Rotary-lateral curvature ot the spine was recently made the subject of an address by Dr. Teschner.1 In etiology, he directs attention, more especially, to the following points: (i) An hereditary tendency, which he believes to exist; (2) the general temperament, and the condition of the mind and nervous system, as shown in an apathetic and indolent habit, mental slowness, and a peculiar lack of co-ordinating or muscular control, one result of which seems to be an apparent inability to fully extend any extremity; (3) the lack of muscular development, affecting chiefly the muscles of the back, chest, and abdomen ; and a poor general physical condition, of which
INTRODUCTION Case series have been a long held tradition within the surgical literature and are still frequently published. Reporting guidelines can improve transparency and reporting quality. No guideline exists for reporting case series, and our recent systematic review highlights the fact that key data are being missed from such reports. Our objective was to develop reporting guidelines for surgical case series. METHODS A Delphi consensus exercise was conducted to determine items to include in the reporting guideline. Items included those identified from a previous systematic review on case series and those included in the SCARE Guidelines for case reports. The Delphi questionnaire was administered via Google Forms and conducted using standard Delphi methodology. Surgeons and others with expertise in the reporting of case series were invited to participate. In round one, participants voted to define case series and also what elements should be included in them. In round two, participants voted on what items to include in the PROCESS guideline using a nine-point Likert scale to assess agreement as proposed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) working group. RESULTS In round one, there was a 49% (29/59) response rate. Following adjustment of the guideline with incorporation of recommended changes, round two commenced and there was an 81% (48/59) response rate. All but one of the items were approved by the participants and Likert scores 7-9 were awarded by >70% of respondents. The final guideline consists of an eight item checklist. CONCLUSION We present the PROCESS Guideline, consisting of an eight item checklist that will improve the reporting quality of surgical case series. We encourage authors, reviewers, editors, journals, publishers and the wider surgical and scholarly community to adopt these.
Chao‐Wen Chen, Yung‐Sung Yeh, Ta‐Chien Chan
et al.
Abstract Introduction The acute care system faced significant challenges in managing healthcare emergencies due to a lack of coordination between emergency services and logistical support. This disorganization undermined collaboration and response efficiency. Methods Taiwan's Presidential Hackathon introduced an innovative approach to improving the trauma system by integrating digital pipeline science through public–private partnerships (PPPs). This initiative specifically addressed inefficiencies and complexities in the acute care ecosystem, brought to light by the catastrophic 2014 gas explosion in Kaohsiung City. Results The hackathon led to the development of a unified digital platform for emergency data management. This platform significantly enhanced communication, data sharing, and coordination across healthcare sectors, culminating in the implementation of a digital pre‐hospital emergency care system across multiple administrative regions. Conclusion Our experience demonstrated the effectiveness of leveraging digital technologies, PPPs, and the hackathon model to revolutionize emergency healthcare management and response systems through cross‐sector collaboration.
Daniel Suter, Aidana Massalimova, Christoph Johannes Laux
et al.
Abstract One of the most established approaches to navigate pedicle screws is the planning and alignment (PA) method. Thereby a trajectory and associated entry point (EP) is planned and navigated after referencing to patient anatomy. However, deviations from the planned EP potentially lead to an altered screw position. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of these EP deviations and to examine possible alternative methods. The merits of two new points of reference (screw tip point STP and midpoint MP) were therefore analyzed. STP represents the point on the optimal screw tip, MP the point at the center/midportion of the pedicle at its narrowest portion. The adapted screw trajectory was defined as the directional vector from any chosen EP to the STP or MP. First, computer simulations were used to evaluate the performance of these new approaches. Subsequently, the navigation technique yielding more acceptable screws in case of an EP deviation was analyzed on phantom-sawbone models. Both new methods showed a significantly larger number of possible screw trajectories in the simulations (p < 0.01). Even with a deliberate deviation of 4.5 mm (IQR 3.3) from the optimal EP, a perforation-free screw diameter of 4.9 mm (IQR 5.7 mm) could be achieved using the new navigation techniques. The simulated perforations were mainly located laterally with a median of 8.45 mm (IQR 3.95) distance to the medial pedicle wall. The PA method seems to be susceptible to EP deviations. The STP and MP methods are possible improvement mechanisms to overcome this disadvantage.
Thank you for reading the latest edition of Impact Surgery. We are committed to fostering a platform that amplifies the voices and experiences of surgeons and researchers from across the world. In line with this vision, we are seeking pilot studies, global surgery studies, quality improvement projects, reviews, education, and deeper dives on surgical topics that are often overlooked or neglected elsewhere. We recognise the profound impact of surgical interventions on individuals, communities, and societies worldwide, and we hope to speed up solutions and policy changes to address the unique challenges faced by diverse populations.