with a biconcave glenoid. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(14):1297-1304.

7. Nyffeler RW, Jost B, Pfirrmann CW, Gerber C. Measurement of glenoid version: conventional radiographs verses computed tomography scans. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003;12(5):493-496.

8. Scalise JJ, Bryan J, Polster J, Brems JJ, Iannotti JP. Quantitative analysis of glenoid bone loss in osteoarthritis using three-dimensional compute tomography scans. [published online ahead of print January 22, 2008]. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008;17(2):328-335.

9. Friedman RJ, Hawthorne KB, Genez BM. The use of computerized tomography in the measurement of glenoid version. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1992;74(7):1032-1037.

10. Boileau P, Moineau G, Roussanne Y, O’Shea K. Bony increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty: minimizing scapular impingement while maximizing glenoid fixation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2558-2567.

11. Harmsen S, Casagrande D, Norris T: “Shaped” humeral head autograft reverse shoulder arthroplasty: Treatment for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with significant posterior glenoid bone loss (B2, B3, and C-type). Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1045-1054.

12. Norris TR, Phipatanakul WP. Treatment of glenoid loosening and bone loss due to osteolysis with glenoid bone grafting. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(1):84-87.

13. Farzana F, Lee T, Malito L, et al. Analysis of severely fractured glenoid components: clinical consequences of biomechanics, design, and materials selection on implant performance. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(7):1041-1050.

14. Antuña SA, Sperling JW, Cofield RH, Rowland CM. Glenoid revision surgery after total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001;10(3):217-224.

15. Newton L, Walch G, Nove-Josserand L, Edwards TB. Glenoid cortical cancellous bone grafting after glenoid component removal in the treatment of glenoid loosening. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2006;15(2):173-179.

16. Norris TR, Kelly JD, Humphrey CS. Management of glenoid bone defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty: a new application of the reverse total shoulder prosthesis. Techniques Shoulder Elbow Surgery. 2007;8(1):37-46.

17. Kelly JD II, Zhao JX, Hobgood ER, Norris TR. Clinical results of revision shoulder arthroplasty using the reverse prosthesis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(11):1516-1525.

18. Norris TR. Reconstruction of glenoid bone loss in total shoulder arthroplasty. In: Boileau P, ed. Shoulder Concepts 2008-Arthroscopy and Arthroplasty. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2008:397-404.

19. Humphrey CS, Kelly JD, Norris TR. Management of glenoid deficiency in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. In: Fealy S, Warren RF, Craig EV, Sperling JW, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty. New York, NY: Thieme; 2006.

20. Norris TR, Abdus-Salaam S. Lessons learned from the Hylamer experience and technical salvage for glenoid reconstruction. In: Walch G, Boileau P, Favard ML, Lévigne C, Sirveaux F, eds. Shoulder Concepts 2010: The Glenoid. Paris, France: Sauramps Medical; 2010:265-278.

21. Bateman E, Donald SM. Reconstruction of massive uncontained glenoid defects using a combined autograft-allograft construct with reverse shoulder arthroplasty: preliminary results. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012;21(7):925-934.

22. Scalise JJ, Iannotti JP. Bone grafting severe glenoid defects in revision shoulder arthroplasty. Clin Orthop. 2008;466(1):139-145.

23. Ozgur S, Sadeghpour R, Norris TR. Revision shoulder arthroplasty with a reverse shoulder prosthesis. Use of structural allograft for glenoid bone loss. Orthopade. 2017;46(12):1055-1062.

24. Sadeghpour R, Ozgur S, Norris TR. Threaded post baseplate failures in RSA. In: Hardy PH, Valenti PH, Scheibel M, eds. Shoulder Arthroplasty, Current Concepts. Paris International Shoulder Course 2017. 2017:148-157.

25. Jones RB, Wright TW, Zuckerman JD. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with structural bone grafting of large glenoid defects. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016;25(9):1425-1432.

26. Iannotti JP, Norris TR. Influence of preoperative factors on outcome of shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;85(2):251-258.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Display Headline
Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques
Display Headline
Glenoid Bone Loss in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Treated with Bone Graft Techniques
Sections
Inside the Article

TAKE-HOME POINTS

  • Glenoid deficiencies that occur from dysplasia, arthritis, or polyethylene osteolysis may be successfully addressed with bone grafting techniques and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
  • The intact humeral head in a primary case is ideal graft to be shaped to fit the glenoid deficits.
  • The reverse shoulder with a long post base plate that is fixed securely to the native scapula is the author’s preferred technique.
  • As the native humeral head is not available in revision cases, the tricortical iliac crest bone graft may be fixed as a structural graft in 1-stage.
  • When the scapular walls are deficient and medial fixation is not secure, 2 stages 4 months to 6 months apart will be necessary before loading the construct.
Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default
Gate On Date
Tue, 04/09/2019 - 14:00
Un-Gate On Date
Tue, 04/09/2019 - 14:00
Use ProPublica
CFC Schedule Remove Status
Tue, 04/09/2019 - 14:00
Hide sidebar & use full width
render the right sidebar.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy incidence, mortality on the rise

Article Type
Changed
Tue, 12/04/2018 - 11:40

 

– Hospitalizations for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), a condition that primarily affects postmenopausal women, have been rising steadily, along with rates of in-hospital mortality due to this condition, according to a study conducted with outcomes from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

The study was presented at CRT 2018, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Washington Hospital Center.

Importantly, a multivariate analysis of predictors of in-hospital mortality based on this database revealed that there were “several potentially reversible causes,” reported Konstantinos V. Voudris, MD, PhD, who is completing a residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

TCM, which is characterized by left ventricular apical akinesis and chest pain that mimics the features of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), was first described in 1990 in Japan. The first U.S. case was reported in 1998, but the condition is now well recognized and an ICD code was created for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in 2007.

