Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3): A Professional Society-Based, Multistakeholder, Consensus-Driven Informatics Standard Supporting Clinical and Research Use of Real-World Data From Patients Treated for Cancer

PURPOSE: The ongoing lack of data standardization severely undermines the potential for automated learning from the vast amount of information routinely archived in electronic health records (EHRs), radiation oncology information systems, treatment planning systems, and other cancer care and outcomes databases. We sought to create a standardized ontology for clinical data, social determinants of health, and other radiation oncology concepts and interrelationships. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine\u27s Big Data Science Committee was initiated in July 2019 to explore common ground from the stakeholders\u27 collective experience of issues that typically compromise the formation of large inter- and intra-institutional databases from EHRs. The Big Data Science Committee adopted an iterative, cyclical approach to engaging stakeholders beyond its membership to optimize the integration of diverse perspectives from the community. RESULTS: We developed the Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3), which identified 42 key elements, 359 attributes, 144 value sets, and 155 relationships ranked in relative importance of clinical significance, likelihood of availability in EHRs, and the ability to modify routine clinical processes to permit aggregation. Recommendations are provided for best use and development of the O3 to 4 constituencies: device manufacturers, centers of clinical care, researchers, and professional societies. CONCLUSIONS: O3 is designed to extend and interoperate with existing global infrastructure and data science standards. The implementation of these recommendations will lower the barriers for aggregation of information that could be used to create large, representative, findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable data sets to support the scientific objectives of grant programs. The construction of comprehensive real-world data sets and application of advanced analytical techniques, including artificial intelligence, holds the potential to revolutionize patient management and improve outcomes by leveraging increased access to information derived from larger, more representative data sets

Resolution of self-injurious behavior in a nonverbal and developmentally delayed patient after surgical treatment of a blind painful eye

Changes in behavioral patterns can be the only indication of the presence of pain in nonverbal patients. Phthisis bulbi results in shrinking, disorganization, and sometimes severe inflammation of the ocular globe and can occur after eye injury or multiple eye surgeries. Chronic tearing, frequent eye rubbing, and self-injurious behavior focused around the eye and periocular region may indicate ocular discomfort in nonverbal patients. In eyes that become painful and refractory to medical treatment, ocular evisceration or enucleation can provide immediate pain relief. An ocular prosthesis provides excellent cosmetic results to restore normal facial appearance after surgery. Keywords: Blind painful eye, Phthisis bulbi, Enucleation, Evisceration, Self-injurious behavior, Nonverba

Risk Factors Associated With Failure to Reach Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Patient-reported Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Spondylolisthesis

Study design: Retrospective cohort. Objective: To determine risk factors associated with failure to reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) for spondylolisthesis. Summary of background data: The MCID of PROs are often utilized to determine the benefit of spinal procedures. However, negative predictive factors for reaching MCID in patients surgically treated for lumbar spondylolisthesis have been difficult to elucidate. Materials and methods: A prospectively maintained surgical database of patients who were diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis and surgically treated with a single level MIS TLIF from 2010 to 2016 was reviewed. Patients with incomplete PRO survey data or Results: A total of 165, 76, and 73 patients treated with MIS TLIF for spondylolisthesis had complete PRO data for VAS back, VAS leg, and ODI, respectively, and were thus included in the analysis for the respective PRO. Overall, 75.76%, 71.05%, and 61.64% of patients treated with a single level MIS TLIF for spondylolisthesis reached MCID for VAS back, VAS leg, and ODI, respectively. On multivariate analysis, patients were less likely to achieve MCID for VAS back following surgical treatment if they received workers\u27 compensation (P Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a majority of patients with spondylolisthesis achieve MCID for commonly measured PROs following MIS TLIF for spondylolisthesis. However, worker\u27s compensation insurance status may serve as a negative predictive factor for reaching MCID

Risk Factors for Medical and Surgical Complications After 1–2-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Procedures

Background Postoperative complications after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) have a significant impact on clinical outcomes and health care resource use. Identifying predictive factors for complications after ACDF may allow for the modification of care protocols to mitigate complication risk. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors for the incidence of medical and surgical complications up to 2 years postoperatively after ACDF procedures. Methods A prospectively maintained surgical registry of patients who underwent primary, 1–2-level ACDF was retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of medical and surgical complications up to 2 years postoperatively was determined. Patients were classified according to demographic, comorbidity, and procedural characteristics. Bivariate Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to determine if an association existed between the incidence of medical or surgical complications and patient characteristics. A final multivariate model including all patient and procedural characteristics as controls was created using backwards, stepwise regression until only those variables with P \u3c .05 remained. Results A total of 310 patients were included. Upon bivariate analysis, age \u3e50 years was identified as a risk factor for medical complications after ACDF procedures. Additionally, bivariate analysis identified ageless Charlson comorbidity index ≥2, operative duration \u3e60 minutes, and 2-level procedures as risk factors for surgical complications after ACDF. Upon multivariate analysis, age \u3e50 years was identified as an independent risk factor for medical complications (relative risk [RR] = 3.6, P = .005), while operative time \u3e60 minutes was identified as an independent risk factor for surgical complications after ACDF (RR = 4.5, P = .017). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that older age and longer operative time were independent risk factors for medical and surgical complications, respectively, following ACDF. Patients with these risk factors should be counseled regarding their increased risk of postoperative complications and should undergo more vigilant monitoring to aid in complication avoidance. Level of Evidence 3. Clinical Relevance Surgeons should consider the elevated risk of postoperative complications in \u3e50 years old patients and \u3e60 min procedures

