Background: Recent studies showed that healthcare disparities exist in use of and outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect socioeconomic factors, like income, insurance type, hospital volume, and geographic location, have on utilization of and outcomes after lower extremity arthroplasty. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed by querying the MEDLINE database using keywords such as, but not limited to, “disparities”, “arthroplasty”, “income”, “insurance”, “outcomes”, and “hospital volume” in all possible combinations. Any study written in English and consisting of level of evidence I-IV published over the last 20 years was considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the data. Results: A total of 44 studies that met inclusion and quality criteria were included for analysis. Hospital volume is inversely correlated with complication rate after TJA. Insurance type may not be a surrogate for socioeconomic status and, instead, represent an independent prognosticator for outcomes after TJA. Patients in the lower-income brackets may have poorer access to TJA and higher readmission risk but have equivalent outcomes after TJA compared to patients in higher income brackets. Rural patients have higher utilization of TJA compared to urban patients. Conclusion: This systematic review shows that insurance type, socioeconomic status, hospital volume, and geographic location can have significant impact on patients’ access to, utilization of, and outcomes after TJA. Level of evidence: IV.

Background: Previous studies have shown that utilization and outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are not equivalent across different patient cohorts. This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect that patient race has, if any, on utilization and outcomes of lower-extremity arthroplasty in the United States. Methods: A literature search of the MEDLINE database was performed using keywords such as “disparities,” “arthroplasty,” “race,” “joint replacement,” “hip,” “knee,” “inequities,” “inequalities,” “health,” and “outcomes” in all possible combinations. All English-language studies with a level of evidence of I through IV published over the last 20 years were considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the collected data. Results: A total of 82 articles were included. There was a significantly lower utilization rate of lower-extremity TJA among Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Black and Hispanic patients had lower expectations regarding postoperative outcomes and their ability to participate in various activities after surgery, and they were less likely than White patients to be familiar with the arthroplasty procedure prior to presentation to the orthopaedic surgeon (p < 0.05). Black patients had increased risks of major complications, readmissions, revisions, and discharge to institutional care after TJA compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Hispanic patients had increased risks of complications (p < 0.05) and readmissions (p < 0.0001) after TJA compared with White patients. Black and Hispanic patients reached arthroplasty with poorer preoperative functional status, and all minority patients were more likely to undergo TJA at low-quality, low-volume hospitals compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This systematic review shows that lower-extremity arthroplasty utilization differs by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be partly explained by patient expectations, preferences, and cultural differences. This study also shows that outcomes after lower-extremity arthroplasty differ vastly by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be driven by differences in preoperative functional status and unequal access to care. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a rare condition that usually affects distance runners and other running athletes. It is characterized by pain and pressure in one or multiple muscle compartments with repetitive physical activity. Reduction in pain typically occurs with cessation of activity. Evaluation of CECS consists of a thorough history of patient symptoms and ruling out of other causes of symptoms. Post-exercise pressure measurements can help confirm the diagnosis when symptoms are consistent and imaging evaluation negative for other causes. Non-operative treatment is a viable option for hindfoot runners and patients with anterior compartment syndrome of the leg. Limited-incision fasciotomy has been shown to be the most effective treatment and remains the gold standard for treatment. Minimal-incision open fasciotomy and endoscopic fasciotomy have surgical outcomes similar to wide-open fasciotomy. Military patients treated with fasciotomy have higher failure rates compared to civilians. Pediatric patients have similar outcomes compared to adults.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the existing data on disparities between men and women in the field of medicine in terms of self-confidence, self-efficacy, impostor syndrome, and other self-assessment factors.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using keywords “confidence gap,” “male female residents,” “self-perception,” “self-confidence,” “self-worth,” “self-assessment,” “impostor syndrome,” “medicine self-esteem,” and “gender differences medicine.” Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were sorted and reviewed. Type of study, outcome measures, and results were recorded in Excel. Qualitative analysis was performed on the data collected.Results: Of the 31 studies included in this review, 24 studies demonstrated that men’s self-reported scores in clinical knowledge, skills, procedural confidence, operative experience, and other competencies were higher than women’s self-reported scores. Women at graduate and post-graduate training levels rated themselves lower in perceived clinical skills, performance, confidence in procedures, identification with the role of doctor, interpersonal/communication skills, and preparedness for leadership positions. Furthermore, the rate of identification with impostor syndrome, stress, and burnout are higher in women than men. Evidence did not demonstrate any objective differences in actual performance or skills between men and women at any level of training in medicine.Conclusions: Even though women and men do not differ in their clinical performance, women in healthcare fields may perceive deficiencies in their abilities more often than their male counterparts. However, these results are tempered by the fact that the level of evidence of the studies included in the review is low.Level of Evidence: Level III.