Dr. Konstantinos V. Voudris
The goal of this study was to evaluate temporal trends and predictors of in-hospital mortality for TCM. Data from the NIS database were analyzed from the time that the ICD code was introduced until 2013. Only TCM cases that underwent coronary angiography during the same admission were included in the analysis.

There were 72,559 TCM admissions during the study period. When stratified by year, the annual rate of TCM cases rose significantly, from 11.1 to 43.8 per 100,000 hospitalizations from 2007 to 2013.

Although overall in-hospital mortality was 2.5%, it climbed from 1.4% in 2007 to 3.2% in 2013. When compared to patients who did not die during hospitalizations, those who did die were on average older (69.9 vs. 66.4 years; P less than .0001) and had more comorbidities. When a multivariate adjustment was made for baseline clinical risk, the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), pulmonary hypertension, and arrhythmias remained significant predictors of mortality in patients with TCM.

 

 


“We found a number of modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that are associated with a significantly increased mortality, and we think clinicians should be aware of these factors when managing this condition,” Dr. Voudris reported.

Of these risk factors, AKI was associated with the greatest increased odds ratio (OR) with a more than fourfold increased risk of death (OR, 4.18; P less than .001). The presence of PAD (OR, 1.87; P less than .0001) and arrhythmia (OR, 1.88; P less than .0001) almost doubled the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Although females represented 89% of the TCM cases collected during the study period, males with comorbid diseases were at particularly high risk of death, an observation that is consistent with previous reports, according to Dr. Voudris. Relative to women, men were more likely to present with unstable hemodynamics and to develop cardiogenic shock.

Although Dr. Voudris acknowledged that the rising number of hospitalizations for TCM is likely due largely to increasing recognition of this condition, he suggested that there may be other contributing factors to the growing incidence, such as the aging of the U.S. population. He noted that the rise in cases persisted throughout the study period when awareness of TCM might be expected to have improved.

“This is still an uncommon disease, but it is important to recognize,” agreed Sachin Kumar, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Moderator of the session in which these data were presented, Dr. Kumar indicated that it is important to increase awareness of the condition to accelerate the time to diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Voudris reported no financial relationships relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Voudris, KV. CRT 2018.

Meeting/Event
Publications
Topics
Sections
Meeting/Event
Meeting/Event

 

– Hospitalizations for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), a condition that primarily affects postmenopausal women, have been rising steadily, along with rates of in-hospital mortality due to this condition, according to a study conducted with outcomes from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

The study was presented at CRT 2018, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Washington Hospital Center.

Importantly, a multivariate analysis of predictors of in-hospital mortality based on this database revealed that there were “several potentially reversible causes,” reported Konstantinos V. Voudris, MD, PhD, who is completing a residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

TCM, which is characterized by left ventricular apical akinesis and chest pain that mimics the features of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), was first described in 1990 in Japan. The first U.S. case was reported in 1998, but the condition is now well recognized and an ICD code was created for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in 2007.

Dr. Konstantinos V. Voudris
The goal of this study was to evaluate temporal trends and predictors of in-hospital mortality for TCM. Data from the NIS database were analyzed from the time that the ICD code was introduced until 2013. Only TCM cases that underwent coronary angiography during the same admission were included in the analysis.

There were 72,559 TCM admissions during the study period. When stratified by year, the annual rate of TCM cases rose significantly, from 11.1 to 43.8 per 100,000 hospitalizations from 2007 to 2013.

Although overall in-hospital mortality was 2.5%, it climbed from 1.4% in 2007 to 3.2% in 2013. When compared to patients who did not die during hospitalizations, those who did die were on average older (69.9 vs. 66.4 years; P less than .0001) and had more comorbidities. When a multivariate adjustment was made for baseline clinical risk, the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), pulmonary hypertension, and arrhythmias remained significant predictors of mortality in patients with TCM.

 

 


“We found a number of modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that are associated with a significantly increased mortality, and we think clinicians should be aware of these factors when managing this condition,” Dr. Voudris reported.

Of these risk factors, AKI was associated with the greatest increased odds ratio (OR) with a more than fourfold increased risk of death (OR, 4.18; P less than .001). The presence of PAD (OR, 1.87; P less than .0001) and arrhythmia (OR, 1.88; P less than .0001) almost doubled the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Although females represented 89% of the TCM cases collected during the study period, males with comorbid diseases were at particularly high risk of death, an observation that is consistent with previous reports, according to Dr. Voudris. Relative to women, men were more likely to present with unstable hemodynamics and to develop cardiogenic shock.

Although Dr. Voudris acknowledged that the rising number of hospitalizations for TCM is likely due largely to increasing recognition of this condition, he suggested that there may be other contributing factors to the growing incidence, such as the aging of the U.S. population. He noted that the rise in cases persisted throughout the study period when awareness of TCM might be expected to have improved.

“This is still an uncommon disease, but it is important to recognize,” agreed Sachin Kumar, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Moderator of the session in which these data were presented, Dr. Kumar indicated that it is important to increase awareness of the condition to accelerate the time to diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Voudris reported no financial relationships relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Voudris, KV. CRT 2018.

 

– Hospitalizations for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), a condition that primarily affects postmenopausal women, have been rising steadily, along with rates of in-hospital mortality due to this condition, according to a study conducted with outcomes from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

The study was presented at CRT 2018, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Washington Hospital Center.

Importantly, a multivariate analysis of predictors of in-hospital mortality based on this database revealed that there were “several potentially reversible causes,” reported Konstantinos V. Voudris, MD, PhD, who is completing a residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

TCM, which is characterized by left ventricular apical akinesis and chest pain that mimics the features of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), was first described in 1990 in Japan. The first U.S. case was reported in 1998, but the condition is now well recognized and an ICD code was created for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in 2007.

Dr. Konstantinos V. Voudris
The goal of this study was to evaluate temporal trends and predictors of in-hospital mortality for TCM. Data from the NIS database were analyzed from the time that the ICD code was introduced until 2013. Only TCM cases that underwent coronary angiography during the same admission were included in the analysis.