Impact of Body Mass Index on Surgical Outcomes, Narcotics Consumption, and Hospital Costs Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

OBJECTIVE Given the increasing prevalence of obesity, more patients with a high body mass index (BMI) will require surgical treatment for degenerative spinal disease. In previous investigations of lumbar spine pathology, obesity has been associated with worsened postoperative outcomes and increased costs. However, few studies have examined the association between BMI and postoperative outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes, postoperative narcotics consumption, complications, and hospital costs among BMI stratifications for patients who have undergone primary 1- to 2-level ACDF procedures. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained surgical database of patients who had undergone primary 1- to 2-level ACDF for degenerative spinal pathology between 2008 and 2015. Patients were stratified by BMI as follows: normal weight (\u3c 25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), obese I (30.0–34.9 kg/m2), or obese II–III (≥ 35.0 kg/m2). Differences in patient demographics and preoperative characteristics were compared across the BMI cohorts using 1-way ANOVA or chi-square analysis. Multivariate linear or Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to determine the presence of an association between BMI category and narcotics utilization, improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) scores, incidence of complications, arthrodesis rates, reoperation rates, and hospital costs. Regression analyses were controlled for preoperative demographic and procedural characteristics. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-seven patients were included in the analysis, of whom 20.9% (n = 58) were normal weight, 37.5% (n = 104) were overweight, 24.9% (n = 69) were obese I, and 16.6% (n = 46) were obese II–III. A higher BMI was associated with an older age (p = 0.049) and increased comorbidity burden (p = 0.001). No differences in sex, smoking status, insurance type, diagnosis, presence of neuropathy, or preoperative VAS pain scores were found among the BMI cohorts (p \u3e 0.05). No significant differences were found among these cohorts as regards operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, and number of operative levels (p \u3e 0.05). Additionally, no significant differences in postoperative narcotics consumption, VAS score improvement, complication rates, arthrodesis rates, reoperation rates, or total direct costs existed across BMI stratifications (p \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a higher BMI demonstrated surgical outcomes, narcotics consumption, and hospital costs comparable to those of patients with a lower BMI. Thus, ACDF procedures are both safe and effective for all patients across the entire BMI spectrum. Patients should be counseled to expect similar rates of postoperative complications and eventual clinical improvement regardless of their BMI

Variation in Spine Surgeon Selection Criteria Between Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery Patients

Study design: A cross-sectional survey study. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if there are any differences in spine surgeon selection criteria between neurosurgery patients and orthopedic patients. Background information: The evolution of the health care delivery system has allowed for increased patient autonomy in provider selection. However, the process and criteria by which patients choose particular spine surgeons is not well understood. Furthermore, differences in physician selection criteria used by patients who present either to a neurosurgery or orthopedic spine surgeon has not been previously established. Materials and methods: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 26 questions was administered to 644 patients seeking treatment from either a single neurosurgery-trained or orthopedics-trained spine surgeon at an urban institution. Four questions pertained to demographic variables. Sixteen questions asked patients to rate specific spine surgeon selection criteria in terms of importance (scale, 1-10). Six questions were multiple choice, asking patients to select their preferences towards aspects of a spine surgeon. Patient responses were compared using χ analysis or Fisher exact test for categorical variables. Results: The 3 most important factors for selecting a spine surgeon were the same for neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery patients: board certification (neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery) (9.07±2.35, 9.22±1.79), in-network provider status (8.01±3.15, 8.09±3.03), and surgeon bedside manner (7.88±2.52, 8.07±2.29). When listing their preference regarding surgeon specialty training, 82.74% of neurosurgery patients and 48.81% of orthopedic surgery patients preferred a surgeon who was trained in neurosurgery. Conclusions: The growth in patient autonomy within the current health care system has emphasized the importance of identifying patient preferences in the physician selection process.Board certification, in-network insurance status, and bedside manner may be the most influential factors for patients in spine surgeon selection irrespective of surgical subspecialty. Patients may also be more likely to seek spine surgeons with neurosurgery training over orthopedic surgery training. The present study provides spine surgeons a framework to improve both patient recruitment and patient satisfaction