Interns and Research Projects

 

Name: Hardik Bhaskar
Home Institution: Upstate Medical University
Summer Mentor: Dr. Ryan Martin
Division: Joints

 

Accurate component placement is essential for successful total hip arthroplasty (THA). One method for improving component placement is to assess pelvic orientation through two-dimensional (2D) imaging which can help guide implant placement. This study aimed to optimize an existing deep learning model to accurately determine pelvic orientation, including rotation and the amount of flexion/extension of the pelvis, relative to implant position in THA.

 

Name: Raegan Kelley
Home Institution: Mercer University School of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Strasser
Division: Foot & Ankle

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in an athlete is a rare but devastating event. Pre-participation screening is a commonly used protocol to identify potentially harmful cardiac conditions, but has limited efficacy as many athletes are asymptomatic until the point of cardiac arrest. Medical providers and coaches must be sufficiently trained in early recognition of cardiac collapse and implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of a virtual micro-learning simulation that requires the learner to recognize cardiac collapse and implement appropriate treatment. 

 

Name: Mallory Podosin
Home Institution: University of Nevada
Summer Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Lempert and Dr. Craig Louer
Division: Pediatrics

Supracondylar humerus fractures are among the most common pediatric fractures. The metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fracture is a variant of these, most akin to a Gartland type III supracondylar (SC3) fracture. Despite their anatomical similarity, a small pool of research paints MDJs as distinct and difficult, with a high rate of complications. Utilizing a pediatric elbow fracture database containing over 4500 patients, we retrospectively analyzed all patients with operative MDJ and SC3 fractures. Additional review of MDJ cases was performed to determine fracture morphology and alignment at multiple post-operative timepoints. 

 

Name: Jake Reed
Home Institution: University of North Carolina
Summer Mentor: Dr. LeClere
Division: Sports

There are few reported cases of adolescent acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries and return to sport (RTS) rates in the literature.  To determine the management and RTS rates following AC joint injuries in adolescent athletes. Using a database from a large tertiary referral hospital and large children’s hospital, we identified patients who were under 18 years old who had an AC joint injury between June 1, 2014 and June 1, 2024. Data regarding patient demographics, injury pattern, injury management, and RTS rates were extracted. 

 

Name: Ryan Ross
Home Institution: Keck School of Medicine, USC
Summer Mentor: Dr. Stinner
Division: Trauma

Significant fracture-related soft tissue damage increases the likelihood of postoperative wound healing and infectious complications. Infrared (IR) thermographic cameras have been shown to accurately measure temperature changes in soft tissue. This is a prospective observational study of patients presenting to a single Level I trauma center with isolated high-risk orthopaedic injuries. Clinical photographs and thermographic images were taken of the injured and uninjured extremity at the fracture site. Images were obtained pre-operatively, post-operatively, and at follow-up visits. Patients were followed and assessed for surgical wound complications.

 

Tia Shutes

Name: Tia Shutes
Home Institution: East Tennessee Quillen College of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Lempert and Dr. Craig Louer
Division: Pediatrics

Recent Awards: Kay Scholarship, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society

Femur fractures are among the most common lower extremity injuries in the pediatric population. Management options for a pediatric femur fracture include early spica casting, flexible intramedullary (IM) nailing, rigid IM nailing, and plate fixation. Selecting a treatment option depends on age, fracture pattern, body mass, and canal diameter. The objective of this research is to retrospectively assess trends in case volume based on fellowship training of surgeons conducting the procedures, patient age distribution, and occurrence of postoperative complications.

 

Peter ChanName: Peter Chan
Home Institution: University of Texas Southwestern
Summer Mentor: Dr. Ryan Martin and Dr. Jake Wilson
Division: Joints
Proper implant position in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is vital to successful surgery. To plan the position of the prosthesis, surgeons often make pre- and intraoperative annotations on hip/pelvis radiographs and/or fluoroscopy images. Pelvic tilt varies between patients and with postural changes and has been associated with periprosthetic dislocation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a novel deep learning model that can annotate pelvic fluoroscopic and radiographic images to determine both implant position and pelvic orientation.
Rob DanfordName: Rob Danford
Home Institution: Tulane School of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Dr. Dan Stinner
Division: Trauma

In 2017, the US Army created the U.S Army Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3) program to maintain the combat casualty care competency of its Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachments (FRSDs). At Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), the AMCT3 program has been optimized to a three-year curriculum designed to provide superior combat casualty care training for emergency medicine (ER) and critical care (CC) nurses. This paper discusses the VUMC AMCT3 curriculum, the CC nurse’s program experience, and potential next steps.