There were 72,559 TCM admissions during the study period. When stratified by year, the annual rate of TCM cases rose significantly, from 11.1 to 43.8 per 100,000 hospitalizations from 2007 to 2013.

Although overall in-hospital mortality was 2.5%, it climbed from 1.4% in 2007 to 3.2% in 2013. When compared to patients who did not die during hospitalizations, those who did die were on average older (69.9 vs. 66.4 years; P less than .0001) and had more comorbidities. When a multivariate adjustment was made for baseline clinical risk, the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), pulmonary hypertension, and arrhythmias remained significant predictors of mortality in patients with TCM.

 

 


“We found a number of modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that are associated with a significantly increased mortality, and we think clinicians should be aware of these factors when managing this condition,” Dr. Voudris reported.

Of these risk factors, AKI was associated with the greatest increased odds ratio (OR) with a more than fourfold increased risk of death (OR, 4.18; P less than .001). The presence of PAD (OR, 1.87; P less than .0001) and arrhythmia (OR, 1.88; P less than .0001) almost doubled the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Although females represented 89% of the TCM cases collected during the study period, males with comorbid diseases were at particularly high risk of death, an observation that is consistent with previous reports, according to Dr. Voudris. Relative to women, men were more likely to present with unstable hemodynamics and to develop cardiogenic shock.

Although Dr. Voudris acknowledged that the rising number of hospitalizations for TCM is likely due largely to increasing recognition of this condition, he suggested that there may be other contributing factors to the growing incidence, such as the aging of the U.S. population. He noted that the rise in cases persisted throughout the study period when awareness of TCM might be expected to have improved.

“This is still an uncommon disease, but it is important to recognize,” agreed Sachin Kumar, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Moderator of the session in which these data were presented, Dr. Kumar indicated that it is important to increase awareness of the condition to accelerate the time to diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Voudris reported no financial relationships relevant to this study.

SOURCE: Voudris, KV. CRT 2018.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Article Source

REPORTING FROM CRT 2018

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Vitals

 

Key clinical point: The Takotsubo cardiomyopathy hospitalization and mortality rates have increased in the United States, according to national data.

Major finding: From 2007 to 2013, Takotsubo cases rose from 11.1 to 43.8 cases per 100,000 hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality more than doubled.

Data source: Retrospective national database analysis.

Disclosures: Dr. Voudris reports no financial relationships relevant to this study.

Source: Voudris, KV. CRT 2018.

Disqus Comments
Default

The Science Behind Monoclonal Antibodies: What Neurologists Need to Know

Article Type
Changed
Tue, 05/21/2019 - 12:13
Display Headline
The Science Behind Monoclonal Antibodies: What Neurologists Need to Know

Click Here to Read the Content. 

Topics in this content include:

  • Target-related and non-specific toxicity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
  • Research in antibody-based therapeutics
  • Differences between therapeutic mAbs and small-molecule therapies
USA-334-80408
Sponsor
This content is sponsored by Amgen Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporatio…
Publications
Sections
Sponsor
This content is sponsored by Amgen Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporatio…
Sponsor
This content is sponsored by Amgen Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporatio…

Click Here to Read the Content. 

Topics in this content include:

  • Target-related and non-specific toxicity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
  • Research in antibody-based therapeutics
  • Differences between therapeutic mAbs and small-molecule therapies
USA-334-80408

Click Here to Read the Content. 

Topics in this content include:

  • Target-related and non-specific toxicity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
  • Research in antibody-based therapeutics
  • Differences between therapeutic mAbs and small-molecule therapies
USA-334-80408
Publications
Publications
Article Type
Display Headline
The Science Behind Monoclonal Antibodies: What Neurologists Need to Know
Display Headline
The Science Behind Monoclonal Antibodies: What Neurologists Need to Know
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default
Gate On Date
Fri, 03/23/2018 - 13:45
Un-Gate On Date
Fri, 03/23/2018 - 13:45
Use ProPublica

VIDEO: It is an exciting time in obesity treatment

Article Type
Changed
Tue, 01/22/2019 - 14:26

BOSTON – For those in obesity treatment, things are looking up, said Reem Z. Sharaiha, MD, MSc, in a video interview at the AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology. There are several new therapies to choose from, said Dr. Sharaiha, assistant professor of medicine at Cornell University, New York – and a variety of therapies coming down the pipeline. The key is to choose the right treatment, or right combination of treatments – surgical, endoscopic, or medical – for the right patient at the right time and to follow up. Obesity is a chronic disease that needs long-term, team treatment. With obesity treatments there is sometimes a trade-off between risk and results, but the innovations coming along may balance that risk-results equation for some patients, she said.

Vidyard Video
Meeting/Event
Publications
Topics
Sections
Meeting/Event
Meeting/Event

BOSTON – For those in obesity treatment, things are looking up, said Reem Z. Sharaiha, MD, MSc, in a video interview at the AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology. There are several new therapies to choose from, said Dr. Sharaiha, assistant professor of medicine at Cornell University, New York – and a variety of therapies coming down the pipeline. The key is to choose the right treatment, or right combination of treatments – surgical, endoscopic, or medical – for the right patient at the right time and to follow up. Obesity is a chronic disease that needs long-term, team treatment. With obesity treatments there is sometimes a trade-off between risk and results, but the innovations coming along may balance that risk-results equation for some patients, she said.

Vidyard Video

BOSTON – For those in obesity treatment, things are looking up, said Reem Z. Sharaiha, MD, MSc, in a video interview at the AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology. There are several new therapies to choose from, said Dr. Sharaiha, assistant professor of medicine at Cornell University, New York – and a variety of therapies coming down the pipeline. The key is to choose the right treatment, or right combination of treatments – surgical, endoscopic, or medical – for the right patient at the right time and to follow up. Obesity is a chronic disease that needs long-term, team treatment. With obesity treatments there is sometimes a trade-off between risk and results, but the innovations coming along may balance that risk-results equation for some patients, she said.

