Introduction: Distress is common among cancer patients, especially those undergoing surgery. However, no study has systematically analyzed distress trends in this population. The purpose of this study was to systematically review perioperative rates of distress, as well as differences across cancer types, in cancer patients undergoing surgical intervention.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO (searched until July 17, 2023). Included studies were clinical studies of cancer patients undergoing surgery reporting distress measured by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer (DT). Data on study and patient characteristics, and preoperative and postoperative distress rates were extracted. Results were pooled, and overall distress rates were calculated as weighted means. Subanalysis by cancer type was performed. Three meta‐analyses were conducted: (1) preoperative distress, (2) postoperative distress, and (3) change in distress.Results: Fifty‐seven studies including 13,410 cancer patients were reviewed. Most patients were female (67.4%), White (77.8%), and married/partnered (72.2%), with an average age of 59.2 years. The most common cancers were breast (14 studies), brain (8), and colorectal (7). Weighted mean pre‐ and postoperative distress scores were 5.1 and 4.5, respectively. Distress remained high through 30 days postoperatively, then declined thereafter. Brain cancer patients reported the highest postoperative distress (5.1), followed by breast cancer patients (4.9).Conclusion: The perioperative phase is a critical period of elevated distress in cancer patients. Preoperatively, patients experience moderate to severe levels of distress, which persist throughout the early postoperative phase, gradually declining from the 1‐month postoperative mark onwards.

Background: Superior labral tears are common shoulder injuries among athletes, and for athletes undergoing surgical intervention, one of the main priorities is to return to preinjury levels of activity in a timely manner. However, the literature surrounding return to play after superior labral repair presents inconsistent results, with limited studies evaluating the timing of return to play. Purpose: To systematically review the rate and timing of return to play in athletes after arthroscopic superior labral repair. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on return to play after arthroscopic superior labral repair. Subgroup analysis was conducted for overhead and collision athletes as well as for return to duty among military personnel. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager to compare superior labral repair to biceps tenodesis in the subset of studies comparing these treatments directly. A P value <.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: This review identified 42 studies including 1759 unique cases meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of patients were male (76.7%), with a mean age of 31.5 years (range, 15-75 years) and a mean follow-up of 50.4 months. The overall rate of return to sport was 77.5%, with 68.2% returning to the same level at a mean of 8.2 months. In overhead athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 69.9% and the rate of return to preinjury level was 55.5%. In collision and contact athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 77.2% and the rate of return to preinjury level was 70.2%. Among military personnel, the overall rate of return to duty was 83.4%, and 81.7% returned to preinjury level at a mean of 4.4 months. In the studies comparing return to play after superior labral repair and biceps tenodesis, a nonsignificant difference was found (risk ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-1.00; I ² = 13%; P = .05). Conclusion: Overall, nearly a quarter of athletes were unable to return to play after arthroscopic superior labral repair. However, a high rate of return to duty was found among the military population treated with arthroscopic superior labral repair.

Study Design.: Retrospective cohort study. Objective.: This study aimed to identify sources of distress in patients with metastatic spine disease and elucidate factors associated with clinically significant distress. Summary of Background Data.: Distress is associated with poorer outcomes and lower quality of life in cancer patients. Patients with metastatic spine disease are particularly vulnerable to clinically significant levels of distress. However, specific factors contributing to distress in these patients have been largely unexplored. Methods.: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with metastatic spine disease (MSD) who underwent surgery from 2015 to 2023. We analyzed National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT) scores and Problem List items within 30 days before surgery, which was defined as “baseline” distress. We calculated the frequency of each problem and the proportion of patients with clinically significant distress (DT score ≥4). We used χ² tests to analyze associations between Problem List items and significant distress, with a significance threshold of P<0.05. Results.: Among 160 patients with MSD, 48.1% reported clinically significant distress. Patients most frequently reported Physical concerns (93.8%), followed by Emotional (55.6%) and Practical concerns (31.9%). The most common individual Problem List item was pain (72.5%), followed by fatigue (48.1%) and worry (41.2%). Emotional (P=0.001), Practical (P=0.04), and Social concerns (P=0.039) were significantly associated with clinically significant distress, but Physical concerns were not (P=0.05). Conclusions.: Though physical concerns were most common for patients with MSD, emotional and practical concerns were more strongly associated with significant distress among patients with metastatic spine disease. These findings highlight the need for multidisciplinary care focused on emotional and practical issues to enhance patients’ quality of life.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate recent trends in the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in the United States, (2) assess regional variations in the use of IONM, and (3) assess the association between IONM and clinical outcomes. Summary of Background Data: IONM is frequently used during anterior cervical procedures to mitigate the risk of neurological injury. Prior studies have demonstrated decreasing utilization of IONM in ACDFs. However, no recent studies have re-assessed these trends. Methods: Cases of cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy that underwent ACDF from 2011 to 2021 were identified through the PearlDiver Patient Record Database. Rates of IONM were compared based on patient age, gender, income, and region. Complications, 30-day readmissions, and reimbursement rates were also assessed. Results: We identified 285,939 patients undergoing isolated ACDF, with 45,943 (16.1%) of these cases using IONM. There was a significant increase in the use of IONM for ACDFs over the study period (R ²=0.87, P<0.001). Significant regional variability was observed in the utility of IONM (Northeast; 21.2%, Midwest; 16.3%, South; 14.7%, West; 14.2%; P<0.001). Younger age and higher patient income were associated with increased utility of IONM (P<0.001). IONM was associated with significantly higher costs but no reduction in rates of postoperative neurological complications (P<0.001 and 0.29, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significant increase in IONM utilization during ACDFs over the past decade. Considerable differences exist in IONM use concerning patient demographics, income, and geographic region, with the highest utilization in the Northeast. Notably, despite the association of IONM with over a 20% increase in reimbursement rates, its implementation was not associated with a reduction in rates of neurological complications.