Predicting work status following interdisciplinary treatment for chronic pain.

The effectiveness of interdisciplinary treatments for chronic pain is well established. In general, these treatments decrease psychosocial distress and increase physical abilities. Further, return to work rates following interdisciplinary treatment tend to be quite high. Previous studies have highlighted a number of factors that individually influence return to work rates; however, there is a need for more comprehensive and unified models that allow an evaluation of the inter-relations among these factors. The present investigation examined how demographic and treatment outcome variables interacted to influence post-treatment return to work rates in a sample of individuals with chronic pain following interdisciplinary treatment. Results indicated that patient age, lifting ability, pain duration, depression level, and reported disability were individually related to return to work; however, when these variables were evaluated relative to one another, level of depression and patient age had the best ability to predict post-treatment work status. These results add to the literature by specifically highlighting post-treatment factors that best discriminate patients who had returned to work from those that had not. Furthermore, they provide evidence that general emotional distress is perhaps the most important predictor of work status following treatment.     

Growth hormone effects on hypertrophic scar formation: a randomized controlled trial of 62 burned children

The hypercatabolism after massive pediatric burns has been effectively treated with recombinant human growth hormone, an anabolic agent that stimulates protein synthesis and abrogates growth arrest. While experimental studies have shown increased potential for fibrosis induced by growth hormone therapy, adverse effects on human scars have not been investigated. Our aim was to evaluate hypertrophic scar formation in 62 patients randomized to receive injections of 0.05 mg/kg/day of recombinant human growth hormone or placebo, from discharge until 1 year after burn. Scar scales were used to evaluate scar-severity at discharge, 6, 9, 12, and 18-24 months after burn, by three observers blinded to treatment. Computer-assisted planimetry allowed quantification of percentage of hypertrophic scar formation. Types I and III collagens were localized and quantified in scars and normal skin of patients from both groups, using immunohistochemistry with confocal laser microscopy analysis. Insulin-like growth factor-1 blood levels helped assess compliance. Statistical analysis showed that scar hypertrophy significantly increased from 6 to 12 months after injury in both groups, while decreasing at 18-24 months postburn. Types I and III collagens were statistically increased in the reticular layer of scars from both groups when compared to paired normal skin. Insulin-like growth factor-1 was significantly increased in the recombinant human growth factor-treated group. No differences were seen when recombinant human growth factor and control groups were compared using the scar scales, planimetry, or immunohistochemistry. We concluded that recombinant human growth hormone therapy did not adversely affect scar formation and should not contraindicate the administration of recombinant human growth hormone as a therapeutic approach to severely burned children.     

Reconstruction of lateral skull base defects after tumor ablation.

Neoplasms located in the lateral skull base region present a challenge for evaluation and management due to their difficult anatomic location and the complex reconstruction that is required following extensive tumor resection. Repair following tumor ablation requires a watertight dural seal, obliteration of the dead space, and coverage with vascularized soft tissue. Advances in radiologic imaging, diagnostic pathology, and surgical techniques and a multidisciplinary team for tumor ablation and reconstruction have significantly improved the treatment of these patients, minimized the occurrence of postoperative complications, and maximized patient outcome and quality of life. In this article, we present our experience in the reconstruction of extensive lateral skull base defects after tumor ablation.     

Obesity and litigation predict workers' compensation costs associated with interbody cage lumbar fusion.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Results of lumbar fusion surgery have been mixed and procedures are costly. Interbody cage lumbar fusion (ICLF) has been advanced to improve arthrodesis and clinical outcomes; however, little attention has been given to ICLF costs or potential predictors of these expenses. PURPOSE: To depict medical and compensation costs associated with ICLF in a Utah cohort of patients receiving workers' compensation as well as to investigate predictors of costs. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective-cohort research design was used involving completion of presurgical and postsurgical medical record reviews and accrual of medical and compensation costs. Presurgical variables included in a regression model were presurgical spinal pathophysiology rating, obesity, and litigation status. PATIENT SAMPLE: Forty-three consecutive patients who were compensated by the Workers' Compensation Fund of Utah and underwent ICLF. OUTCOME MEASURES: Total accrued compensation and medical costs. METHODS: A retrospective review of presurgical variables and total accrued compensation and medical costs was conducted. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis indicated that nonpathophysiological factors predicted compensation costs (lawyer involvement [beta=0.40]; obesity [beta=0.34]). Specifically, compensation for those with versus without lawyers was $41,657 versus $24,837, and for those who were obese versus nonobese was $46,152 versus $28,168. Arthrodesis was correlated with medical costs (r=-0.47, p=.002), with incurred costs for patients achieving solid fusion versus pseudarthrosis equaling $38,881 versus $71,655, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable costs were associated with ICLF, particularly for those who were obese, involved in litigation, or failed to achieve solid fusion. With regard to compensation costs, the findings support the importance of assessing nonpathophysiological factors in spinal fusion patients.