Vidyard Video
Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Article Source

REPORTING FROM 2018 AGA TECH SUMMIT

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default
Use ProPublica

Study links mumps outbreaks to vaccine waning

Article Type
Changed
Fri, 01/18/2019 - 17:30

 

A new study links recent mumps outbreaks to the waning of the mumps vaccine – which researchers believe wears off in an average of 27 years – and not to heterologous virus genotypes.

“These observations indicate the need for either innovative clinical trial designs to measure the benefit of extending vaccine dosing schedules or new vaccines to address the problem of waning vaccine-induced protection,” the study authors wrote. The findings appeared in Science Translational Medicine.

CDC/ Allison M. Maiuri
The distribution of a mumps vaccine in the 1960s led to the near eradication of the disease with U.S. cases falling by more than 99%. However, large outbreaks have made the news over the last few years. There were more than 6,000 cases reported in the United States in 2016 and more than 5,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mainly on college campuses. (Physicians are not required to report mumps cases.)

The numbers over the past 2 years are the highest numbers by far since 2000, with the exception of 2006. The CDC attributes the 2016 and 2017 numbers to factors such as “the known effectiveness of the vaccine, waning immunity following vaccination, and the intensity of exposure to the virus in close-contact settings [such as a college campus] coupled with behaviors that increase the risk of transmission.”

This year, as of Feb. 24, the CDC stated that it has received reports of 304 cases in 32 states and Washington.

For the new study, Joseph A. Lewnard, PhD, and Yonatan H. Grad, MD, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, examined six studies and estimated that mumps vaccinations provide protection for an average of 27 years (95% confidence interval, 16-51 years). They also reported finding no evidence that the effectiveness of vaccines was affected by new heterologous virus genotypes.

Their analysis also determined that outbreaks in the late 1980s and early 1990s (among teens), and from 2006 to present (in young adults), “aligned with peaks in mumps susceptibility of these age groups predicted to be due to loss of vaccine-derived protection.”

 

 


The authors suggested that third doses of vaccine or an improved mumps vaccine could provide added protection. “Although congregated U.S. military populations resemble high-risk groups based on their age distribution and close-contact environments, no outbreaks have been reported in the military since a policy of administering an MMR dose to incoming recruits, regardless of vaccination history, was adopted in 1991,” the researchers wrote, referring to a 2008 study (Vaccine 2008, 26:494-501).

For now, however, “we expect population susceptibility to mumps to continue increasing as transient vaccine-derived immunity supersedes previous infection as the main determinant of mumps susceptibility in the U.S. population,” the authors wrote.

The study was funded by awards from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The study authors report grant funding (Pfizer) and consulting (Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline) for work unrelated to the study.

SOURCE: Lenward JA et al. Sci Transl Med. 2018 Mar 21. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5945.

Publications
Topics
Sections

 

A new study links recent mumps outbreaks to the waning of the mumps vaccine – which researchers believe wears off in an average of 27 years – and not to heterologous virus genotypes.

“These observations indicate the need for either innovative clinical trial designs to measure the benefit of extending vaccine dosing schedules or new vaccines to address the problem of waning vaccine-induced protection,” the study authors wrote. The findings appeared in Science Translational Medicine.

CDC/ Allison M. Maiuri
The distribution of a mumps vaccine in the 1960s led to the near eradication of the disease with U.S. cases falling by more than 99%. However, large outbreaks have made the news over the last few years. There were more than 6,000 cases reported in the United States in 2016 and more than 5,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mainly on college campuses. (Physicians are not required to report mumps cases.)

The numbers over the past 2 years are the highest numbers by far since 2000, with the exception of 2006. The CDC attributes the 2016 and 2017 numbers to factors such as “the known effectiveness of the vaccine, waning immunity following vaccination, and the intensity of exposure to the virus in close-contact settings [such as a college campus] coupled with behaviors that increase the risk of transmission.”

This year, as of Feb. 24, the CDC stated that it has received reports of 304 cases in 32 states and Washington.

For the new study, Joseph A. Lewnard, PhD, and Yonatan H. Grad, MD, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, examined six studies and estimated that mumps vaccinations provide protection for an average of 27 years (95% confidence interval, 16-51 years). They also reported finding no evidence that the effectiveness of vaccines was affected by new heterologous virus genotypes.

Their analysis also determined that outbreaks in the late 1980s and early 1990s (among teens), and from 2006 to present (in young adults), “aligned with peaks in mumps susceptibility of these age groups predicted to be due to loss of vaccine-derived protection.”

 

 


The authors suggested that third doses of vaccine or an improved mumps vaccine could provide added protection. “Although congregated U.S. military populations resemble high-risk groups based on their age distribution and close-contact environments, no outbreaks have been reported in the military since a policy of administering an MMR dose to incoming recruits, regardless of vaccination history, was adopted in 1991,” the researchers wrote, referring to a 2008 study (Vaccine 2008, 26:494-501).

For now, however, “we expect population susceptibility to mumps to continue increasing as transient vaccine-derived immunity supersedes previous infection as the main determinant of mumps susceptibility in the U.S. population,” the authors wrote.

The study was funded by awards from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The study authors report grant funding (Pfizer) and consulting (Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline) for work unrelated to the study.

SOURCE: Lenward JA et al. Sci Transl Med. 2018 Mar 21. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5945.

 

A new study links recent mumps outbreaks to the waning of the mumps vaccine – which researchers believe wears off in an average of 27 years – and not to heterologous virus genotypes.

“These observations indicate the need for either innovative clinical trial designs to measure the benefit of extending vaccine dosing schedules or new vaccines to address the problem of waning vaccine-induced protection,” the study authors wrote. The findings appeared in Science Translational Medicine.