 

Arpitha PamulaName: Arpitha Pamula
Home Institution: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Dr. Eric Bowman and Lance LeClere
Division: Sports

There are numerous, easily accessible online resources designed to educate patients about orthopedic injuries and procedures, though they largely lack interactive capabilities. Recently, artificial intelligence applications such as the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) have become mainstream and freely available. We found that the generated responses had a lack of specifics and a need for further detail to appropriately educate patients in the setting of ACL injury. Importantly, while the answers were far from complete, there was no identified inaccuracy or misinformation delivered by the chatbot.

 

Dalton BannisterName: Dalton Bannister
Home Institution: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Dr. Phil Mitchell
Division: Trauma

I’m writing a pathoanatomy paper on anterior column posterior hemitransverse acetabular fractures to better characterize the variability in the fracture pattern and help guide further research and implant development. I’m also working on a review paper on sexual dysfunction after traumatic pelvic injuries that is geared towards what orthopedic surgeons should know about this issue and how they can provide better patient education on screening, diagnosis and treatment options.

 

Alice BouchardName: Alice Bouchard
Home Institution: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Summer Mentor: Drs. Stephanie Moore-Lotridge & Jon Schoenecker
Division: Translational Science
My project is focused on the osteoporosis that arises following a polytrauma. Currently we are examining the role of IL-1β in this process using a mouse-model of polytrauma, longitudinally tracking bone density with serial DXA, and measuring inflammatory markers in blood and muscle at the experiment’s conclusion.
Gabriel LaneName: Gabriel Lane
Home Institution: Meharry Medical College
Summer Mentor: Dr. Eric Bowman
Division: Sports
Tommy John surgery is a common procedure performed on athletes, especially baseball players. Our work aims to identify misperceptions within the public on Tommy John surgery and provide education regarding its benefits and risks.
Kartik ReddyName: Kartik Reddy
Home Institution: University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School
Summer Mentor: Drs. Craig Louer and Nate Lempert
Division: Peds
I am analyzing data from the country’s largest institutional pediatric fracture database to assess postoperative outcomes of different supracondylar humeral fractures treatments. This study aims to assess the validity of the current dogma surrounding how these fractures are traditionally treated in the OR.
Emil VarasName: Emil Varas
Home Institution: Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico
Summer Mentor: Dr. Amir Abtahi
Division: Spine
I am developing a database on anterior lumbar interbody fusions to assess postoperative pelvic alignment and spinal outcomes. I am also working on building a thoracolumbar burst fracture database to assess postoperative outcomes.
   

Publications

 
2022

Vickery JW, Varas EE, Abtahi AM. Crossing the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Review of the Current Literature. Clin Spine Surg. 2022 Dec 1;35(10):451-457

2023

Moore-Lotridge, SN., Coronado, R., Louer, C., Lempert, N., Abtahi, A., Mitchel, P., Bowman, E., Obremskey, WT., Schoenecker, JG., Wright, RW., Archer, KR. Development of a Comprehensive Medical Student Summer Research Program in Orthopaedic Surgery. ORS Annual Meeting 2023.

Rees AB, Croft AJ, Varas-Rodrguez E, Stephens BF, Abtahi AM. Case Report-Traumatic L5-S1 Instability: Are Upright Radiographs Potentially Dangerous? Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Apr;17(2):324-332. doi: 10.14444/8432. Epub 2023 Apr 13. PMID: 37055177; PMCID: PMC10165652.

2024

Chan PYW, Mika AP, Martin JR, Wilson JM. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists: What the Orthopaedic Surgeon Needs to Know. JBJS Rev. 2024 Jan 5;12(1). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.23.00167. PMID: 38181103.

Danford JR 3rd, Stinner DJ. World War I and the Thomas Splint: A Historical Review. Mil Med. 2024 Apr 24:usae108. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usae108. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38656831.

Danford JR 3rd. World War I and the Origins of Blood Transfusion for the Trauma Patient. Mil Med. 2023 Dec 22:usad483. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usad483. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38140985.

Lane G, Smith MV, Goldfarb CA, Coronado RA, Bowman EN. Outcomes and return to sport after osteochondral autograft transplantation for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum: a systematic review. JSES Rev Rep Tech. 2024 Mar 28;4(3):563-570. doi: 10.1016/j.xrrt.2024.02.011. PMID: 39157219; PMCID: PMC11329020.

Ross RC, Stinner DJ. Letter to the Editor Regarding "Telemedicine-Guided Two-Incision Lower Leg Fasciotomy Performed by Combat Medics During Tactical Combat Casualty Care: A Feasibility Study". Mil Med. 2024 Aug 30;189(9-10):255-256. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usae374. PMID: 39083213.

Wollenman CC, Davis PJ, Lane GC, Fox JA, Bowman EN, LeClere LE. Outcomes and performance following posteromedial elbow débridement in major league baseball players. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Jul 23:S1058-2746(24)00488-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.05.035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39025355.