CDC/ Allison M. Maiuri
The distribution of a mumps vaccine in the 1960s led to the near eradication of the disease with U.S. cases falling by more than 99%. However, large outbreaks have made the news over the last few years. There were more than 6,000 cases reported in the United States in 2016 and more than 5,000 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mainly on college campuses. (Physicians are not required to report mumps cases.)

The numbers over the past 2 years are the highest numbers by far since 2000, with the exception of 2006. The CDC attributes the 2016 and 2017 numbers to factors such as “the known effectiveness of the vaccine, waning immunity following vaccination, and the intensity of exposure to the virus in close-contact settings [such as a college campus] coupled with behaviors that increase the risk of transmission.”

This year, as of Feb. 24, the CDC stated that it has received reports of 304 cases in 32 states and Washington.

For the new study, Joseph A. Lewnard, PhD, and Yonatan H. Grad, MD, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, examined six studies and estimated that mumps vaccinations provide protection for an average of 27 years (95% confidence interval, 16-51 years). They also reported finding no evidence that the effectiveness of vaccines was affected by new heterologous virus genotypes.

Their analysis also determined that outbreaks in the late 1980s and early 1990s (among teens), and from 2006 to present (in young adults), “aligned with peaks in mumps susceptibility of these age groups predicted to be due to loss of vaccine-derived protection.”

 

 


The authors suggested that third doses of vaccine or an improved mumps vaccine could provide added protection. “Although congregated U.S. military populations resemble high-risk groups based on their age distribution and close-contact environments, no outbreaks have been reported in the military since a policy of administering an MMR dose to incoming recruits, regardless of vaccination history, was adopted in 1991,” the researchers wrote, referring to a 2008 study (Vaccine 2008, 26:494-501).

For now, however, “we expect population susceptibility to mumps to continue increasing as transient vaccine-derived immunity supersedes previous infection as the main determinant of mumps susceptibility in the U.S. population,” the authors wrote.

The study was funded by awards from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The study authors report grant funding (Pfizer) and consulting (Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline) for work unrelated to the study.

SOURCE: Lenward JA et al. Sci Transl Med. 2018 Mar 21. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5945.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Click for Credit Status
Ready
Sections
Article Source

FROM SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default

VIDEO: Organ-sparing resection techniques should be way of the future

Article Type
Changed
Tue, 01/22/2019 - 14:23

BOSTON – Organ-sparing resection techniques that remove lesions from the esophagus, stomach, and colon are being developed, Amrita Sethi, MD, said in a video interview at the 2018 AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology.

Dr. Sethi, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, said these techniques improve patient outcomes by maintaining organ integrity, whereas older techniques often led to removal of large amounts of tissue around lesions. And while organ-sparing techniques reduce recovery time and hospital stays, training and reimbursement for these procedures remain problematic. As much as new endoscopic package devices are needed from industry to make these procedures easier, automated or artificial intelligence is needed to help make the decisions on when these techniques are applicable. Reimbursement structures are needed so that these procedures make financial sense, she noted.

We live in a health care system now, Dr. Sethi said, in which benign polyps of the colon are being sent for surgical resection when what is really needed is referral for more advanced endoscopic treatment. This is a matter of training, and perhaps showing through comparative trials that organ-sparing techniques cost less and improve patient outcomes.

Meeting/Event
Publications
Topics
Sections
Meeting/Event
Meeting/Event

BOSTON – Organ-sparing resection techniques that remove lesions from the esophagus, stomach, and colon are being developed, Amrita Sethi, MD, said in a video interview at the 2018 AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology.

Dr. Sethi, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, said these techniques improve patient outcomes by maintaining organ integrity, whereas older techniques often led to removal of large amounts of tissue around lesions. And while organ-sparing techniques reduce recovery time and hospital stays, training and reimbursement for these procedures remain problematic. As much as new endoscopic package devices are needed from industry to make these procedures easier, automated or artificial intelligence is needed to help make the decisions on when these techniques are applicable. Reimbursement structures are needed so that these procedures make financial sense, she noted.

We live in a health care system now, Dr. Sethi said, in which benign polyps of the colon are being sent for surgical resection when what is really needed is referral for more advanced endoscopic treatment. This is a matter of training, and perhaps showing through comparative trials that organ-sparing techniques cost less and improve patient outcomes.

BOSTON – Organ-sparing resection techniques that remove lesions from the esophagus, stomach, and colon are being developed, Amrita Sethi, MD, said in a video interview at the 2018 AGA Tech Summit, sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology.

Dr. Sethi, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, said these techniques improve patient outcomes by maintaining organ integrity, whereas older techniques often led to removal of large amounts of tissue around lesions. And while organ-sparing techniques reduce recovery time and hospital stays, training and reimbursement for these procedures remain problematic. As much as new endoscopic package devices are needed from industry to make these procedures easier, automated or artificial intelligence is needed to help make the decisions on when these techniques are applicable. Reimbursement structures are needed so that these procedures make financial sense, she noted.

We live in a health care system now, Dr. Sethi said, in which benign polyps of the colon are being sent for surgical resection when what is really needed is referral for more advanced endoscopic treatment. This is a matter of training, and perhaps showing through comparative trials that organ-sparing techniques cost less and improve patient outcomes.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Article Source

REPORTING FROM 2018 AGA TECH SUMMIT

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default
Use ProPublica

Late toxicities with PARP inhibitor plus RT in inflammatory breast cancer

Article Type
Changed
Thu, 12/15/2022 - 17:47

 

Using the PARP inhibitor veliparib as a radiosensitizer for chest wall radiation in women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer was associated with a high rate of late grade 3 adverse events, results of a phase 1 study show.

Although the trial’s upper limit of dose-limiting toxicities during 6 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up was not met, 46.7% of 30 patients treated with veliparib and radiation after complete surgical resection had at least one grade 3 adverse event by 3 years of follow-up, reported Reshma Jagsi, MD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

“In this multicenter phase 1 trial, severe acute toxicity did not exceed the prespecified target of 30%, even at the highest tested dose of veliparib (200 mg twice a day), and we observed no grade 4 or 5 events. However, given observations of grade 3 late toxicity in nearly one-half of all patients evaluated at 3 years, we recommend a phase 2 dose of 50 mg twice a day if veliparib is investigated further for radiosensitization in patients with breast cancer at high risk of locoregional recurrence and in need of treatment intensification,” they wrote in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In preclinical studies, PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors have been shown to enhance radiosensitivty of breast malignancies when given concurrently with radiation.

In a phase 1 dosing and safety study, 30 women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer of the chest wall underwent complete surgical resection and were then assigned to radiation consisting of 50 Gy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes, plus a 10 Gy boost. The patients also received oral veliparib at a dose of either 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg taken twice daily during the 6-week course of radiotherapy.

During the 6 weeks of therapy and 4 weeks of follow-up, there were five dose-limiting toxicities, including two cases each of confluent moist desquamation greater than 100 cm2 in the 100- and 150-mg dose groups, and one case of neutropenia in a patient at the 200-mg dose level.

The respective rates of any grade 3 toxicity, treatment related or otherwise, at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up were 10%, 16.7%, and 46.7%.

 

 


The investigators noted that, at year 3, severe fibrosis in the treatment field was seen in 6 of the 15 surviving patients. Of the six patients, two also had grade 3 skin induration, and two had grade 3 lymphedema.

“Although some of the late adverse events we observed might have occurred even in the absence of the investigational agent and with standard therapy, severe late toxicity is relatively uncommon with standard therapy alone, so we believe that a cautious approach is prudent,” Dr. Jagsi and associates wrote.

The study was supported by the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. Dr. Jagsi reported institutional research support from AbbVie, which donated the veliparib used in the study.

SOURCE: Jagsi R et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.2665

Publications
Topics
Sections

 

Using the PARP inhibitor veliparib as a radiosensitizer for chest wall radiation in women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer was associated with a high rate of late grade 3 adverse events, results of a phase 1 study show.

Although the trial’s upper limit of dose-limiting toxicities during 6 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up was not met, 46.7% of 30 patients treated with veliparib and radiation after complete surgical resection had at least one grade 3 adverse event by 3 years of follow-up, reported Reshma Jagsi, MD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

“In this multicenter phase 1 trial, severe acute toxicity did not exceed the prespecified target of 30%, even at the highest tested dose of veliparib (200 mg twice a day), and we observed no grade 4 or 5 events. However, given observations of grade 3 late toxicity in nearly one-half of all patients evaluated at 3 years, we recommend a phase 2 dose of 50 mg twice a day if veliparib is investigated further for radiosensitization in patients with breast cancer at high risk of locoregional recurrence and in need of treatment intensification,” they wrote in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In preclinical studies, PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors have been shown to enhance radiosensitivty of breast malignancies when given concurrently with radiation.

In a phase 1 dosing and safety study, 30 women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer of the chest wall underwent complete surgical resection and were then assigned to radiation consisting of 50 Gy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes, plus a 10 Gy boost. The patients also received oral veliparib at a dose of either 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg taken twice daily during the 6-week course of radiotherapy.

During the 6 weeks of therapy and 4 weeks of follow-up, there were five dose-limiting toxicities, including two cases each of confluent moist desquamation greater than 100 cm2 in the 100- and 150-mg dose groups, and one case of neutropenia in a patient at the 200-mg dose level.

The respective rates of any grade 3 toxicity, treatment related or otherwise, at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up were 10%, 16.7%, and 46.7%.

 

 


The investigators noted that, at year 3, severe fibrosis in the treatment field was seen in 6 of the 15 surviving patients. Of the six patients, two also had grade 3 skin induration, and two had grade 3 lymphedema.

“Although some of the late adverse events we observed might have occurred even in the absence of the investigational agent and with standard therapy, severe late toxicity is relatively uncommon with standard therapy alone, so we believe that a cautious approach is prudent,” Dr. Jagsi and associates wrote.

The study was supported by the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. Dr. Jagsi reported institutional research support from AbbVie, which donated the veliparib used in the study.

SOURCE: Jagsi R et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.2665

 

Using the PARP inhibitor veliparib as a radiosensitizer for chest wall radiation in women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer was associated with a high rate of late grade 3 adverse events, results of a phase 1 study show.

Although the trial’s upper limit of dose-limiting toxicities during 6 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up was not met, 46.7% of 30 patients treated with veliparib and radiation after complete surgical resection had at least one grade 3 adverse event by 3 years of follow-up, reported Reshma Jagsi, MD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

“In this multicenter phase 1 trial, severe acute toxicity did not exceed the prespecified target of 30%, even at the highest tested dose of veliparib (200 mg twice a day), and we observed no grade 4 or 5 events. However, given observations of grade 3 late toxicity in nearly one-half of all patients evaluated at 3 years, we recommend a phase 2 dose of 50 mg twice a day if veliparib is investigated further for radiosensitization in patients with breast cancer at high risk of locoregional recurrence and in need of treatment intensification,” they wrote in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In preclinical studies, PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors have been shown to enhance radiosensitivty of breast malignancies when given concurrently with radiation.

In a phase 1 dosing and safety study, 30 women with inflammatory or locally recurrent breast cancer of the chest wall underwent complete surgical resection and were then assigned to radiation consisting of 50 Gy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes, plus a 10 Gy boost. The patients also received oral veliparib at a dose of either 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg taken twice daily during the 6-week course of radiotherapy.

During the 6 weeks of therapy and 4 weeks of follow-up, there were five dose-limiting toxicities, including two cases each of confluent moist desquamation greater than 100 cm2 in the 100- and 150-mg dose groups, and one case of neutropenia in a patient at the 200-mg dose level.

The respective rates of any grade 3 toxicity, treatment related or otherwise, at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up were 10%, 16.7%, and 46.7%.

 

 


The investigators noted that, at year 3, severe fibrosis in the treatment field was seen in 6 of the 15 surviving patients. Of the six patients, two also had grade 3 skin induration, and two had grade 3 lymphedema.

“Although some of the late adverse events we observed might have occurred even in the absence of the investigational agent and with standard therapy, severe late toxicity is relatively uncommon with standard therapy alone, so we believe that a cautious approach is prudent,” Dr. Jagsi and associates wrote.

The study was supported by the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. Dr. Jagsi reported institutional research support from AbbVie, which donated the veliparib used in the study.

SOURCE: Jagsi R et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.2665

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Article Source

FROM JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY

Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Vitals

 

Key clinical point: PARP inhibitors have a radiosensitizing effect when used in treatment of inflammatory breast cancer but are associated with late grade 3 adverse events.

Major finding: At 3 years, 46.7% of patients had a grade 3 adverse event of any kind.

Study details: Phase 1 dose-finding and safety study in 30 women treated with radiation and veliparib after complete surgical resection of inflammatory or recurrent breast cancer of the chest wall and regional lymph nodes.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. Dr. Jagsi reported institutional research support from AbbVie, which donated the veliparib used in the study.

Source: Jagsi R et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 20. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.2665.

Disqus Comments
Default

FDA approves nilotinib for children with CML

Article Type
Changed
Fri, 01/04/2019 - 10:20

Nilotinib is now approved for use by children aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in the chronic phase.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded the drug’s indication to include use as first- and second-line treatment in children.

The approval, which was announced March 22, was made under the agency’s Priority Review designation. It is based on results from two recent studies showing efficacy in children. In total, the studies included 69 patients aged 2-18 years with Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. Among newly diagnosed patients, the major molecular response (MMR) rate was 60% at 12 cycles with 15 patients achieving MMR. Among patients with resistance or intolerance to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, the MMR rate was 40.9% at 12 cycles with 18 patients achieving MMR, according to Novartis, which markets the drug.

Adverse events in the pediatric studies were similar to those observed in adults. However, children experienced hyperbilirubinemia (grade 3/4: 13%) and transaminase elevation (AST grade 3/4: 1%; ALT grade 3/4: 9%). Additionally, one previously treated pediatric patient progressed with advance phase/blast crisis after about 10 months of treatment.



Nilotinib (Tasigna) was already approved in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in the chronic phase and adults with chronic phase and accelerated phase Ph+ CML resistant or intolerant to prior therapy.

Publications
Topics
Sections

Nilotinib is now approved for use by children aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in the chronic phase.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded the drug’s indication to include use as first- and second-line treatment in children.

The approval, which was announced March 22, was made under the agency’s Priority Review designation. It is based on results from two recent studies showing efficacy in children. In total, the studies included 69 patients aged 2-18 years with Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. Among newly diagnosed patients, the major molecular response (MMR) rate was 60% at 12 cycles with 15 patients achieving MMR. Among patients with resistance or intolerance to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, the MMR rate was 40.9% at 12 cycles with 18 patients achieving MMR, according to Novartis, which markets the drug.

Adverse events in the pediatric studies were similar to those observed in adults. However, children experienced hyperbilirubinemia (grade 3/4: 13%) and transaminase elevation (AST grade 3/4: 1%; ALT grade 3/4: 9%). Additionally, one previously treated pediatric patient progressed with advance phase/blast crisis after about 10 months of treatment.



Nilotinib (Tasigna) was already approved in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in the chronic phase and adults with chronic phase and accelerated phase Ph+ CML resistant or intolerant to prior therapy.

Nilotinib is now approved for use by children aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in the chronic phase.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded the drug’s indication to include use as first- and second-line treatment in children.

The approval, which was announced March 22, was made under the agency’s Priority Review designation. It is based on results from two recent studies showing efficacy in children. In total, the studies included 69 patients aged 2-18 years with Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. Among newly diagnosed patients, the major molecular response (MMR) rate was 60% at 12 cycles with 15 patients achieving MMR. Among patients with resistance or intolerance to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, the MMR rate was 40.9% at 12 cycles with 18 patients achieving MMR, according to Novartis, which markets the drug.

Adverse events in the pediatric studies were similar to those observed in adults. However, children experienced hyperbilirubinemia (grade 3/4: 13%) and transaminase elevation (AST grade 3/4: 1%; ALT grade 3/4: 9%). Additionally, one previously treated pediatric patient progressed with advance phase/blast crisis after about 10 months of treatment.



Nilotinib (Tasigna) was already approved in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in the chronic phase and adults with chronic phase and accelerated phase Ph+ CML resistant or intolerant to prior therapy.

Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default

Rheumatologists push back on feds’ association health plan proposal

Article Type
Changed
Thu, 03/28/2019 - 14:40

 

A proposed rule defining association health plans has raised red flags for the American College of Rheumatology.

In particular, ACR is concerned that, if enacted, the proposed rule published by the Department of Labor on Jan. 5 could create access issues.

Thinkstock
The rule as proposed would allow employers to form an association health plan (AHP) based on geography or industry, allowing plans to serve employees in a state, city, county, or multistate metropolitan area, and even employees in an industry nationwide.

“There is a marked lack of current data available related to the risk profile of existing and potential associations and how those intersect with the individual and small group markets,” ACR said in a March 6 comment letter to the Department of Labor. “We believe that moving forward with new policies without the totality of evidence can be dangerous and potentially harmful to patients with chronic diseases.”

The college also noted that, “we especially have concerns regarding patient access to care in rural and remote areas of the United States.”

The organization suggested that the Labor department write regulations to ensure network adequacy, particularly for specialty care, and address other reforms related to prior authorization.

Significantly, ACR expressed concerns that a kind of economic discrimination could occur under AHPs.

 

 


Discrimination could come from opting not to cover prescription drugs, extreme utilization management protocols, coverage caps, increased coinsurance for patients, and discriminatory tiering and other formulary designs for high-cost medications.

ACR “strongly opposes excessive patient cost sharing that results in untenable patient financial burden, thereby creating a de facto situation in which the patient does not have access to a medically necessary treatment,” the organization wrote. “For patients with complex conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, biologic medications are very expensive and excessive cost sharing can reduce adherence and patient access to treatment, leading to risk for irreversible damage, excess morbidity, and even mortality.”

Dr. David I. Daikh
Further, economic discrimination could be enhanced since the proposed rule would allow AHPs to determine their own essential health benefits, “thereby restricting patient access to care. Granting flexibility to this extent could lead to AHPs severely restricting or eliminating coverage for the biologic drugs that are critical for many people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.”

“The ACR is concerned that loosening these consumer protections will reduce our patients’ access to care, either through weaker coverage or by driving up their premiums,” ACR President David Daikh, MD, said in a statement. “Our patients require continuous access to specialized care to manage pain and avoid long-term disability. Therefore it is imperative that the administration ensure that Americans living with rheumatic diseases be afforded adequate protections under these new rules.”

The comment period for the proposed rule closed in early March. At press time, the Labor department had not published a timeline for publishing a final rule.
Publications
Topics
Sections

 

A proposed rule defining association health plans has raised red flags for the American College of Rheumatology.

In particular, ACR is concerned that, if enacted, the proposed rule published by the Department of Labor on Jan. 5 could create access issues.

Thinkstock
The rule as proposed would allow employers to form an association health plan (AHP) based on geography or industry, allowing plans to serve employees in a state, city, county, or multistate metropolitan area, and even employees in an industry nationwide.

“There is a marked lack of current data available related to the risk profile of existing and potential associations and how those intersect with the individual and small group markets,” ACR said in a March 6 comment letter to the Department of Labor. “We believe that moving forward with new policies without the totality of evidence can be dangerous and potentially harmful to patients with chronic diseases.”

The college also noted that, “we especially have concerns regarding patient access to care in rural and remote areas of the United States.”

The organization suggested that the Labor department write regulations to ensure network adequacy, particularly for specialty care, and address other reforms related to prior authorization.

Significantly, ACR expressed concerns that a kind of economic discrimination could occur under AHPs.

 

 


Discrimination could come from opting not to cover prescription drugs, extreme utilization management protocols, coverage caps, increased coinsurance for patients, and discriminatory tiering and other formulary designs for high-cost medications.

ACR “strongly opposes excessive patient cost sharing that results in untenable patient financial burden, thereby creating a de facto situation in which the patient does not have access to a medically necessary treatment,” the organization wrote. “For patients with complex conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, biologic medications are very expensive and excessive cost sharing can reduce adherence and patient access to treatment, leading to risk for irreversible damage, excess morbidity, and even mortality.”

Dr. David I. Daikh
Further, economic discrimination could be enhanced since the proposed rule would allow AHPs to determine their own essential health benefits, “thereby restricting patient access to care. Granting flexibility to this extent could lead to AHPs severely restricting or eliminating coverage for the biologic drugs that are critical for many people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.”

“The ACR is concerned that loosening these consumer protections will reduce our patients’ access to care, either through weaker coverage or by driving up their premiums,” ACR President David Daikh, MD, said in a statement. “Our patients require continuous access to specialized care to manage pain and avoid long-term disability. Therefore it is imperative that the administration ensure that Americans living with rheumatic diseases be afforded adequate protections under these new rules.”

The comment period for the proposed rule closed in early March. At press time, the Labor department had not published a timeline for publishing a final rule.

 

A proposed rule defining association health plans has raised red flags for the American College of Rheumatology.

In particular, ACR is concerned that, if enacted, the proposed rule published by the Department of Labor on Jan. 5 could create access issues.

Thinkstock
The rule as proposed would allow employers to form an association health plan (AHP) based on geography or industry, allowing plans to serve employees in a state, city, county, or multistate metropolitan area, and even employees in an industry nationwide.

“There is a marked lack of current data available related to the risk profile of existing and potential associations and how those intersect with the individual and small group markets,” ACR said in a March 6 comment letter to the Department of Labor. “We believe that moving forward with new policies without the totality of evidence can be dangerous and potentially harmful to patients with chronic diseases.”

The college also noted that, “we especially have concerns regarding patient access to care in rural and remote areas of the United States.”

The organization suggested that the Labor department write regulations to ensure network adequacy, particularly for specialty care, and address other reforms related to prior authorization.

Significantly, ACR expressed concerns that a kind of economic discrimination could occur under AHPs.

 

 


Discrimination could come from opting not to cover prescription drugs, extreme utilization management protocols, coverage caps, increased coinsurance for patients, and discriminatory tiering and other formulary designs for high-cost medications.

ACR “strongly opposes excessive patient cost sharing that results in untenable patient financial burden, thereby creating a de facto situation in which the patient does not have access to a medically necessary treatment,” the organization wrote. “For patients with complex conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, biologic medications are very expensive and excessive cost sharing can reduce adherence and patient access to treatment, leading to risk for irreversible damage, excess morbidity, and even mortality.”

Dr. David I. Daikh
Further, economic discrimination could be enhanced since the proposed rule would allow AHPs to determine their own essential health benefits, “thereby restricting patient access to care. Granting flexibility to this extent could lead to AHPs severely restricting or eliminating coverage for the biologic drugs that are critical for many people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.”

“The ACR is concerned that loosening these consumer protections will reduce our patients’ access to care, either through weaker coverage or by driving up their premiums,” ACR President David Daikh, MD, said in a statement. “Our patients require continuous access to specialized care to manage pain and avoid long-term disability. Therefore it is imperative that the administration ensure that Americans living with rheumatic diseases be afforded adequate protections under these new rules.”

The comment period for the proposed rule closed in early March. At press time, the Labor department had not published a timeline for publishing a final rule.
Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
Sections
Disallow All Ads
Content Gating
No Gating (article Unlocked/Free)
Alternative CME
Disqus Comments
Default